My (Future) Life
Career Exploration
We hope that My (Future) Life videos will inspire students to choose careers in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
Here are some resources you might find helpful as you help your students to investigate STEM careers.
What can I do with this major?
http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/how-to-use-this-resource/
This resource can help you connect majors with careers. An outline of common career areas, typical employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities is provided for each major. Website links that provide related information about listed majors and careers are also available.
Ohio Career Information System - OCIS
The Ohio Career Information System is a tool for career exploration and is available to all Ohio educators. OCIS provides some of the most current information to help with career and educational planning. It can provide detailed, up-to-date descriptions of occupations and schools. You will need your school's username and password to login to OCIS.
Career Planning
http://www.ohio.edu/careers/students/majorAndCareerExploration.cfm
Ohio University Career Services provides step-by-step suggestions for exploring a career of interest including: self-assessment; exploring options; getting experience; and planning for the future. While some of the links on this site are restricted, the information should prove helpful for students.
University Career Services
Most universities have an Office of Career Services to assist students and alumni with the career development and job search process. It is important that students start thinking about career development early in their academic career. Career services provides major and career advising, job search assistance, online career development and job search resources, workshops, and three annual career fairs. Use this link to show your students some of the support services available to them when they go on to college.
Browse by STEM Discipline - O*NET OnLine
http://www.onetonline.org/find/stem?t=0&g=Go
Find occupations that require education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Suggestions for Viewing
To maximize student engagement and learning it is recommended that teachers show only one My (Future) Life Career video during a session, and that each showing follows a protocol similar to the one suggested below. The use of this protocol provides teachers with an evaluation tool to gauge student interest and learning:
- Are students more knowledgeable of the STEM career?
- Do they have a better understanding of how to prepare for their future life in a specific career?
- Do they have a deeper interest in pursuing a STEM career?
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Student Assessment
Pre/Post Assessment of Student Content and Attitudinal Knowledge
Essential Questions to Guide Your Students’ Learning
DATA COMMUNICATION - Dr. Julio Arauz - Information and Telecommunication Systems (ITS)
FORESTRY MANAGEMENT - Bob Sabo - Forestry Management
INDUSTRIAL CERAMICS ENGINEER - Gail Jordan - Industrial Ceramics Engineer
MATHEMATICIAN - Dr. Todd Young - Mathematician
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING - Dr. Robert W. Chase - Petroleum Engineering
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - Casey Brooks - Sustainable Agriculture
WIND ENERGY - Dr. Carole Womeldorf, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Ohio University
Dr. Carole Womeldorf, Mechanical Engineering - Wind Power
- Profile: http://www.ohio.edu/emeriti/upload/EmeritiNov2010Newsletter.pdf
- Web page: http://www.ohio.edu/people/womeldor/
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What kinds of careers are associated with mechanical engineers?
- What is the typical education pathway for a mechanical engineer?
- What role does mathematics play in the study of wind power?
- Other than money, what makes a job/career interesting?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- What are fluid mechanics and how does it relate to the world around us?
- What is a mathematical model and how does Dr. Womeldorf use one?
- What are some major world problems that motivate Dr. Womeldorf?
HOW THINGS WORK - Dr. Eric Stinaff, Assistant Professor of Physics, Ohio University
Dr. Eric Stinaff, Applied Physics - Condensed Matter
- Profile: http://www.phy.ohiou.edu/people/faculty/stinaff.html
- Web page: http://www.phy.ohiou.edu/~stinaff/
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What is the purpose of research?
- What opportunities do a degree in physics open up to you?
- What would motivate you to pursue a career in physics?
- What is the difference between a physicist’s career at a university compared to a career with a private company?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- How does curiosity benefit Dr. Stinaff in his career?
- What does Dr. Stinaff say about how he comes to understand things better?
- What is the role of physics in solving difficult problems? What types of problems does Dr. Stinaff talk about?
OUT OF THIS WORLD GEOLOGY - Dr. Keith Milam, Planetary Geologist, Ohio University
Dr. Keith Milam, Planetary Geology
- Profile: http://www.ohio.edu/geology/milam/
- Web page: http://www.ohio.edu/geology/
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What careers are available through the study of geology?
- What other sciences does geology include?
- Where else, other than class, can you find information about geology?
- How do you know what you are good at?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- How did Dr. Milam use his passion about space to enter career in planetary geology?
- What’s the difference between a scientist, an engineer and a mathematician?
- How can you narrow your interests into a career specialization?
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - Scott Miller, Director of Environmental Programs at the Voinovich School, Ohio University
Scott Miller, Environmental Studies - Environmental Sustainability
- Profile: http://www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool/contact/staff.cfm (scroll down)
- Web page: http://ce3.ohio.edu/faculty.aspx
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What are the foundational skills employers look for in workers?
- What role does science play in business and government?
- How does the understanding of our current environment help prepare us for the future?
- How can your attitude toward nature lead you to a career?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- How does Mr. Miller collaborate with state and private organizations?
- What recommendations does Mr. Miller make about preparing for a career?
- How do you see yourself and your peers as tomorrow’s workforce?
FORENSIC CHEMIST - Dr. Glen Jackson, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Director, BS Forensic Chemistry Program, Ohio University
Dr. Glen Jackson, Forensic Chemistry
- Profile: http://132.235.27.130/forensic/faculty.htm
- Web page: http://132.235.27.130/forensic/
What can I do with a Major in Forensic Science?: http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/forensic-science/
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What is forensic science?
- Why does a person in forensic science need a high level of education?
- Why does a person need a lot of mathematics to be successful as a forensic scientist?
- In what ways do television and movies glamorize forensic science?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- Is everybody who likes chemistry suited for forensic science? Why or why not?
- Can one always prove something through forensic science? Why or why not?
- How does forensic science have an impact on people’s lives?
DIGITAL GAMING - Jason Witherell, Senior Instructor, Computer Engineering Technology, Shawnee State University
Dr. Jason Witherell,
- Profile: http://www.ssucet.org/~jwitherell
- Gaming Program at Shawnee State University: http://catalog.shawnee.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=44&poid=1014&returnto=1020
- Yost Engineering - Paul Yost, owner and manager - http://www.yostengineering.com/
Assessment Protocol
- Conduct a pre-viewing discussion with the students using the pre/post assessment questions provided for each career video
- Provide students the handout with the Essential Questions developed for the specific My (Future) Life career video to guide their learning as they view the career video
- Conclude with a post-viewing discussion using the same assessment questions with the class.
Pre/Post Knowledge and Attitude Questions
- What does “thinking outside the box” mean?
- What does “digital gaming and simulation” mean?
- How can digital simulation be used in areas other than games?
- How can gaming and computer simulation enhance our understanding of the natural world?
Essential Questions to Guide Student Learning While Viewing Video
- How did Mr. Witherell combine art, science and history?
- Mr. Witherell is a computer engineer. What else did he need to be successful as a scientist in digital gaming?
- What kind of problems does Mr. Witherell solve through digital gaming?