Comprehensive Career Orientation Program for Middle School Students

1. OFFICE OF CAREER EXPLORATION AND PREPARATION CAREER ORIENTATION INTERNSHIP WORKPLACE READINESS GENERAL COOPERATIVE EDUCATION WORKFORCE TECHNOLOGY KEYSTONE Christine Nichols, Program Manager Susan Prater, Program Supervisor Nancy Morris, Secretary

2. CONTACT INFORMATION • Department of Workforce Education • www.work-ed.state.ar.us • E-mail • chris.nichols@state.mail.ar.us • susan.prater@state.mail.ar.us • nancy.morris@state.mail.ar.us • Address # Three Capitol Mall Luther Hardin Building Little Rock, AR 72201 • phone: (501) 682-1616 fax: (501) 682-9440

3. IMPORTANT NOTICE: CO teachers must subscribe to the CO list serve. Previously mailed communication will be conducted through this mailing list.To subscribe:http://list.state.ar.us/mailman/listinfo/cep

4. TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS • Must have valid secondary or middle school teaching license • Endorsement hours: • “Methods of Teaching Career Orientation” • “Hands-on Activities for Career Orientation” • Must complete six (6) hours prior to teaching CO a second year. • Counselors must be certified and must have completed “Hands-on Activities” for endorsement • Programs which do not have endorsed instructors will not be eligible for Workforce Education or Perkins’ funds

5. APPROVAL PROCEDURE • Request for Career Orientation approval should include: • Teacher name • E-mail address • Teacher address • Social security number • School/district • Copy of transcript with endorsement classes highlighted • After review, approval will be forwarded to appropriate persons in ADE

6. Teacher Approval • Universities do not provide the approval for Career Orientation. The approval request must come from the teacher to the Office of Career Guidance, Exploration, and Preparation. • If you do not request the approval from ADWE, your school will be cited as having an unapproved instructor for CO.

7. OBJECTIVE • Career Orientation is a hands-on, activity based class in which students explore the world of work in relationship to their interests, aptitudes, and work values. Students in CO also prepare a Career Action Plan which is updated every year. • Career Orientation is a foundation course for all Workforce Education programs of study. It must be offered to all students at the seventh or eighth grade level for a minimum of one semester.

8. UNITS OF STUDY • WORLD OF WORK • SELF-AWARENESS • DECISION MAKING • CAREER RESEARCH • CAREER EXPLORATION • EMPLOYMENT SKILLS • ENTREPRENEURSHIP • EDUCATION & TRAINING • CAREER PLANNING

9. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS • Hands-on Activities (emphasis on integrated activities) • Guest Speakers • Job Shadowing • Audio/Visual Aids • Field Trips • Student Organization Activities • Lecture • Career Research (emphasis on use of technology)

10. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS • Tables/desks with work surfaces • Adequate storage • Computer for classroom management • Computers for student use/internet access • Camera/Audio-visual equipment • Textbooks/workbooks • Research materials • Computer software/Internet access with appropriate subscriptions when applicable

11. CONTESTS • Poster (December 1 and April 1) • Video (April 1) • Scrapbook (April 1) • Community Service (April 1) • Career Panorama (Summer In-service) • New-Technology Contest

12. INSERVICE • New teacher in-service (September 24-25, 2003) • Summer in-service (July 28-29, 2003) • ACTE (August 3-5, 2003) Teachers are required to attend in-service in order to receive Carl Perkins funds for program improvement activities. Perkins funds can be used to pay for in-service costs, if the in-service is not

13. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS • ACOTA (Arkansas Career Orientation Teachers’ Association - $10.00) • ACTE (Association of Career and Technical Education - $80.00*) *This amount includes Arkansas and National Association dues.

14. CAREER ACTION PLANS • Biographical Information • Career Focus/Career Major • Inventories/Test Scores • Honors/Achievements/Activities • Employment Record • Portfolio Examples • Four Year Plan of Courses

15. ADVISORY COMMITTEE • Highly recommended STUDENT ORGANIZATION • Career Orientation-recommended

16. PROGRAM EVALUATION STANDARDS • Instructional Personnel • Instructional Facilities • Instructional Planning • Instructional Equipment (Perkins equipment should be labeled) • Instructional Materials • Instructional Activities • Program Improvement Activities • Program Development

17. INFORMATION LINKS • Department of Workforce Education Page www.work-ed.state.ar.us • Program Policies • Perkins Information • Course Description • Framework • Equipment Lists • Contest Guidelines • Registration Information and Forms for In-service • ACOTA Membership Forms • CO Club Information/Sample By-Laws • The Communicator, program newsletter • Report Forms/Portals • Other Important Links

18. LINKS-CONTINUED • ACOTA Web Page www.clt.astate.edu/dagnew/ • ACOTA information • Course information • CO Club information • Related links • Contact information

19. LINKS-CONTINUED • Career Information Sources • http://online.onetcenter.org/ * • http://www.acinet.org/acinet * • http://bls.gov/oco/ • Electronic Portfolios • http://ark.kuder.com* • Career Exploration • http://www.conovercompany.com/ * • http://www.realgame.com/ • Career Information Delivery System • http://www.arkoscar.org/ * • Miscellaneous Sites • http://www.v-tecs.org/ * • Other resources and activities are posted on the cep list serve on a regular basis.