Exploring Career Clusters

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Exploring Career Clusters A Successful Model
Developed and Implemented in Missouri Ben
Yates, Curriculum Developer Writer Michael
Wright, Project Director Missouri Center for
Career Education Department of Career and
Technology Education Central Missouri State
University Warrensburg, MO
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• Requirements for Model Course
• for Cluster Exploration
• 1. 9th grade Exploratory Course (or 8th grade)
• 2. Template that can be easily replicated
• Focus on careers, not just occupational
• tasks or skill building
• 5. Link to Area Career Centers, Community
• Colleges, and Universities as appropriate
• 6. Link to state and national standards
• Link to KUDER and Comprehensive Guidance

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Course Goals

• Expose students to many different technological
  career fields within Career Clusters.
• Provide realistic experiences from selected
  technological careers within these Clusters.
• Assist the student to gain insights into their
  personal interests and aptitudes with respect to
  these Career Pathways.
• Identify potential career pathways of interest
  and chart a preparation/educational plan required
  for entry into those fields.

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Measurable Learner Objectives

• Perform mathematical operations appropriate for
  the Career Pathway being studied.
• Demonstrate effective oral, written, and visual
  communication in English (including
  industry-specific terminology) appropriate for
  the Career Pathway being studied.
• Conduct scientific investigations appropriate for
  the Career Pathway being studied.
• Demonstrate information technology skills to
  gather, store, analyze, and communicate data
  appropriate for the Career Pathway being studied.
• Source http//www.careerclusters.org/16clusters.
  htm

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Curriculum Format
Three Cluster Units Three Major
Components per Unit Component One
Introduction to Career Cluster Activities to
expose students to Pathways of Occupations
Component Two Cluster Scenario Authentic,
Hands-on Emulate World of Work
Real-Time Sequence Simple to Complex Involve
math and science concepts and language
practice Identify and involve as many
occupations as possible Component
Three Career/Occupation Search Emphasize
Search Process based on Students
Interests Identify Characteristics/Requirements
Education-Working Conditions-Salary/Wage-
Outlook and Education Plan (Secondary Post
Secondary)
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Exploring Career Clusters Course A Architecture
Construction Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Manufacturing
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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1st Step
Identify Occupations To Search
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2nd Step
Search
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3rd Step
Complete Four-Year Program of Study
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Development ofOther Courses

• Scheduled for Completion June 2006
• Course B Arts, A/V Technology, and
  Communications Information Technology and
  Transportation Distribution and Logistics.
• Scheduled for Completion June 2007
• Course C Health Science Human Services
• Course D Education and Training Hospitality and
  Tourism
• Course E Agriculture, Food, and Natural
  Resources Government and Public Administration
  Law, Public Safety, and Security
• Course F Business, Management, and
  Administration Marketing, Sales, and Services
  and Finance

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BUILDING A SEMESTER COURSE

• Cluster Selection
• Based on
• Student needs
• Community needs
• School Size
• Budget
• Teacher Availability

Basic Framework
SEMESTER COURSE
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ProfessionalDevelopment

• The key to successful implementation!

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Training through MCCE RPDC

• Workshop Format
• Session One Introduction to Missouri Career
  Paths / National Career Clusters and Curriculum
  Format/Content
• Sessions Two/Three Hands-on practice while
  examining activities in the program, with
  guidance on implementing the Career Clusters
  concept.
• Workshop Locations
• Local middle/high school facilities
• in eight regions
• Workshop Promotion
• Regional Professional
• Development Centers (RPDC)

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Teachers Feedback

• .I think our students need to experience
• as many different careers as possible through
• middle and lower high school. This program
• provides an excellent opportunity for that to
• happen. I look forward to the next phase and
• what it will provide for me and the students I
  teach.
• Gary Duncan, Moberly Middle School

.I see a real need for the in-depth study and
introduction of careers in our field of study
and see this program is an authentic and
viable addition to the funds spent by the state
for the exceptional Kuder program. This new
curriculum allows the Kuder program to move to
the next level of experiencing careers rather
than simply reading About them. John Petsch,
Practical Arts Coordinator, SLPS
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Teachers Feedback

• Just finished the career cluster workshop
• and it was great. I truly learned a lot and
• the giving up of three Saturdays was well
• worth it. I appreciate DESE supporting
• this and CMSU for writing the curriculum
• and doing the workshops.
• Steve Goodman
• Lafayette Co. High School

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WEB SUPPORT MCCE Developed (in progress) Curriculu
m Support for Students Teachers
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THANK YOU! ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?