Explore University

1. Explore University 2017 MSCA Fall Conference November 6, 2017

2. Who Is This Guy? • Third Generation Educator • Graduate of Kansas State University • Social Studies Teacher for 7 Years • M.S. in School Counseling from Missouri State • Parkview High School Counselor 2014-Present • Married to Wife, Nicole, for 7 Years • Father to Daughter, Millie for 5 ½ Months • Three Pets: Chester, Willie, and Lucy • Avid Sports, Movies, and Television Fan

3. EMAIL • Google Docs Copy • Paper • First Name • Last Name • School • Email Address • Work Phone

4. TRIVIA TIME

5. Building The Course • Rhonda Mammen, Director of Counseling Services • Jenifer Shepard, Central High School Counselor • Allison Pilley, Director of Learning Support • Sara Deters & Emma McIntyre, College Advisors • Jared Chester, Instructional Developer • Teacher Training

6. Course Format • Online/Hybrid Design • Explore Summer School Offering • Semester Course (Two Weeks) • Elective (1/2) Credit • Curriculum Daily Assignments • Field Trip Experiences

7. FIELD TRIPS

8. Curriculum Days • Orientation • Adobe Reader, Discussion Activity, File Upload, Practice Quiz, Video Upload, Text Response Entry, Email, and Academic Integrity • Introduction Day • Syllabus, Portfolio Introduction, Current College Plans, Resume, Student Biography, and Recommendation Letter Questionnaire • Research, Reflections, & Itineraries • Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, and Springfield • Selecting A College • College Lingo, My Majors Of Interest, 15 Things To Consider When Selecting A College, Comparing Colleges, and Graduation Requirements vs. College Admission Requirements

9. Curriculum Days • College & Scholarship Applications • Colleges, College Application Process, College Application Preparation, Personal Statements, and Admissions Essay Writing • Financial Aid • Financial Aid Basics, Determining Scholarship Eligibility, FAFSA4CASTER, Locating Financial Aid Resources, Budgeting For College, and Comparing Financial Aid Rewards • College Readiness Assessments • Entrance Testing Presentation, College Test Score Requirements, Preparing For The ACT, Practice ACT Test, Practice SAT Test • Portfolio

11. PORTFOLIO • Course Goal • Students are better prepared to navigate the college expectations, guidelines, and deadlines during their senior year. • 50% of Final Grade • Explore University is a personal, experience based course for students. The creation of an organized portfolio provides access to a variety of course documents designed to be utilized during a student’s senior year. • Sections • Portfolio is designed for easy access to created documents. • Introduction • College Applications • Paying For College • Importance Of Exams • College Tour Research/Reflections • Final Reflection Essay

12. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Assignment/Rubric

13. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Introduction • Resume

14. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Introduction • Recommendation Letter Questionnaire

15. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Introduction • Graduation vs. Admission Requirements

16. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Introduction • My Majors

17. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Introduction • My College Plans

18. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • College Applications • College Application Essays

19. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • College Applications • College Comparison Worksheet

20. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • College Applications • Practice Application

21. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • Scholarship Review

22. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • Financial Aid 101

23. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • FAFSA4CASTER

24. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • Making A Budget

25. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • What Financial Aid Can I Get?

26. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Paying For College • Comparing Financial Aid Award Letters

27. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Importance Of Exams • My College ACT/SAT Test Requirements

28. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Importance Of Exams • ACT Tips & Strategies Notes

29. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Importance Of Exams • ACT Mathematics Practice Test

30. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Importance Of Exams • SAT Tips & Strategies Notes

31. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Importance Of Exams • SAT Practice Test

32. PORTFOLIO EXAMPLES • Final Reflection Essay

34. VIDEO

35. Student Feedback • All students surveyed found Explore University to be relevant. • College Search, Scholarships, New Opportunities, Eased Stress. • Most students found the course units to be well organized. • Helped Understand Content, Learn Specific Concepts, Understandable • Some Topics Felt Cluttered, Mostly Easy To Navigate • All students found the instructors to be easily accessible. • Quick Responses, Available At All Hours, Instructors Eager To Help • Most students found feedback was provided in a timely manner. • Feedback Was Important, Relevant, Encouraging, And Helpful • Some Assignments Felt Skimmed Over When Grading • All students found the instructors to be knowledgeable. • Counselors Were Teachers, Understood College Process, Took Personal Goals/Information Into Consideration, Prepared And Ready To Share • All students found the course grading to be fair. • Understanding With Deadlines (Lenient), Flexible, Kept On Track, Comments Were Provided With Each Assignment Graded

36. Student Feedback • All students found Explore University to be beneficial. • Learn And Explore Colleges (Some Not Considered Before), Applications, Scholarships, Essays, Financial Aid, Boosted Confidence • All students found Explore University was challenging. • Intense (Heavy)Workload, Quick Course, Time Investment, Challenged Comfort Zone, Best Effort Required • Favorite Assignment/Experience • Scholarship Writing Prompts, College Tours, Student Biography, Final Reflection Essay, Resume • Proudest Moment • Understanding Senior Year Responsibilities, Senior Year Portfolio, Scholarship Writing Prompts, Giving My Very Best Effort, Resume, Keeping Up On Work/Finishing The Course, Gaining Confidence • Current Thoughts/Feelings About Course • Feel Prepared, College Is Less Scary Now, Staying On Track During Senior Year, Excited And Terrified, What I Want In A College, More Confident, There’s So Much Still To Do

37. Student Feedback • Some students are utilizing their portfolio, all will access soon. • Essay Prompts, Resume, Scholarships, • All students feel better prepared for the college process. • Ready To Apply, Ahead Of Peers, Writing Prompts Completed • Selecting A College… • Easier (Down To 2, Fit, Finalizing Post High School Plans) • Harder (Limits On Major, Picky Now, More Colleges To Consider) • Where To Go From Here… • Applying To Colleges, Applying For Scholarships, Retaking ACT, Interviewing At Colleges, Researching Options • All students would recommend Explore University. • No Clue What They Are Doing, Workload, Jump At Opportunity, Put Forth Best Effort, Helps With College Selection • Advice to prospective students… • Turn Your Work In Early, Get Ahead On Assignments, Be Open, To All Universities, Soak In Experience, Course Is A Tour Guide, You Get What You Give, Pillow & Blanket On Tour Days

38. Student Feedback • Improving Explore University • Extend To One Month Course • More College Tours • Spread Out Tours • Only One College Tour Per Day • Have 1-On-1 Conversations With Students In Person • Revise ACT/SAT Unit • Alter Research/Reflection Assignments • Less Assignments

40. Future Goals • Take Student Feedback Into Consideration • Offer To Seniors • Fall Semester • Offer To Juniors • Spring Semester • Extend Summer Sections • Remove Two Week Course • Add Four Week Course • Award Practical Art Credit • Add 16 Goals For Success To First Lesson

41. CONTACT INFORMATION • Jeremy Wilson • Professional School Counselor • Parkview High School • jwilson@spsmail.org • 417-523-9260 THANK YOU!!!