Personal Learning Plans

1
Personal Learning Plans School Counseling Keys
to Implementing NCE
Phoenix Career Clusters Institute Wednesday, June
14, 2006 920 1020 Ballroom A-B-C-D
2
PLPs School CounselingWhat Got Us Started?

• Commissioners Challenge

1. New/Shared Mission
2. NDE Policy Changes
3. New Vision for CTE

• Enhanced Partnership with
• School Counseling

3
1. New/Shared MissionNDE . NCE . School
Counseling
To prepare all Nebraskans for . . .

• Living

Learning
Earning
4
2. NDE Policy Changes

• Nebraska Essential Education Policy
• School Accreditation
• By end of 2007-08 schools must . . .
• Offer Career Technical Education focused on
  Career Fields/Clusters
• Prepare Personal Learning Plans for all
  students

5
3. New Vision

• Create a new model for Career and Technical
  Education in Nebraska
• Expand into new career areas
• Ensure equity of program offerings
• Increase rigor and relevance of curriculum
• Enhance partnerships with School Counseling
• Become a part of school improvement

6
Nebraska Career Fields and Clusters Model
7
Clusters Slices available for all 16 clusters
A Closer Look at a Cluster Health Science Career
Cluster
8
4. Enhanced Partnership with School Counseling

• Career Development Model based on ASCA/Nebraska
  Standards
• Career Development Process/Curriculum
• Middle School Introductory Curriculum
• Personal Learning Plan Development

9
Career Development Process

• Career Awareness Elementary School
• Career Exploration/PLP Middle School
• Career Preparation Application/PLP High School

NE School Counseling Career Development Guide
10
Curriculum Built on Education/Industry
Established Knowledge and Skills

• State academic standards
• State/national school counseling competencies
• Foundation knowledge skills common
• to all clusters - CALS Career Life Skills
• Cluster knowledge skills
• Pathway knowledge skills

11
Middle School NCE Introductory Curriculum
Essential Components

• Career Fields/Cluster
• Cluster Foundation Knowledge and Skills
• Personal Learning Plans (PLP)
• Career Exploration
• Career Information
• Postsecondary Options

12
Middle School Introductory Curriculum

• Career Fields/Clusters
• Introduce NCE Model
• Grades 5-6 Six career fields only
• Grades 7 - all 16 career clusters
• Introduce NebraskaCareerConnections.org website
• Build awareness/exploration of 16 clusters
• Cluster Foundation Knowledge and Skills
• Introduce foundation K/S (CALS)
• Stress importance of CALS to achieving . . .
• Learning Earning Living goals
• Complete initial CALS Observation Assessment

13
NebraskaCareerConnectionsCareer Life Skills
Assessment

• CALS Measures . . .
• Student attainment of K/S common to all clusters
• Communication
• Employability and Career Development
• Information Technology Applications
• Leadership and Teamwork
• Legal Responsibilities and Ethics
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Safety and Health
• Systems
• Technical Skills

C A L S
14
NebraskaCareerConnectionsCALS Observation
Assessment

• Integrates . . .
• Career Cluster Foundation Knowledge Skills
• School Counseling Competencies
• Career, Academic, Personal/Social
• Employability (soft) Skills
• SCANS Skills (USDOL 1991)
• Character Education
• 21st Century Skills

C A L S
15
NebraskaCareerConnections CALS Observation
Assessment
C A L S
8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
PS Career

• Student Self Assessment
• Observations by . . .
• Parents
• Counselors
• Teachers
• Coaches
• Mentors
• Employers
• Provides an Average Score
• 9 Competency Areas
• 30 Assessments

• Students
• exhibit
• strengths differently
• in different
• situations
• or environments!

16
Middle School Introductory Curriculum

• 3. Personal Learning Plans (PLP)
• Create/update PLP
• Identify primary cluster/clusters of interest
• Complete and analyze interest/aptitude/skills
  assessments
• Complete program of study

• 4. Career Exploration
• Follow Career Development Model
• Awareness elementary
• Exploration middle school
• Preparation/Application - high school
• Provide extended learning opportunities for all
  students to verify cluster(s) of interest
• job shadowing, career research/interviews, field
  trips, etc.

17
Middle School Introductory Curriculum

• 5. Career Information
• Examine labor market data and workforce trends
  local, state, global

• 6. Postsecondary Options
• Explore postsecondary options related to
  students primary cluster/clusters of interest
• Identify secondary/postsecondary credit-based
  transition options
• Examine financial cost of postsecondary options

18
Personal Learning Plan Purpose

• A framework for setting personal . . .
• Living Goals
• Family Leisure Time
• Work Environment
• Independence
• Geographic Location
• Earning Goals
• Personal Interests, Aptitude, Ability
• Financial Resources for Education/Training
• Learning Goals
• Graduation Requirements
• Career Cluster Goals
• Postsecondary Entrance Requirements

19
Personal Learning Plan Components

• Goal Setting Discussion
• Transcript Review
• PLP Program of Study

20
Middle/HS School Curriculum/PLP Implementation
Issues
PROCESS How will the school/district approach the
Personal Learning Plan (PLP) process? INTEGRATION
In which courses currently offered in 7th 8th
grades would it be logical/feasible to insert
units of instruction focused on awareness/
exploration of career fields and clusters?
21
Middle/HS School Curriculum Implementation Issues

• FUNDING/STAFFING
• Who will teach the M.S. course?
• Who will be responsible for the PLP process?
• How will provide professional development be
  provided for all staff?
• How will parents be involved in the process?

22

• Implementation Tools
• Comprehensive State Career Mgmt Website
• Extensive Professional Development

23
NebraskaCareerConnections.org

• A single statewide portal providing
• Career information
• Lifelong electronic Personal Learning Plans
• Interest, aptitude, and skills assessments
• Programs of study information
• Postsecondary education information
• Labor market information
• Employee/employer resources

24
NebraskaCareerConnections Benefits

• Unified Vision, Mission, Common Language
• Electronic Communication
• Students, Parents, Schools, Agencies,
  Employers
• Integrated Database
• Informed career decision making
• Accountability for career development programs
• No Fee for Services
• Nebraska citizens of all ages

25
Extensive Professional Development

• Annual State CTE Conference
• 4th Annual Nebraska School Counseling Academy
• Nebraska School Counseling Career Dev Guide
• School Counseling website
• www.nde.state.ne.us/cared
• Career Development website
  NebraskaCareerConnections.org

26
21st Century Skills
Preparing all students for SUCCESS!
27
Dreams . . .
I am a child, a youth, I want to grow. I am a
child, a youth, I need to know. I am a child, a
youth, An adult soon to be. I am a child, a
youth, Will you be the key?
28
I am ready to bloom Like a flower on a vine But I
need your help To ferment, like a fine wine. I
am a child in your hand, A challenge indeed. Will
you nourish my dreams? Will you help me succeed?
29
If too long you wait . . . To change . . . To
make plans This fragile child Will wither in your
hand. Remember well, My need to LEARN, EARN,
LIVE. My futures in your hands, What will you
make of it? caj
30
Thank you!
Carol Jurgens gcjurgens_at_cox.net 402-292-6561
31
For further info . . .

• Rich Katt
• Nebraska Career Education State Director
• rich.katt_at_nde.ne.gov
• 402-471-4808
• Donna Vrbka
• School Counseling Specialist
• donna.vrbka_at_nde.ne.gov
• 402-471-4811

32
(No Transcript)