Lesson Plan
Course Title: Manufacturing Engineering
Session Title: Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2
Performance Objective:
After completing Part 2 of this lesson, students will have an understanding of the factors that
affect Manufacturing Engineering, the importance of postsecondary education, principles of
career development, effective communication techniques and principles of time management, to
the teacher’s satisfaction.
Specific Objectives:
 Discuss the importance of postsecondary education.
 Identify human relations skills required in the workplace.
 Discuss the importance of career development and career goals.
 Use effective communication skills to clarify objectives.
 Discuss the principles of effective time management skills.
 Identify ways to reward team performance.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the
activities may result in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
Manufacturing Engineering:

130.329(c)(1)(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)(F)(G)(H)(I)
...describe how teams function;
...use teamwork to solve problems;
...distinguish team roles such as team leaders and team members;
...identify characteristics of good leaders;
...identify employers' work expectations;
...discuss Equal Employment Opportunity law in the workplace;
...use time-management techniques to develop work schedules;
...describe how teams measure results; and
...develop a method to reward team performance.

130.329(c)(2)(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)(F)
...explore advanced knowledge and skills required for postsecondary education;
...identify employers' expectations to foster positive customer satisfaction;
...demonstrate the skills required in the workplace such as interviewing skills, flexibility,
willingness to learn new skills and acquire knowledge, self-discipline, self-worth, positive
attitude, and integrity in a work situation;
1
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
...evaluate personal career goals;
...communicate effectively with others in the workplace to clarify objectives;
...demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and skills related to health and safety in the
workplace, as specified by appropriate government regulations.
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
Physics:


112.39(c)(2)(A)(B)(C)(D)
...know the definition of science and understand that it has limitations, as specified in
subsection (b)(2) of this section;
...know that scientific hypotheses are tentative and testable statements that must be
capable of being supported or not supported by observational evidence. Hypotheses of
durable explanatory power which have been tested over a wide variety of conditions are
incorporated into theories;
...know that scientific theories are based on natural and physical phenomena and are
capable of being tested by multiple independent researchers. Unlike hypotheses,
scientific theories are well-established and highly-reliable explanations, but may be
subject to change as new areas of science and new technologies are developed;
...distinguish between scientific hypotheses and scientific theories;
112.39(c)(3)(D)
...explain the impacts of the scientific contributions of a variety of historical and
contemporary scientists on scientific thought and society;
English Language Arts and Reading, English I:

110.31(b)(1)(E) - Reading/Vocabulary Development.
...use a dictionary, a glossary, or a thesaurus (printed or electronic) to determine or
confirm the meanings of words and phrases, including their connotations and
denotations, and their etymology.

110.31(b)(12) - Reading/Media Literacy.

110.31(b)(19) - Oral and Written Conventions/Spelling.

110.31(b)(24)(A) - Listening and Speaking/Listening.
...listen responsively to a speaker by taking notes that summarize, synthesize, or
highlight the speaker's ideas for critical reflection and by asking questions related to the
content for clarification and elaboration;

110.31(b)(25) - Listening and Speaking/Speaking.
2
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Occupational Correlation: (reference: O*Net – www.onetonline.org)
Manufacturing Engineering Technologists 17-3029.06
Similar Job Titles: Manufacturing Production Technicians, Industrial Engineering Technologists
Tasks:
Plan, estimate, or schedule production work; ensure adherence to safety rules and practices;
monitor or measure manufacturing processes to identify ways to reduce losses, decrease time
requirements, or improve quality.
Soft Skills:
Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis; Operation Monitoring;
Critical Thinking
Teacher Preparation:
Teachers should review the definitions, all supporting documents such as Career Exploration
and Employer Expectations – Part 2, PowerPoint presentation and notes. Teachers are also
encouraged to conduct their own research on lesson material.
References:
1. Postsecondary Education, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education, (2011)
2. Occupational Network, General Domains,
http://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Knowledge/, (2011)
3. Occupational Network, Public Safety and Security,
http://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/2.C.8.a, (2011)
4. Diane Arthur, Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting & Orienting New Employees, 4th
Edition, (American Management Association, 2006), 73, 147, 166.
5. Top 10 Soft Skills for Job Hunters, Kate Lorenz,
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/26/top-10-soft-skills-for-job-hunters/, (2009)
6. Prepare for a job interview is a must, http://www.skills-guide.com/prepare-for-a-jobinterview.html, (2011)
7. Harriet Meyerson, 7 Keys to Successful Workplace Communication,
http://top7business.com/?Top-7-Keys-to-Successful-WorkplaceCommunication&id=1016, (2011)
8. Time Management Skill, http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/time-managementskill.html, (2011)
9. Prioritize Your Work, http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/prioritize-your3
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
work.html, (2011)
10. Bob Nelson, “1001 Ways to Energize Employees,” (Workman Publishing, New York,
1997), 4, 21, 49
Instructional Aids:
1. Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2 PowerPoint presentation
2. Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2 PowerPoint notes
3. Matching Definitions handout and answer key
4. Warm-up activity (slide 3)
5. Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2 quiz
6. Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2 quiz answer key
Materials Needed:
1. Pen or pencil
2. Paper
3. Internet access (optional)
Equipment Needed:
1. Computer
2. Overhead projector
Learner Preparation:
None required.
Introduction
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
SAY: In order to sustain a lifelong career, education must become a lifelong pursuit.
ASK: Why do you think continuing your education after high school will be important?
SHOW: Videos or photos of new forms of manufacturing or technological breakthroughs (wind
energy, nanotechnology, etc.)
SAY: It is important to have a plan for your career. It will not develop on its own.
ASK: If you wanted to drive from Dallas, Texas to San Diego, California, what route would you
take?
SHOW: A comparison between reaching a career goal and a road trip. You will have to plan and
follow the correct route to reach your destination, taking the correct detours, exits and avoiding
the obstacles.
Outline
4
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):
Instructors can use the PowerPoint presentation, slides, handouts, and note pages in
conjunction with the following outline.
MI
Outline
Notes to Instructor
Introduction and Start of Lesson
Begin the Career
Exploration and
Employer Expectations Part 2 PowerPoint
presentation.
Bell Work Activity: Have
students work on the
Bell Work
Activity.
(Slide 2)
Warm-up Activity: Using
Matching Definitions
handout, students will
pair-share and teach
each other the terms
and definitions. They
may do computer-based
research to look up the
meaning.
(Slide 3)
I.
Exploring Postsecondary Education
A. Postsecondary Education defined
B. Specialization
Discuss detailed
examples of
Postsecondary
Education.
(Slide 4-5)
II.
Career Development
A. Being a competitive candidate
B. Interviewing skills
C. Soft skills for the workplace
Discuss the importance
of being a strong
candidate during your job
search.
(Slide 6)
5
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
III. Personal Career Goals
A. Understanding your inner
motivation
B. Using the SMART formula to
create goals
Each slide is meant to
be discussed. Have
some background
knowledge and
challenge the students
to make some
contributions to the
discussion.
(Slides 7-8)
IV. Communication in the Workplace
A. The importance of strong
communications skills
B. Keys to successful workplace
communication
Discuss the benefits of
establishing positive
relationships in the
workplace.
(Slide 9)
V. Effective Time Management Skills
A. Using time management to
increase your efficiency
B. Prioritizing your work
Have a detailed
discussion on tips for
time management.
(Slide 10)
VI. Rewarding Team Performance
Conduct an overview of
examples of how
companies reward
employee performance.
(Slide 11)
VII. Administer Quiz
Verbal
Linguistic
Logical
Mathematical
Visual
Spatial
Musical
Rhythmic
Bodily
Kinesthetic
Use answer key to
grade the quiz.
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Naturalist
Existentialist
6
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Application
Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Using Matching Definitions handout, students will pair-share and teach each other the terms
and definitions. They may do computer-based research to look up the meaning.
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Students will complete Warm-up Activity, doing computer-based research to look up and match
the meaning of words on the handout, writing out definitions on a sheet of paper.
Summary
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):
Question: Why are personal goals important?
Answer: Personal goals help provide motivation and drive to achieve.
Question: Why are open ended questions more beneficial in workplace communications?
Answer: Open ended questions give us the opportunity to practice active listening and
gather more information.
Question: To better manage your time, what question should you ask yourself at the end of the
day?
Answer: How much did I get completed today?
Evaluation
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):
Oral question/answer. Students will complete definitions teacher has on the board from terms in
the Matching Definitions handout. Students will take the Career Exploration and Employer
Expectations - Part 2 Quiz.
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
No formal assessment in Part 2 of this lesson.
Extension
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):
1. Students can write a script and role play a mock job interview.
2. Students can conduct research and interview 3 workplace professionals to gather data on
how they practice time management and prioritize their work during a typical workday; and then
7
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
create a PowerPoint report to present during class.
8
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Name___________________________Date___________________Class_______________
Manufacturing Engineering
Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2
Matching Definitions
Directions: Match the terms in Section 1 with the definitions in Section 2.
Section 1:
A. Critical thinking
B. Comprehension
C. Active listening
D. Problem solving
E. Incentive
F. Self-discipline
G. Integrity
H. Communication
I. Self-confidence
J. Work ethic
9
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Section 2:
1. ___________: The imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information
by speech, writing, or signs.
2. ___________: The act or action of grasping with the intellect.
3. ___________: The thought processes involved in correcting a difficult issue.
4. ___________: Is the act of weighing the pros and cons of a given belief system or
idea in an objective and informed manner.
5. ___________: Something that causes an individual to give greater effort, as a
reward offered for increased productivity.
6.
___________: A belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent
ability to strengthen character.
7. ___________: Is a communication technique that requires the listener to
understand, interpret, and evaluate what they hear.
8. ___________: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral
character; honesty.
9. ___________: Realistic belief in one's own judgment, ability, power, etc.
10. ___________: The practice of training of oneself, usually for improvement.
10
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Manufacturing Engineering
Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2
Matching Definitions (Answer Key)
Section 2:
1. H. Communication: The imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or
information by speech, writing, or signs.
2. B. Comprehension: The act or action of grasping with the intellect.
3. D. Problem solving: The thought processes involved in correcting a difficult issue.
4. A. Critical thinking: Is the act of weighing the pros and cons of a given belief
system or idea in an objective and informed manner.
5. E. Incentive: Something that causes an individual to give greater effort, as a reward
offered for increased productivity.
6.
J. Work ethic: A belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent
ability to strengthen character.
7. C. Active listening: Is a communication technique that requires the listener to
understand, interpret, and evaluate what they hear.
8. G. Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral
character; honesty.
9. I. Self-confidence: Realistic belief in one's own judgment, ability, power, etc.
10. F. Self-discipline: The practice of training of oneself, usually for improvement.
11
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Name_________________________________Date___________________Class___________
Manufacturing Engineering
Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2
Quiz
1. ________________ involves additional coursework after high school graduation.
2. Identify 4 skills that will set you apart as a new employee.
3. Define the “SMART” formula for goal creation.
4. Identify 3 tips that will help improve your workplace communication skills.
5. In prioritizing your work, start to work on things that are ____________and
____________ to your work.
12
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Manufacturing Engineering
Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2
Quiz (Answer Key)
1. Postsecondary Education involves additional coursework after high school
graduation.
2. Identify 4 skills that will set you apart as new employee.




a positive attitude
integrity and self-discipline
problem solving skills and flexibility
strong communication skills
3. Define the “SMART” formula for goal creation.





specific
measurable
achievable
results-focused
time-bound
4. Identify 3 tips that will help improve your workplace communication skills.
1. Listen more than you talk.
2. Ask open-ended questions to get more information and listen to the
answers.
3. Stay away from questions that lead the conversation in a certain
direction or only lead to a yes or no answer.
4. Try not to think of the next thing that you want to say.
5. Avoid thinking about the perfect rebuttal or your next fantastic
anecdote.
6. Allow people to say what they want and give them the space to do so.
7. Learn how to listen actively.
5.
In prioritizing your work, start to work on things that are productive and
contribute to your work.
13
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.