Pathways to Success: Career Exploration

This unit is FREE for school districts located in GO Virginia Region 6! GO Virginia Region 6, also known as the Mary Ball Washington Regional Council, consists of the city of Fredericksburg; and the counties of Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland.

Uncertainty of the future means that students have the opportunity to imagine their own vision of personal and professional success. Students have the opportunity to explore the world and identify the things that they are passionate about. They have the opportunity to connect with people to learn about their jobs and career pathways to know if that kind of work aligns with your interests and vision. They have the opportunity to influence and collaborate with peers, neighbors, and local leadership to leverage technology in new and innovative ways to improve the quality of life for everyone in their community. The collection of activities in each of the modules is designed to empower and guide students as they create their Pathway to Success.

Appropriate Age Levels
Grades 6-8

Included Materials: 

Module 1: Getting Started: Imagine Your Future!
In this module, students will explore the career pathways of someone they find interesting or admirable. They will begin to create a vision of your life at age 24, including what features does the community they will live in possess? How do they want to spend your free time? How would they know if they have a fun and rewarding job? Students will then be challenged to create a monthly budget that aligns with their vision for themselves at age 24.

Module 2: CyberHealth: Digital Data Check-Up
In this module, students will explore and evaluate how digital data is stored, transferred, and secured. Students will learn strategies individuals, organizations and businesses use to manage their digital data while being introduced to career fields that support organizations and businesses in managing their Digital Thread effectively and securely.

Module 3: Seas of Opportunity: Sharing the Harvest
In this module, learners will explore career fields that allow individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments to benefit from aquatic resources found in their community. Students will get the chance to demonstrate what they’ve learned by developing a simple business and marketing plan for a food truck that features locally and legally sourced seafood.

Module 4: Branching Out: Growing and Building
In this module, students will explore career fields that allow individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments to benefit from forest resources. They’ll get the chance to demonstrate what they have learned by creating a digital infographic that shares the lifecycle and suggestions for increasing the sustainability of a wood, fiber, energy, or a non-timber forest product.

Module 5: Innovative Communities: Work, Play, Stay
In this module, you will explore careers, technologies, and entrepreneurial mindset that fosters the creation of a sustainable, innovative community. You’ll leverage your understanding of digital devices and the Internet of Things (Iot) to develop and pitch an idea that makes your community an even better place to work, play or stay.

Module 6: Academic & Career Plan: Pursuing Opportunities
In this module, you will investigate and research a career pathway that aligns with your interests, passions, and goals. To launch you on a pathway to success, you will develop a personalized Academic & Career Plan.

Included Materials:
Each module in Pathways to Success: Exploring Careers in VA is facilitated by specially designed educator support materials:

• An “Educator Prep” section complete with directions and supplemental resources
• Interdisciplinary Connections
• Relevant and engaging videos and web links
• Rubrics for student content

Acknowledgments:
This collection was developed in partnership with JASON Learning and Stafford County Public Schools, supported by a GO Virginia Region 6 Enhanced Capacity Building Grant.