Senior Career Senior Career PortfoliosPortfolios

Mark Surdyka Mark Surdyka

WebQuestWebQuestThe Senior Career Portfolio is based on Kathleen O’Malley’sThe Senior Career Portfolio is based on Kathleen O’Malley’s “Mirror Mirror” internet webquest (must be typed exactly): “Mirror Mirror” internet webquest (must be typed exactly):http:www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/KOMalley3/index.htmhttp:www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/KOMalley3/index.htm

Seniors in my Language Arts 12 completed a career portfolio: titleSeniors in my Language Arts 12 completed a career portfolio: titlepage, table of contents, interest surveys, job search information page, table of contents, interest surveys, job search information (based on interest surveys), career templates, background information, resume, (based on interest surveys), career templates, background information, resume, personal essay, personal letter, and recommendation letters. Each student had to personal essay, personal letter, and recommendation letters. Each student had to present a career template to the class; although a PowerPoint presentation was present a career template to the class; although a PowerPoint presentation was optional, most of the students did it. In addition, a hard copy of the portfolio was optional, most of the students did it. In addition, a hard copy of the portfolio was turned in for credit (I used Kathleen’s rubric found at the end of the webquest). turned in for credit (I used Kathleen’s rubric found at the end of the webquest). The idea was to The idea was to give students a valuable resource whether they planned to go to college give students a valuable resource whether they planned to go to college or enter the workplace. The personal essay and letter, the background info., and or enter the workplace. The personal essay and letter, the background info., and the recommendation letters are additions I made (not on webquest). the recommendation letters are additions I made (not on webquest).

*Mark Surdyka MarkKevS@aol.com*Mark Surdyka MarkKevS@aol.com

*Language Arts 8, 9, and 12 *Language Arts 8, 9, and 12

*San Pasqual Jr./Sr. High School(760) 572-0222 *San Pasqual Jr./Sr. High School(760) 572-0222

ext. 2233ext. 2233

Expectations for TeacherExpectations for Teacher

• Find ways to Find ways to integrate technology integrate technology in the classroom.in the classroom.

• Get students more Get students more actively involved.actively involved.

• Locate interesting Locate interesting lesson ideas.lesson ideas.

• Become more Become more knowledgeable about knowledgeable about technology.technology.

Actual LearningActual Learning

Became more proficient with Became more proficient with Microsoft Word: Microsoft Word:

*Word processing*Word processing

*Troubleshooting*Troubleshooting

*Tools(such as resumes)*Tools(such as resumes)

Gained insights into meaningful Gained insights into meaningful sites for lessons, resources, and sites for lessons, resources, and even colleagues; discovered ways even colleagues; discovered ways to integrate technology in the to integrate technology in the classroom (students were classroom (students were motivated to learn).motivated to learn).

Learned how to use PowerPoint Learned how to use PowerPoint and Spreadsheet programs, and and Spreadsheet programs, and used LCD projector and Laser used LCD projector and Laser Disc for teacher and student Disc for teacher and student presentations presentations

Hands-on practice using a digital Hands-on practice using a digital cameracamera

Lesson SuccessesLesson Successes

• Motivated StudentsMotivated Students --received positive feedback from students; students worked hard.received positive feedback from students; students worked hard.

• Relevant ProjectRelevant Project --students actually used projects for jobs and college applications.students actually used projects for jobs and college applications.

• WebQuest WebQuest -students completed an internet project using pre-selected sites.-students completed an internet project using pre-selected sites.

• Standards AddressedStandards Addressed

ShortcomingsShortcomings• Lack of computers (no computer lab available for entire class: Lack of computers (no computer lab available for entire class:

requires creative planning).requires creative planning).• Variety of Microsoft Word (’98, ’99, etc.) programs on Variety of Microsoft Word (’98, ’99, etc.) programs on

computers in library -resulted in loss of saved work.computers in library -resulted in loss of saved work.• Internet sites are not always available (to view workers in Internet sites are not always available (to view workers in

workplace for instance).workplace for instance).• Some career sites were not available in areas of student Some career sites were not available in areas of student

interest (teacher needs to decide if a free search is interest (teacher needs to decide if a free search is acceptable).acceptable).

• Lack of knowledge in the areas of troubleshooting, Microsoft Lack of knowledge in the areas of troubleshooting, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint (students were very helpful and I Word, and PowerPoint (students were very helpful and I learned with my students; I liked the teamwork I observed).learned with my students; I liked the teamwork I observed).

• A couple of students thought they did not need this project A couple of students thought they did not need this project (but now in May, they realize they were wrong!). (but now in May, they realize they were wrong!).

Data Analysis

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Kri

sten

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F)

Adr

iann

e M

. (F)

Ern

esto

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M)

Pat

rish

a S.

(F)

Felix

M. (

M)

Mar

quit

a P

. (F)

Will

iam

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Eliz

abet

h G

. (F)

Car

ol M

. (F)

John

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M)

Mic

hael

J. (

M)

Jose

pha

A. (

F)

Alf

redo

B. (

M)

Dav

id S

. (M

)

Aid

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. (F)

Jenn

ifer

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F)

Wen

dy R

. (F)

Lor

i V. (

F)

Intro Activity

Enabling Activity

Culminating Activity

Class Averages

Culminating Activity

Enabling Activity

Intro Activity

1 2 3 4

S10

50

100

Before and After Career Project Chart

Microsoft Word (1&2) and PowerPoint (3&4)

Before and After Before and After Chart ExplainedChart Explained

• In an informal survey, 44% of my seniors said they felt In an informal survey, 44% of my seniors said they felt confident using Microsoft Word before the Career confident using Microsoft Word before the Career Project, but 88% reported confident after completion.Project, but 88% reported confident after completion.

• 11% (two students) were knowledgeable about 11% (two students) were knowledgeable about PowerPoint before beginning the Career Project whereas PowerPoint before beginning the Career Project whereas 72% showed competence after completion (presented 72% showed competence after completion (presented using P.P.). What’s interesting is four out of the five who using P.P.). What’s interesting is four out of the five who did not present are now presenting their research papers did not present are now presenting their research papers utilizing PowerPoint, and now in May, students are giving utilizing PowerPoint, and now in May, students are giving much more impressive demonstrations by adding much more impressive demonstrations by adding sounds, cutting images from internet, and giving natural sounds, cutting images from internet, and giving natural

deliveries( rather than simple reads) deliveries( rather than simple reads)

Work SamplesWork Samples

• See lesson online (each See lesson online (each portfolio is twenty pages or portfolio is twenty pages or more).more).

• Hard copies available to view Hard copies available to view at presentation.at presentation.

Lesson RevisionsLesson Revisions

• Add information to informal survey: ability to navigate the web, Add information to informal survey: ability to navigate the web, career direction, digital camera knowledge.career direction, digital camera knowledge.

• Add digital camera component.Add digital camera component.• Require the personal letter rather than optional ( I had an Require the personal letter rather than optional ( I had an

excellent model and format).excellent model and format).• Add more essay models; in addition, give more thesis and Add more essay models; in addition, give more thesis and

paragraph practice before starting Career Project.paragraph practice before starting Career Project.• Add job applications and interview (real if possible); get a Add job applications and interview (real if possible); get a

guest speaker to talk to students about applications and the guest speaker to talk to students about applications and the interview process and emphasize the importance of accuracy.interview process and emphasize the importance of accuracy.

• Develop a better management system (rotational plan set up Develop a better management system (rotational plan set up two weeks in advance; limited computers available).two weeks in advance; limited computers available).

• Develop deadlines in advance for different components.Develop deadlines in advance for different components.

More Lesson RevisionsMore Lesson Revisions

• Convince administration to install updated and uniform Convince administration to install updated and uniform Microsoft Word programs (rather than the variety-Microsoft Word programs (rather than the variety-97,98,99-we have now).97,98,99-we have now).

• Three Native American students with good attendance Three Native American students with good attendance and two with poor attendance failed to complete the and two with poor attendance failed to complete the final portfolio (they also failed the semester; one final portfolio (they also failed the semester; one dropped out of school). Possible solution: seek help from dropped out of school). Possible solution: seek help from Native American advisor and/or tribal council, parent Native American advisor and/or tribal council, parent contact, and/or possibly transfer at-risk students into my contact, and/or possibly transfer at-risk students into my morning class where I have an aide who is computer morning class where I have an aide who is computer competent (no easy solutions). competent (no easy solutions).

• Add word processing pre-test (not only an informal Add word processing pre-test (not only an informal survey-to test comfort level on Microsoft Word). survey-to test comfort level on Microsoft Word).

Summarize ExperienceSummarize Experience• I am almost embarrassed to admit that the Senior Career Portfolio took I am almost embarrassed to admit that the Senior Career Portfolio took

five weeks to complete (original plan: three) due to the fact that this was five weeks to complete (original plan: three) due to the fact that this was a new project for me, seniors had a high absence rate, Microsoft a new project for me, seniors had a high absence rate, Microsoft programs were lost, and students had difficulties navigating the programs were lost, and students had difficulties navigating the Microsoft and PowerPoint programs.Microsoft and PowerPoint programs.

• On the positive side, all major projects (essays, stories, poem books, and On the positive side, all major projects (essays, stories, poem books, and research), and even many minor ones, were word processed for the rest research), and even many minor ones, were word processed for the rest of the year, and students seemed enthusiastic about their work. of the year, and students seemed enthusiastic about their work.

• As a result, I designed other lessons requiring technology, and I do As a result, I designed other lessons requiring technology, and I do believe technology is the way to go. For example, all my students believe technology is the way to go. For example, all my students (8th,9th, & 12th) had to write stories using Alpha Smarts (stories used (8th,9th, & 12th) had to write stories using Alpha Smarts (stories used later in county writing contest). Problems were created(sharing files, later in county writing contest). Problems were created(sharing files, downloading,management, and slowness), but I noticed the payoff later downloading,management, and slowness), but I noticed the payoff later in the year. Students checked out Alpha Smarts to complete work at in the year. Students checked out Alpha Smarts to complete work at

home, and they downloaded their work at school on their own. home, and they downloaded their work at school on their own.

Concluding StatementConcluding Statement

• Teachers need to plunge into the pool of technology because Teachers need to plunge into the pool of technology because technology will definitely enhance teacher lessons, and it grabs technology will definitely enhance teacher lessons, and it grabs our students’ attention. My CTAP experience gave me the our students’ attention. My CTAP experience gave me the

push I needed to incorporatepush I needed to incorporate technology into my classrooms. I technology into my classrooms. I learned how to navigate through various programs, and it learned how to navigate through various programs, and it helped to clarify standards- based education. helped to clarify standards- based education.

• Most Language Arts teachers are drowning in a sea of Most Language Arts teachers are drowning in a sea of standards and because of this abundance, I am not so sure standards and because of this abundance, I am not so sure uniformity (district to district) can be created, though I like the uniformity (district to district) can be created, though I like the idea of backward planning because it forces teachers to be idea of backward planning because it forces teachers to be more organized and clearer about their plans: activities and more organized and clearer about their plans: activities and assessments. This kind of planning will definitely keep assessments. This kind of planning will definitely keep teachers afloat. teachers afloat.