HIGH SCHOOL

CLASSROOM READY CURRICULUM

INTRODUCTION TO CALIFORNIA CAREER CENTER

AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION’S DOMAIN:

Career Development

Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed decisions.

Competency 1. Develop Career Awareness

Indicator g.Understand the importance of planning

Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.

Competency 1. Acquire Career Information

Indicator f. Learn to use the Internet to access career-planning information

Academic Development

Standard C: Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community.

Competency 1. Relate School to Life Experiences

Indicator f. Understand how school success and academic achievement enhance future career and vocational opportunities

ACTIVITY: students will be introduced to the California Career Center and set up an account.

TARGET GROUP: High School (9th grade)

GOAL: Students will use the California Career Center website to assist them with career and college planning.

SUMMARY:

MATERIALS:

  • Instructor Notes
  • Computers with Internet access for students
  • Computer with the ability to project on to a large screen for the school counselor
  • Projector
  • Worksheet:Navigate Your Way through the California Career Center Website

STRATEGIES:

  • Introduction to the subject (see Instructor Notes, Section I).
  • Explain that the students will be getting a big-picture view of the website they will be using over the next several activities.
  • Distribute the worksheet and review the directions.
  • Have the students access the California Career Center website

( and begin the scavenger hunt.

  • Allow time to work.
  • Review the correct answers for the worksheet using the “Key” provided.
  • Using your computer, have the students follow your directions as you take them through setting up an account (see Instructor Notes II).
  • Closing statements (see Instructor Notes III).

ESTIMATED TIME: 1 class period

EVALUATION TOOL:Number of students who set up an account.

HIGH SCHOOL

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE

CALIFORNIA CAREER CENTER WEBSITE

You are going to spend time navigating through the California Career Center Website. You will find tools to help you map your future and become acquainted with the many resources available to assist you as you do this. You will also setup your own account on the website.

Your navigation technique will be a scavenger hunt where you will be sent around the site gathering information and resources for investigating careers that fit your personality, looking ahead to postsecondary options including college, and many other options. Let’s begin.

  • Log on to the website; you are at the homepage
  • Click on “Quick Start” in the left navigation bar
  • Click on “Frequently Asked Questions”

Your quest begins here! Use the resources under each heading to gather the requested information.

Home Section

1. Name three(3) links in the User’s Guide

______

______

______

2. What is the Youth Crisis Line telephone number?______

Middle & High SchoolSection

1. What does CTE stand for?

______

2. What are CTE classes designed to do?

______

3. How many industry sectors are in CTE?_____

4. What do the California Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCP) provide?

______

5. Who may attend ROCP classes?

______

Career Options Section

1. Complete this sentence – Exploring jobs that interest you will help you…

______

2. What three (3) important skills and qualities are employers looking for in the workplace?

______

3. The California CareerZone is a good place to go to identify your skills and interests.

How many options are available on the home page of the California CareerZone for you to use? _____

4. Name the options.

______

Getting a Job Section

1. What is Job Shadowing?

______

2. List five (5) resources to help you find your first job.

______

______

______

______

3. If you are a minor (under the age of 18) and want to work, you must get a work permit. Who issues work permits to minors?

______

Education & Training Section

1. There are many colleges and universities to choose from in California. What is the total number? _____

2. Which state has more colleges and universities than California?_____

3. List three (3) resources that you might like to use when choosing a college that is rightfor you.

______

______

______

5. What does CSU stand for?

______

6. What does UC stand for?

______

Challenges Section

1. Name four (4) challenges students may face.

______

______

______

______

Money Management Section

1. Review the Tips to Reduce Your Cost for Postsecondary Education. What is a large
part of your college cost and how can you cut this cost down?

______

______

NEXT WE WILL REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS AND THEN SET UP YOUR “MY STUFF” ACCOUNT.

HIGH SCHOOL

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE

CALIFORNIA CAREER CENTER WEBSITE KEY

You are going to spend time navigating through the California Career Center Website. You will find tools to help you map your future and become acquainted with the many resources available to assist you as you do this. You will also set up your own account on the website.

Your navigation technique will be a scavenger hunt where you will be sent around the site gathering information on looking ahead to college, investigating careers that fit your personality and many other options. Let’s begin…

  • Log on to the website; you are at the homepage
  • Click on “Quick Start”
  • Click on “Frequently Asked Questions”

Your quest begins here! Use the resources under each heading to gather the requested information.

Home

1. Name three (3) links in the User’s Guide

  • My Stuff;
  • Middle and High School;
  • Career Options;
  • Getting a Job;
  • Education and Training;
  • Challenges;
  • Money Management;
  • Videos

2. What is the Youth Crisis Line telephone number?1-800-843-5200

Middle & High School

1. What does CTE stand for? Career Technical Education

2. What are CTE classes designed to do?

To prepare you for occupations needed in your community and the state; they help you achieve your career desires and needs.

3. How many industry sectors are in CTE? (15)

4. What are Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROPC)?

In partnership with local high school districts and the business community, Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCP) classes prepare students for work by providing them marketable skills and work ethics to build and keep a career.

5. Who can attend ROCP classes?

ROCP classes are open to high school students (16 years of age and older) and adults. Students under age 16 must have counselor, school administrator, or parent approval.

Career Options

1. Complete this sentence – Exploring jobs that interest you will help you…

...get a better sense of who you are, where you’re going, and how you’ll get there.

2. What three (3) important skills and qualities are employers looking for in the workplace?

  • Information and communication skills;
  • thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • interpersonal and self-directional skills.

3. The California CareerZone is a good place to go to identify your skills and interests.

How many options are available on their home page for you to use? (3)

  1. Name the options:
  2. Assess Yourself
  3. Explore Job Families
  4. Making Money Choices

Getting a Job

  1. What is Job Shadowing?

Job shadowing involves spending time with someone who’s actually doing the work and/or volunteering to help out in the workplace.

  1. List five (5) resources to help you find your first job.
  • Networking with friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, employers, clergy
  • School Work Experience Office
  • School Career Center
  • Knocking on employers’ doors (for example, at malls or supermarkets)
  • Using the Yellow Pages to call possible employers
  • Employment Openings posted in some public libraries
  • Internet
  • Temporary Employment Agencies
  • Public Employment Agencies
  • Help Wanted Classified Ads
  • Volunteer Work
  • CalCRN’s Find and Get the Right Job [PDF] and Succeed at Work [PDF].
  1. If you are a minor (under the age of 18) and want to work, you must get a work permit. Who issues work permits to minors?

You get your work permit from your school.

Education & Training

1. There are many colleges and universities to choose from in California. What is the total number? (221)

2. Which state has more colleges and universities than California? (None)

3. How many resources are listed that can help you choose the right college? (7)

4. List three (3) resources that you might like to use when choosing a college that is right for you.

  • College Nights,
  • Print Material,
  • Virtual Tours,
  • Internet,
  • Talk to Alumni,
  • Talk to School Counselor,
  • Visit Colleges

5. What does CSU stand for?California State University

6. What does UC stand for?University of California

Challenges

1. Name four (4) challenges students may face.

  • Disabilities;
  • Foster;
  • Homeless/transient;
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender;
  • Migrant;
  • Military Dependents;
  • Pregnant/Parenting;
  • Special Education;
  • Undocumented

Money Management

1. Review the Tips to Reduce Your Cost for Postsecondary Education. What is a large part of your college cost and how can you cut this cost down?

Living expenses are a large part of college costs and living at home and commuting to college is a sure way to save money.

HIGH SCHOOL

INSTRUCTOR NOTES FOR THE

INTRODUCTION TO CALIFORNIA CAREER CENTER

  1. Introduction to the subject:

Now that you are in high school, the world may appear wide open to you as you look forward to your next four years. But you might be somewhat anxious about all the decisions you need to make before graduating. Should I consider going straight to work? Should I plan to go into a job training program like apprenticeship? Should I plan to go to college? Should I plan something else? It is never too soon to start thinking about those decisions. In fact, there are things you can do right now to start planning, including setting career and college goals. Over the next several weeks (months), you will be working on activities that will assist you with the planning and decision making process. The first step is to get acquainted with the California Career Center (CalCC) website which will be a primary resource for your planning as well as storing the information you gather during the process.

  1. Setting up a CalCC account:
  • From the home page click on “My Stuff” on the left side of the screen.
  • Click on “Profile” to create an account.
  • Instruct the students to fill in the requested information: E-mail address, Password, First Name, School, Zip Code (of school), Grade.
  • Scroll down to “Why did you come to California Career Center” and have students mark the box “It was an assignment.” Next, under “To Learn About...,” select content that looks interesting to you.
  • At the bottom of the page, click on “Submit.” You will see the notification “your profile has been saved.” If you do not see this notification, tell your instructor.
  • Log off.

You now have a place to save all the information you will be gathering about yourself, your interests, your values, your skills, possible career choices, a plan to reach the goals you have set, and a worksheet laying out how to achieve your goals and your plans.

III. Closing statement:

Now that you have navigated the website and set up an account, you are ready for the next activity where you will investigate your interests. Your interests drive and dictate many of your decisions. By identifying yourinterests, you will be able to understand how they relate to various aspects of your life, allowing you to make wise decisions regarding your college and career pursuits.

IV. Collecting Results Data:

Process: Number of students who set up an account.