Field Trips

To various community businesses and organizations- One to three hours. In preparation for field trips familiarize the students with some basic career data.

After the trip have the students answer the following questions.

1. What are the working conditions or work environment of the job?
2.  What skills and abilities are needed for the job?
3.  Does the job deal mainly with: People, Data, Things, or Ideas?
4. Where can you learn the skills for the job?
5.  Is this a job you are interested in? Why or why not

Elementary: (awareness level) Career development at the elementary level includes helping students understand the role of work, one’s own uniqueness, and basic knowledge about different occupations. Elementary students become aware of community workers.

Invite speakers from the community to talk about their jobs. Use this opportunity to reinforce basic work related social and life skills by having the guest speakers answer questions related to the school to work curriculum. Along with the field trip questions have the students make up questions to ask the speakers. For example:

•       What do you like about your job?
•       How long have you had your job?
•       What are some of your job duties?
•       Is there anything you don't like about your job?
•       Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel like going to work?

Middle School: (exploration level) The emphasis at the middle level is on the refinement of knowledge and awareness to the actual experience of simulated work tasks.

Job Shadow- Job shadows and industry visits can further connect the school to future employment.

The student has a one to one job experience with an employee. The student spends time observing daily activities, asking questions and learning about the job. When and if appropriate the student can do hands-on-tasks a the work place. Usually 3-6 hours.

Benefits:
*  The student can begin to identify career interests.
*  Observe the daily routine of adult workers.
*  Gain an awareness of the academic, technical, and personal skills required by particular jobs.
*  Develop and apply communication skills by interacting with and interviewing workers.
*  Realize that different jobs are characterized by different work cultures and working  environments.
*  Navigate the community by traveling to and from the job shadow site.
*  Begin to understand the connection between school, work, and achieving goals.
For more information about Job Shadowing see: Job Shadow Guide for Staff and Students, Connections Linking Work and Learning, US Dept. of Education.