APPLIED ACADEMICS NEWSWIRE
Volume # II No. 15
April 28, 2000
Helping educators to bring the real world into the classroom

In this issue...

WHAT’S INSIDE:

1. MY KIDS DON'T LISTEN...

Feeling undervalued as a parent or teacher? Beginning to think that no one under 18 still respects your hard won wisdom? Take heart, today’s youth are still looking to you for career advice!

Research as to how students formulated their career goals reveals that even in a society where career goal information is more available than ever before, students still rely on parents for career advice. Interestingly, students in applied courses seemed to glean more advice from parents and teachers than their peers not taking such courses.

Students currently taking or recently graduating from Applied courses were compared to those not taking Applied courses. Those with Applied Academics experience had more varied career goals than their non-Applied Academics peers, and were more likely to plan to work or complete a university degree. They consistently reported a higher satisfaction rating for how high school prepared them for their career plans.

Interestingly, polling shows that students who took Applied courses were more likely to report that their parents influenced their career choices. They also stated that relatives, family friends, teachers and career counsellors played a role in formulating their choices. It would seem that recent and current students in Applied courses gathered career information more easily from the adults in their lives.

Although many teens will not express how important a role your council plays, take heart that statistics overwhelmingly emphasize that they value your views. Your encouragement and guidance helps to shape students plans more than you will ever realize.

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2. CAREER PLANNING TIPS FOR PARENTS

Being a parent will eventually require that you help your teen with some critical career decisions. Here are four tips for smooth career planning.

#1 Choose a Goal Before You Choose a School.
Dr. Susan Quattrociocchi, a popular speaker for parents groups, advises that the times of going to university to discover yourself are over. "Today, college is just too pricey to be the place where kids plan for the future. They need to arrive at college with a plan." Read more from Dr. Susie Q at www.calltoparents.org/articles.html.

#2 Consider All of the Options.
The rising number of university grads serving lattes at Starbucks underline the value of examining the alternatives. Simply put, not all solid career choices begin with a university degree. Many goals are better advanced by college programs, apprenticeships, trade schools or technical programs.

#3 Help Your Teen Know Their Strengths and Passions.
Encourage your son or daughter to write skill and interest inventory tests to match their passions and skills with specific careers. A variety of these tests can be found at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers/planning/.

#4 Make the Most of Your Teen’s Opportunities.
Studies show that students who graduate from Career Programs and Applied Academics courses leave school feeling better prepared for life after secondary school. These programs allow the students to investigate and view first-hand the demands of a particular career. Volunteer work allows students to gain valuable on-the-job experience in field of interest where their lack of knowledge might keep them from paid employment.

Few parents will describe their teenager as "open to parental advice." It is therefore somewhat ironic that many of these teens will later claim that their parents were the major influence in their career choice. Want more tips? Try www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers/planning/plan/parents/.

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3. EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

This is the chance to highlight your student’s work. Email appliedacademics@islandnet.com for a nominations form for this year’s Applied Academics Awards. The Awards are our way of honouring the students of Applied courses who use curriculum to solve real world problems. The winners will be profiled in the Newswire and on the Applied Academics website. They will also receive a handsome certificate suitable for framing, a letter from the Minister of Education.

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