Content Area: Technological Literacy
Grade Level: 9-12 / Author Information:
Name: Bonnie Durante
School: Camden County Technical Schools, Pennsauken Campus
District: Camden County Technical Schools
County: Camden
Student Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Identify and perform required skills necessary for applying for a job.
2. Design and create a resume and properly formatted, error-free cover letter.
3. Participate in an interview properly dressed.
4. Prepare a properly formatted, error-free follow-up letter.
5. List concerns that must be addressed in the disorganized office.
6. Discuss office functions with a business owner.
7. List concerns about office procedures and project ways of solving the problems.
8. Organize and prioritize activities.
9. Organize and label files.
10. Collect, record, evaluate, and answer telephone messages.
11. Organize a weekly calendar of events.
12. Record events in a calendar using a pencil and paper calendar.
13. Evaluate budgetary concerns within the office.
14. Recommend a record system for maintenance of monies going out and coming into the office.
15. Implement an accounting system.
16. Design a professional system, using a computerized record keeping software program. / NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards
Content Area / Standard / Grade / Strand / CPI
Technological Literacy / 8.1 / 12 / A / 1,2,3,6
Technological Literacy / 8.1 / 12 / B / 2,3,4,5,6,7,
8,9,10,11,12
Technology Education / 8.2 / 12 / A / 1
Technology Education / 8.2 / 12 / B / 2,3
Technology Education / 8.2 / 12 / C / 3
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.1 / 12 / A / 5
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.1 / 12 / B / 1,2,3,4
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.2 / 12 / A / 1,2,3,4,5
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.2 / 12 / B / 2,3
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.2 / 12 / C / 2
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.2 / 12 / D / 3,5
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills / 9.2 / 12 / F / 3,4,5
Language Arts Literacy / 3.3 / 12 / A
C
D / 1,3
1
2,3,5
Language Arts Literacy / 3.2 / 12 / B / 6,7
Language Arts Literacy / 3.2 / 12 / C / 1,2,3,4,5,7
Language Arts Literacy / 3.2 / 12 / D / 1,4,5,6,7
Language Arts Literacy / 3.4 / 12 / A / 1,2
Language Arts Literacy / 3.4 / 12 / B / 1
Purpose and Overview:
The purpose of this lesson is to develop career awareness and understand associated responsibilities in the workplace. Work for this project involves developing a resume, applying for a job, identifying needed skills in an office environment, and using computer skills to complete written assignments.
Scenario: The summer of your junior year is quickly approaching. You desperately need full-time employment for the summer and possibly into the school year, if the hours coordinate with your courses. You are a student in the School of Business and Commerce Department at a local high school that has a Cooperative Education Program for senior students who qualify. You are studying Legal Assisting and Administration. Your goal for your future includes graduating from high school, finding full-time employment in your chosen field and possibly continuing your education part-time. You have located a potential employer who is a lawyer and needs immediate help organizing and maintaining his office. He has been trying to juggle all aspects of the office and his professional legal duties for at least a year. His office is in shambles. He hasn’t been paid in months and has missed deadlines, appointments, and phone messages. You have the opportunity to apply for the position of legal administrative office manager. How might you present yourself during the interview, so that your impressive organizational skills are recognized?
Instructional Activity:
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1 Computer with word processing capabilities
1 Printer
1 Pencil
1 Pad of writing paper
Prior to the Activity:
Students will have coursework and demonstrate proficient skills in the following:
1. Alphabetic filing;
2. Subject filing;
3. Telephone techniques; including taking neat and proper telephone messages, answering and placing calls, and maintaining appropriate call directories for reference;
4. Bookkeeping skills; including accurately recording payments to the business and disbursements from the business, and petty cash procedures and records;
5. Organizing and maintaining calendar information for the lawyer, as well as tickler files for the office manager;
6. Basic to intermediate level word processing skills; and
7. Designing letterhead stationery and preparing a business style letter.
In addition, students will demonstrate skills related to preparing for an interview and participating in the job interview process:
1. Preparing an appropriate resume with a list of references;
2. Completing a job application;
3. Appropriate dress and behavior at the interview; and
4. Follow-up communication related to the interview process.
Activity Design:
1. Students will create a properly formatted resume and include references.
2. Students will schedule “appointments” with an adult representative to interview for the legal administrative position.
3. Students will be properly dressed on the day of the interview and be evaluated by the interviewer. Students must bring resume and references.
4. Students will complete a job application and complete the job interview.
5. Students will prepare a properly formatted follow-up letter in mail able form.
6. Upon receiving job notification, students will prepare a written report including the program they would implement for the organization of the lawyers office. All items in the activity description must be addressed (see Items #1-5 in the “Prior to the Activity” section). Include reasons for utilizing organizational activities for each item.
Assessment Strategies: Rubrics (see attachments #1 and #2)
Students will create a resume, cover letter, participate in a formal job interview, prepare a follow-up letter, and prepare a written evaluation of the business with respect to the correct handling of missing telephone messages, unaccounted for monies coming into and going out of the business, lost appointments, misfiled information, and general disorganization with all correspondence and communications within the office. Students will design and prepare a sample letterhead document.
Rubric attached for all aspects. See Rubric for the Messy Office--#1 and Checklist for Project--#2
Teacher may want to break down the project into more specific areas with points assigned to each area.
Resume: 10 points
Format & Error Free / 3
Content / 4
References / 3
Student total / ______
Teacher develops other point values. See possible points at end of this lesson.
Additional Information:
This project may be used as a final project or exam for the year. Students should have a working knowledge of word processing, interviewing skills, job application skills, filing, record keeping, telephone techniques, and office procedures. The time allotted for this project should be one week in a “traditional” 40-minute business class.
Rubric for the Messy Office--#1
1 point / Progressing
2 points / Proficient
3 points / Exemplary
4 points / Score
Resume, reference list, cover letter, and follow-up letter prepared but not error-free and/or participated in an interview, but not appropriately dressed. / The previous criteria were met with no errors and appropriately dressed for the interview. A job application was properly completed. / The previous criteria were met and an appropriate letterhead style was created and printed. Additionally, a report was prepared and printed on the computer detailing each function in the office, how you would correct the problem, and why you would utilize the specific activities to correct the situation should be included. / The previous criteria were met and recommendations for appropriate phone systems and specific software programs to address the accounting needs of the office. Reasons for the use of these items are included with this information.
Checklist for Project--#2
Components / Criteria / Maximum Point Value / Student Score/s / CommentsResume / Properly formatted / 8
Includes list of references / 7
Interview / Scheduled with adult / 4
Properly dressed for the position / 6
Presented resume and references to interviewer / 4
Job Application / Completed fully / 8
Follow-up Letter / Properly formatted / 6
Has properly addressed envelope / 3
Project on Organizing the Office
Filling system / By subject and alphabetical order / 15
Telephone messaging system / Has system for answering and placing calls. Maintains appropriate reference directories / 15
Bookkeeping system / Accurately records payments and disbursements of the funds to the business / 15
Establishes a system of organizing events/calendar/directions, etc. / 12
Design of letterhead stationery / 7
Note: All materials need to be prepared in a professional format using the appropriate technology. / Total Possible 100