Grade 9
Explore Career Interests on CollegeinColorado.org
One Class Period
Objective/Goals: For students to explore their personal interests and match their interests
to possible careers.
What ASCA/DPS Standards and Competencies are you addressing?
Standards: CAREER DOMAIN
A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and
to make informed career decisions.
B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Competencies:
C:A1- Develop career awareness
C:B1- Acquire career information
Preparation:
 Reserve computer lab
 Photocopy Pre/Post Tests. (2x the number of students)
 Photocopy Work Values handout (1x the number of students)
 Photocopy Career Key handout (1x the number of students)
 Bring pens/pencils
 Know whether or not your school has had CollegeinColorado student accounts
automatically created.
 If student accounts have not been created, batch create accounts in CollegeinColorado
*For some schools, student accounts have been automatically created through
CollegeinColorado. If your school is NOT one of these schools, the counselor or
designated CollegeinColorado point person, needs to batch create student
accounts using the DPS protocol for account names and passwords. No students
are to create their own accounts. Be careful to NOT create duplicate accounts.*
Activity
Description
Pre-test: One week prior to giving the lesson, pass out the Career Interests
pre- test. Have students complete and collect. Collate the information.
Determine information that the majority of the students know (this will
help guide you on what activities to include in the lesson and where to “take
time”). Keep the results to compare to your post-test results. Note those
students who may need extra help with the information.
1) Warm-Up (5-10 minutes): Introduce yourself, describe what a
school counselor is and what you do.
Set clear expectations. Explain computer lab, behavior and
work expectations for the hour. Emphasize the importance of
taking the activity seriously and answering the questions honestly.
Ask if anyone is new to the school as this student will need
additional help.
2) Lesson (40 minutes):
Quick class discussion. Ask questions: Who knows what type of
career they want in the future? How do you know what type of career
interests you? How many of you have been on CollegeinColorado.org
before? What did you learn?
Explain that everyone will continue to explore their career interests
through the CollegeinColorado website. By looking at their values
and interests students can begin to match their interests with career
possibilities. They will also be able to research these careers in
further detail.
Pass out the Work Values and Career Key handouts to each student
and direct them to the internet and CollegeinColorado.org website.
Students should follow the directions on the handouts while
counselor/teacher walks around and assist students.
Allow time for students to complete the surveys/inventories and
begin research related careers.
3) Closure (5-10 minutes)
Ask students to compare the careers on their interest inventory to
their values worksheet. Are the careers the same or different? Why
might the careers be different? How can comparing the different
careers help the students define what type of career might be the best
match for them?
Explain that students can research and explore career and postsecondary school options whenever they like through the
CollegeinColorado.org website by using their account name and
password.
Collect handouts.
Pass out post-tests for student completion. Collect.
Pre/Post Test Data Collection:
Type of Data
Process Data
Perception
Data
Results Data
Data Collected
How many students took the pre- test? How many students took the posttest?
Collate answers: determine the number of correct answers for skill (what did
they learn) and knowledge (can they apply the information) questions, the
totals for the attitude questions.
Achievement/Achievement Related Data: Long term intent is to improve
course enrollment patterns, graduation rates, post-secondary education
enrollment.