Enhancing Computer Literacy for Job Hunting Success

1. The Expectation of Computer literacy in Job hunting: Overcoming the content and language demands Presenter: Mallory Fix Lopez Affiliations: Temple University College of Education and the Garces Foundation

2. The Job Hunt

3. Workforce Education Standards • By the end of the workshop, teachers will be able to... • ...feel more equipped to facilitate a learning environment that is conducive to learning workplace skills, such as job hunting • Standard 1-Establish an environment conducive to learning workplace skills. • ...facilitate lessons that are directly linked to students’ employment goals-obtaining a job • Standard 2 Instruct guided by knowledge of students’ employment goals and opportunities • ....give their students the resource of the internet for job seeking purposes, taking students beyond the concept of finding jobs through word of mouth. • Standard 3-Facilitate connections with systems and resources • ...empower their students to be independent job seekers through facilitating guided practice that they can then continue at home. • Standard 4-Plan, prepare, and facilitate student centered workplace instruction

4. Agenda • Part I: What is computer literacy? • Part II: What are the consequences of low literacy (computer and language?) • Part III: Confidence in the Job Hunt • Part IV: Time to Apply • Part V: Webquest

5. Part I: Computer Literacy

6. What is computer literacy? • Starting the computer/logging on (cntrl+alt+delete) • Opening, saving, and printing files • Reading and sending email messages, including attachments • Downloading attachments (and converting, if necessary) • Using simple software • Creating tables/charts • Editing documents, photos,etc. • Using the Internet to find information • Completing online applications and registration • Java • TROUBLESHOOTING!

7. A digital divide • Imagine that you are looking for a job- in any field. Where is the first place you would begin your search? • Newspaper • Flyers on Telephone Polls • Phone a friend • Internet • Walk in

9. A digital divide • According to the Pew Research Center in a February 2014 report: • 81% of adults use computers • Only 66% of those with high school diploma or less use computers regulary • Only 65% of those with a household income of less than $30,000 use computers regularly • However, 96% of individuals with a household income of $75,000 use computers regularly http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/27/part-1-how-the-internet-has-woven-itself-into-american-life/

10. Literacy Divide • According to Proliteracy.org, in 2012, of adults over 16yrs of age : • http://www.proliteracy.org/the-crisis/adult-literacy-facts

11. Part II: Consequences of Illiteracy What are the potential consequences? • Turn and Talk with the person closest to you

12. Consequences of Low Literacy • According to Proliteracy.org (2012): • among those with the lowest literacy rates, 43% live in poverty • 75% of state prison inmates and 59% of federal prison inmates did not finish high school or can be classified as low literate • The effects of low literacy cost the U.S. more than $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce and the loss of tax revenue due to unemployment. http://www.proliteracy.org/the-crisis/adult-literacy-facts

13. Double Duty • Low computer literacy • Low literacy

14. Triple Threat • Low computer literacy • Low literacy • Non-native speaker of English

15. Part III: Confidence in the Job Hunt

16. Feelings...

17. Feelings...

18. Part IV: Time to Apply It’s important to continue to talk to students about feelings and confidence throughout the application process.

19. Resumes..references..interviews..oh my!

20. PT • FT • OT • TBD • BOH/FOH • Yrs. Exp. • No exp. necessary • 2 refs. • M-F ,9-2

22. Please visit our website... • to find more information about employement opportunities

23. And another... • Community College of Philadelphia

24. Student Support • 1. Build Confidence • Job Hunting Journey Journal • Consider doing an online blog • Discuss feelings and ‘emotional rollercoaster’ • 2. Explicitly Teach vocabulary • Allow students to encounter words in multiple ways • Facilitate activities that allows them to use the word

25. Student Support • 3. Gather necessary information in advance • Contact info • Full formal name • Address, phone number • Working email address (necessary for online applications) • References • Full names • Contact Info • Ask or notify reference • Prior work history • Chronological order- most recent to oldest • Dates, supervisors, tasks of job

26. Resumes • Resume writing • will allow students to compile all necessary information in one location • will give them a piece of paper to present at a job interview • will allow them to have it available upon request • will allow them to feel prepared and knowledgeable to navigate the job-hunting process • Resume.com

27. Summary • Emotional Support and Encouragement • Journaling – consider online blogging • Explicit Teaching of Vocabulary • Not just matching definitions to words, but rather using the vocabulary • Consider assigning a few vocabulary words to use in their journal writing • Authentic Assignments • Learning by Doing ...but with support. • Building of Computer Literacy • Practice online (not just paper applications in class) • Gently force troubleshooting and problem solving • Use Think Alouds in troubleshooting

28. Web Quests • Please log on to the computers • Go to philaliteracy.org • Click on link to today’s conference • Click on Sessions at a Glance • Scroll down to Concurrent Session 3 • Under this presentation description you will see 3 word documents; please open