It’s critical today to emphasize career planning to help students learn what their futures may look like, according to an article in eSchool News. Too often, K-12 students aren’t exposed to career possibilities or career resources to form an idea of what their future may look like.
“There’s a disconnect between what students know they want to learn and what they do learn,” writes Joanna McCumber, a digital integration specialist for Anderson School District 5 in South Carolina.
Students have the aptitudes (or natural talents) for the nation’s most in-demand career fields – including healthcare, manufacturing, technology and finance – but they are not inclined to pursue those occupations due to a profound lack of exposure, according to The 2024 State of the Future U.S. Workforce Report from tech provider YouScience.
“Many high school classrooms still use outdated college and career preparation models, which can leave high school graduates feeling unprepared for their future,” says Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience.
A survey commissioned by American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) found that both parents and educators lack sufficient information about the range and quality of education to career pathways available to young people today. The survey and accompanying white paper, Beyond Degrees, found nearly 90 percent of parents are interested in learning more about non-degree pathways for their children, and two in five want schools to start advising students about their postsecondary options as early as middle school.
How to meet the needs of students and their parents:
- To start, embrace how classroom learning connects to future careers. Make learning relevant to careers and the real world to increase engagement and interest in lessons.
- Recognize the existing information gap. More than a million credentials are available through various programs and organizations. There is a vast array of degree and non-degree options, including certificate programs, apprenticeships, short-term credentials and professional licenses. There is little information on which non-degree paths lead to meaningful, quality jobs and careers.
“Too many young people are leaving high school without clarity on where they’re going next or how to get there. In fact, less than half of respondents who identified as members of Generation Z said they had enough information to decide what post-high school pathway was best for them,” said Judy Goldstein, SVP, PR/Communications, ASA.
- Provide increased equitable access to the information, including free digital resources to help students find the path after high school that’s right for them.
McCumber, the digital integration specialist in South Carolina, uses several career planning tools:
- Discovery Education’s Career Connect can virtually connect students with industry professionals to talk about their careers, the concepts they use to solve problems and the path they have taken to get to where they are today.
- A Day in the Life is a free digital archive of first-hand accounts of what it’s like to work in a specific field or role. Students can research jobs that reflect their interests and get energized about the future.
- Forage uses free job simulations to expose students to a wide array of careers and skills. Students get unique insight into professional experiences through partnerships with popular companies such as J.P. Morgan and Lululemon that allow students to develop industry-related skills and explore real-life projects.
“More educators and counselors will focus on aligning their students’ educational experiences with the demands of the job market so that they are better prepared to pursue college and/or career pathways that will empower them to succeed,” says Barton.
eSchool News
