The Apprentice
Developed by T.M. Batterson tmb982@psu.edu
http://www.galetonyetclub.wcbt.net
Overview
| Introduction
| Quest(ions) | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion
Overview
This
WebQuest challenges high school students to discover how well they will
actually succeed in today’s work force and consequently their own futures. They will discover what skills are needed to
be competitive in the 21st Century and help them to be able make informed
decisions in preparing for future careers.
This
lesson is primarily aimed at Life Skills for middle school grade levels, but
can easily be adapted to include high school.
Curriculum
Standards
Academic
Standards for Career Education and Work
Explain and
demonstrate conflict resolution skills:
- Constructive criticism
- Group dynamics
- Managing/leadership
- Mediation
- Negotiation
- Problem solving
Academic
Standards for Science and Technology
Apply basic
computer communications systems.
·
Identify and explain various types of on-line services.
·
Identify and explain the function of the parts of a basic
network.
·
Describe and apply the components of a web page and their
function.
·
Explain and demonstrate file transfer within and outside of
a computer network.
(Page 27 22 PA Code Chapter 4 Appendix B) from Pennsylvania
Department of Education
Resources
- Computers with Internet access
- MS Publisher or any desktop publishing
program
- School librarian and library resources
Introduction
The Apprentice WebQuest is the ultimate,
six-week job interview, where students compete in a series of rigorous business
tasks, many of which will require technical skills and intelligence to conquer,
in order to show “the board” that they are the best candidate to be hired. “The
board” will be looking for people with the right skills to do the jobs,
technical skills, personal skills, literacy skills, team players, problem
solvers. Each week, the losing team is “sent
to the boardroom” where somebody will hear the words … “You’re Fired!”
In this WebQuest you will seek to
answer the questions…
Which
skills are required in the 21st Century work force, and how do I prepare myself
to be successful?
Quest(ions)
The Task
Be the first team to complete the following
assignments (You will have 1 week to complete each assignment. The final project will be due in 6 weeks).
The Process
- Week 1: Choose teams and a career path. Pick a
Project Manager, Researcher, Art Director, Writer and a Presenter/PR
Person. Be prepared to give an oral
presentation of your choices and the reasoning process you used to make
them. Week 2: Discover which skills
and qualities are required for your career path to work in the 21st
Century work force. Go to Occupational Outlooks to learn more about
the qualifications for each job. Present a written and oral overview of
your findings. Be sure to include a
list of the resources you used.
- Week 3: List how to you prepare yourself to meet
these requirements. Conduct a job search to see what
is available. Include a resource list that includes at least (1)
educational resource, (1) community resource, (1) county resource, and (1)
online resource. Visit the US Department
of Labor to learn about changing trends in the labor force. Consult the resources
for articles on preparing for the 21st Century work force. Each one choose
an article to read and report back to your team. Find the 10 Hottest Jobs of the 21st Century, and
their requirements. Explain what makes these jobs are so
"Hot" in our societyGive an oral presentation with handouts.
- Week 4: Conduct interviews with at least (1) person
from your career choice and (1) educator/trainer from your career
path. Present video of interviews.
·
Week 5: Produce a
website and/or Power Point Presentation of all of your findings.
·
Week 6: Submit a multi-media presentation of your findings to
other students who are also preparing to take their place in today’s high-tech,
competitive job force. Consider using
such formats as:
1.
Flowcharts
2.
Web Pages
3.
Handouts
4.
Brochures
5.
Power Point
Resources
· Pennsylvania
Department of Education
· Ten Hottest Jobs
· Get Tech
|
Evaluation
Each team will be
evaluated on:
1. Creativity: The demonstration
of imagination, problem-solving techniques, artistic skills, etc.
2.
Innovation: An assessment of the proposed solution's uniqueness, the
use of technology to solve the problem and the potential impact of the solution
on the community or in general.
3. Accuracy: An assessment of
the application of technology and an evaluation of the methods used to research
the topic and to test the proposed solution.
4.
Feasibility: An assessment of the likelihood that the solution will work
as presented based on relevant economic, political and social issues. Higher
points will be given to plans that are developed fully versus plans that need
adjustments to succeed.
5. Communication: Includes observance
of the WebQuest guidelines , as well as grammar, writing skills, organization
of the facts and data and use of multimedia skills. Project should show a consistent
display and presentation.
Points
Each entry is assigned a numerical
score by each judge as follows:
·
Creativity: 20 points
·
Innovation: 20 points
·
Technology: 25 points
·
Feasibility: 10 points
·
Communication: 25
points
Conclusion
This project was designed to have fun, inspire, motivate, and instill
out-of-the-box thinking for the future – which begins today! You will each be asked the following
questions in your final interview for a possible bonus of up to 25 points.
- How could you have communicated your role
on the team better?
- What would have done differently on your
team? How might this difference have
changed the outcome of your task(s)?
- Do you feel you could have been more
flexible? Could you have compromised
with your team more to come a resolution?
Or do you feel that you yieled to team pressure too much?
- What did you learn about today’s work
force? Why would the things you
learned be important in your preparation for a career?
Have fun, learn lots and may the best
team win!!
Possible Career Paths/Project Topics
Art
- Computer Animation
- Digital
Photographer
- Web
Page Designer
- Writer
and/or illustrator
Engineering/Industrial
- Robotics Technologist
GIS/GPS
- Agriculture
- Military
- Surveyor
Information Technology
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Database Administrator
- Internet
Consultant
Science
·
Nanotechnology