Quick Reference Resources

One-Half Credit course

General Directions:

You will be participating in a logical progression of tasks that will help you prepare to make informed decisions about your future life plans. This course will only work if you are willing to actively participate in creative ways. The course has been designed to be practical, informative and current. If you see a way to modify the requirements of this course, to benefit your personal growth and development, please feel free to take your idea to the instructor responsible for monitoring you and see about its viability.

To Successfully complete this course you will need the following tools: 1) an internet web connection; 2) printer with paper; 3) notebook to collect and organize web site results; 4) red and green highlight markers to code results for future review (different colors are fine if colorblindness is a concern); 5) a black pen to make notations on the retrieved results from the web exercises; 6) a three-hole punch; and 7) click here to download the Course Outline Check List. Please retain a copy of every interactive web exercise you do for the purpose of creating a personalized portfolio. Your personal portfolio may grow to one-hundred pages or more, so for easy access and organizational purposes please keep each section separate from the other with a notebook and divider system of you own preference. The portfolio you build will be an invaluable tool for you to use presently as well as in the future when additional goal setting is necessary.

A short writing assignment, of 3-5 pages, will be required for the purpose of reviewing your discoveries while completing the web assignments. Items to include in the written review are personality traits, interests, values, strengths, school choices, financial needs, potential scholarships and general goals and direction. Please try to make the review as autobiographical and personal as possible (see additional ideas at the end of course outline). If you cannot be definitive about your future plans, a review of what you have learned about yourself and general statements about your future will suffice. In addition to the writing assignment, two interviews with individuals employed in two different fields of your interest will be required. You may design the interview questions to meet you personal needs, but suggestions include: 1) job satisfaction; 2) why interviewee chose that field; 3) advancement potential; 4) educational requirements; 5) future fob outlook; 6) income potential, etc. The interview may be recorded or summarized in written form, whichever method is preferred by the interviewee.

A review conference with a school counselor is required to obtain credit for this course. The portfolio results you bring to the conference will be invaluable information for the counselor to use in professional consultation with you. To obtain you instructor’s professional assistance, bring to the conference any unanswered questions you may have.

You are encouraged to review the entire portfolio with your parent of guardian. If you Parent/guardian would desire to confer with a professional about the results of your portfolio and your future plans, please ask your instructor for an appointment.