Running head: HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE LESSON

High School Guidance Lesson

CSP 674

Kathy Wiertsema-Miller

January 2002

Description of the Program

“Focus on You” is a three-day career unit designed for 9^th grade students. Each day’s lesson requires approximately 50 minutes for completion. The objectives of this unit are as follows:

—Learners will enhance awareness of self and career choices.

—Learners will increase knowledge of potential careers.

—Learners will understand the significance of the Northfield High School ECOS (Education and Career Opportunities System) system as a career and educational planning tool.

Lesson Plan: Day 1

Step 1

Introduce the subject of careers. Review Holland Code information and worksheet completed in middle school, “You Do What You Are / You Are What You Do”

Step 2

Introduce the ECOS program and explain what it can do for students. Have students log on and create an account. Follow handout directions 1-8 (see Appendix A).

Lesson Plan: Day 2

Step 1

Log onto ECOS. Complete steps 9-11 from handout (see Appendix A)

Step 2

Complete a worksheet for each of the three careers saved to your Career Locker (see Appendix B).

Lesson Plan: Day 3

Step 1

Continue work from previous day.

Step 2

Complete a final essay worksheet (see Appendix C).

Connections to Related Domains, Competencies, and Standards

The “Focus on You” lessons are reflective of all three developmental domains of the Minnesota School Counselor’s Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling as well as the Gysbers & Henderson model: personal/social, career, and educational.

The “Focus on You” lessons are also directly related to the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee Standards for high school students. The lessons are directly linked to the following standards within the educational and occupational exploration competency: understanding the relationship between educational achievement and career planning; and, skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information. Within the career planning competency, they are also linked to the following standards: skills to make decisions, and skills in career planning.

Finally, the “Focus on You” lessons also correlate to learning area #8, Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness, of the Minnesota Graduation Standards, particularly the decision making standard as it relates to career exploration and investigation.

References and Resources

Education and Career Opportunities System (ECOS). (2001). San Francisco, CA: Embark.com.

Gysbers, N.C., & Henderson, P. (2000). Developing and managing your school guidance program. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Rief, J.M., & Enestvedt, J.K. (1993). The Minnesota school counselors’ model of developmental guidance. Publisher location unlisted: Minnesota School Counselors Association.

Zunker, V.G. (1998). Career counseling: Applied concepts of life planning. (5^th Ed.). California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

For Further Information

Kathy Wiertsema-Miller, Counselor

Northfield High School

Northfield, MN 55057

507-663-0636

Fax 507-645-3455

Kathy.Miller@nfld.k12.mn.us

Appendix A: Student Handout

Education and Career Opportunities System (ECOS)

Guide For Students

Steps:

1. Go to http://ecos.embark.com

2. Click on “Student.”

3. Click on “create a new account.” For future log-ins, you will simply need to enter in your User ID and Password.

4. Enter the following information: member code – 064198333926, name, email address (optional), and high school graduation year.

5. Create your User ID, use the first letter of your first name and your last name. Create a password. (Keep track of the User ID and Password you choose. See your counselor if you should lose these.)

6. Leave all boxes checked under ECOS Communication

7. You will be asked to indicate your current school level as well as your career goals. Click “Save and Continue” when you have finished.

8. You are now at the homepage for ECOS. You can click on any of the news items to learn more, take the poll, or click “profile” to jump right in!

9. Go to Profile/Goals Module. From left margin, complete #1 Personal and #5 Personal Interests

10. Go to Career Module. Click on Career Assessment. Then click on and complete the following: Take the Test, Learn about the Holland Code Theory, Learn about Personality types, and Find Careers that match each personality type. Choose three careers of personal interest and save to your Career Locker.

11. To end, you must click LOG OUT at the top right of the screen.

Appendix B: Student Worksheet

Name

1. Career:

2. Describe the career.

3. Describe the level of required education for this career.

4. Describe the general knowledge required for this career.

5. Describe the working conditions associated with this career.

6. List the anticipated annual salary in this career.

7. Describe the future job outlook for this career.

8. In paragraph form, evaluate your interest in this career and your potential for success in it.

Appendix C: Student Worksheet

Name

Directions:

Consider the three careers your have explored. Of these three, choose the one that you are most interested in at this point in your life. Then, in paragraph form, explain your “game plan” beginning immediately for becoming successfully involved with this career. Consider the following kinds of things in your “game plan”: grades, class choices, skills, job experiences, volunteer experiences, activities and/or hobbies, training beyond high school, etc.