In response to questions about implementing CareerKit activities into programs and classes, we bring to you: The CareerKit User’s Guide! This is a guide for teachers as well as program managers. It covers academic topics such as how to teach annotation as well as topics around integrating career exploration into classes, such as, how to maintain student interest in a class with diverse career goals. We hope it will help give a foothold to new and experienced teachers as they weave career content into their classes and programs.

Why a User’s Guide?

The CareerKits are supplemental materials, not basic instruction.

The CareerKits are meant to supplement the academic activities teachers are already doing with students in class, not take the place of basic skills instruction. They are designed to bring career content to the academic skills practice already under way. As students practice writing argumentative essays, for example, their essays will focus on careers. Because the activities are intended to supplement the skills practice already going on in the classroom, the Kits do not go into detail on skills instruction. We presume prior knowledge around teaching paraphrasing, for example, or annotation. This User’s Guide takes a step back from career content, providing teaching strategies that support the activities.

Meeting the needs of all students with diverse career interests is tricky.

Creating career-focused activities that are meaningful to students personally as well as academically is not easy. CareerKit activities often use one career as an example to teach students career and academic skills. For example, students might read an entry on medical assistants as they learn how to use a career database, such as JobZone, CareerZone, Career Cruising or the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. There may be students not interested in becoming medical assistants, and the teacher needs to become nimble in explaining the transferability of skills in an activity such as this. Below is an excerpt from a User’s Guide entry on how to address the diverse career interests of students.

As teachers begin to use CareerKit activities in class, The User’s Guide will help them implement the lessons, respond to student concerns and create a teaching plan.