Essentials of Mathematics 12 - Life/Career Project

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will research career choices and perform a comparative study

It is expected that students will:

• determine what factors are important in analysing careers
• describe two specific career opportunities
• identify mathematical educational requirements for two careers
• compare two careers in terms of salary, working hours, training time and cost, cost of living, and benefits

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

It is expected that today’s student will hold several different careers in his or her lifetime. To be able to make informed decisions about future employment, students need opportunities to practise job-search skills and to analyse career information objectively.

• Brainstorm with the whole class to find as many factors as possible that influence students’ career opportunities and decisions (e.g., food, shelter, salary, education, transportation, insurance, recreation, job security).
• Have students research two careers in fields appropriate to their individual interests and abilities. This research should include:
  • a job description for each selected career
  • the educational background required and associated costs, including a detailed description of the mathematical educational background required
  • the salary or wage levels offered, including starting rates, potential income, and benefits available
  • an indication of the employment opportunities in the two fields
  • health issues, including stress, that might be relevant to each career
  • a description of the life style each career can support, with a supporting budgetary analysis
  • an individual statement of the long-term personal and educational requirements for advancement in each career
• Ask students to use spreadsheets, graphs, and/or diagrams to display their budgetary analysis of the two careers for the rest of the class.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Analysing career choices is an important life skill and requires a working knowledge of the underlying mathematics. Assessment should focus on the students’ ability to research, compile, interpret, and present career factors related to two types of careers.

Observe

• Observe the extent to which students:
  • use a variety of sources to research the two careers
  • collect information on areas necessary to make an informed decision (e.g., salary, educational background required)
  • use technology to display information

Collect

• Have students write-up the comparative study for the two careers. Assess their items for presentation and the extent to which their items demonstrate an analysis of:
  • job description
  • requirements: education, budgetary analysis, income
  • resume
  • salary factors
  • health issues
  • life style

Presentation

• Have students present the pros and cons of one or two careers to the class and have their peers assess the presentation according to criteria established as a class beforehand.

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Comprehensive learning resources for this course are currently under development. As an interim measure, schools are encouraged to use the teacher-developed learning resources distributed to schools (student and teacher resources). Please note that the student materials require photocopying for student use.

Print Materials

• Math Projects: Organization, Implementation, and Assessment

Video

• The ABC’s of Personal Finance

Software

• Math Tools

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Maintained by: Mathematics Coordinator
Revised: November 22, 2000

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