Making Career Connections — from gettingsmart.com by Norton Gusky
For years I shouted out, “Make the Learning Real!” What I didn’t understand is how to make the learning real for students by connecting to careers. In this article I’ll highlight four organizations that I’ve had some connection to in the past three years – Connect the Work by Educators Cooperative, the Consortium for Public Education, the Neighborhood Learning Alliance, and the Pittsburgh Technology Council. While each project is different, they all have had success making career connections for young people in K-12.
The key to success in each of the programs is giving students the opportunities from the earliest age possible to have a meaningful relationship with adults, especially people working in a variety of careers. Students need a variety of experiences and a common language to uncover their strengths, interests and values.