COIN CAREER PROJECT
SEMESTER TWO: QUARTER 3
Technology and English Standards:
Reading
Reading Comprehension
2.1 Prepare a bibliography of reference materials for a report using a variety of
sources.
2.2 Synthesize the content from several sources or works by a single author
dealing with a single issue; paraphrase the ideas and connect them to other
sources and related topics to demonstrate comprehension.
Writing
Writing Strategies
1.0 Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits
students’ awareness of audience and purpose. Essays contain formal
introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions.
1.1 Develop the main ideas within the body of the composition through
supporting evidence.
1.6 Use appropriate conventions for documentation in text, notes, and
bibliographies by adhering to those in style manuals. (Modern Language
Association Format)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Part I. Beginning Instructions – read carefully
 The Coin Career Community (community.coin3.com) is an online career
guidance and curriculum program that is available to administrators, teachers,
counselors, students, and parents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 You will be taking several career assessment tests from this online site.
 You will then compile the information and write a report about the results.
Further detailed instructions are contained in this packet.
 You are receiving a letter that outlines this website and all the resources. This is
your letter so put it in a safe place. You should be using this site along with
other college resources throughout your high school career.
Part II. Why this assignment?
This assignment is to help you in planning for the future. You must plan now for
your future to insure you are taking the correct classes in high school and determine
your post secondary education. Career awareness is an important part of growing up
and becoming a productive and successful citizen.
You have only one class period for this search into your interests and
associated occupations. Please select an occupation or career that most closely suits
your talents, skills, and interests. Do not select a career as a professional athlete.
Statistics show only about ½ of 1% of the population is that talented. However, even a
professional athlete has a back-up career.
Part III. Getting Started in Coin
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Go to the Internet.
Type the following URL in the address bar at the top.
Leave out the www: community.coin3.com
This will take you to the COIN Career Community online site.
This site offers students, counselors, teachers, and parents a centralized location
for career exploration and planning.
Enter your username, password and site ID shown on your letter.
This just gets you into the site.
Now, change the password to your own preference after you enter the system.
I am NOT responsible to keep track of your password/username.
Read and review the links and features. Now, go to Part IV.
Part IV. Assessments
1. Click Take an Assessment. Look at all your choices in the left-hand corner
box. We will start with taking an Assessment.
2. You will take two assessments. Pick any two of the following.
a. Career Cluster Survey – 32 questions
b. Skills Assessment – 48 questions
c. Self-Assessment Survey – 41 questions
3. When you finish each assessment, print the results for your reference.
4. You may find the survey does not suit your interests and skills. That is OK. The
survey is only a small indicator of some of your skills.
5. Now, start looking at careers or college majors.
6. Find a career that is of interest to you. ** It may not match your assessment results!!
Look at the description. You will need this information later when you begin to
compose your career/major report.
7. Lastly, find a school you may be interested in attending. It can be a junior college,
4-year school, or a technical school, and does not need to be in California. Look at
the website for your school. You will need to reference this site later for your report.
Write down your school’s website in your planner so you can reference it later.
Part V.
CAREER RESEARCH REPORT
You are required to type a TWO- page report in MLA Format. This report will cover the information
you acquired from research, assessments, and the Coin site.
***Adhere to the following:

DO NOT copy from your COIN report word for word. You MUST write this report IN
YOUR OWN WORDS. NO POINTS will be given for copied work.
1.
Paragraph 1 – this should include a strong opening sentence. Discuss the
results of your surveys and assessments. How do you think this program
will help you in planning your high school years, finding a career and
preparation for graduation? Did your assessment results match what you
think you would like to do? Talk about this in paragraph one.
2.
Paragraph 2 and 3 – talk about your occupation or career major. Use
your printouts as a reference. There is a tremendous amount of information at
the coin site. You can also reference anything from the attached list. Give a
detailed description. You can also use an interview from a person within your career.
Some ideas for info: description of career, employment outlook in the area you want to
live, major employers, benefits, working conditions, related occupations, salary,
education, skills needed, training, suggested high school classes, etc.
3.
Paragraph 4 – This paragraph is about your college or post-secondary education.
Where do you want to attend after high school? Please note you do not necessarily need
to start out with a 4-year college. Also, your plans may be to join the military and get
your college or training through that avenue. Keep in mind there are business schools
like Heald, ITT, etc. Go to the Coin3 website and you can access your school directly
with a link. Or, go to the Internet and type in your college. You will see lots of
information. Now, summarize your college or technical choice. Some ideas for info:
location, cost per year, what is attractive about this school, programs, majors, school
activities, sports, etc.
4.
Paragraph 5 - This paragraph includes your conclusion or summary statements. Include
any personal comments about your occupation, school, additional information, future
goals, etc. Did the COIN software help you in determining a career? Why or why not.
5.
Works Cited/References – Make sure you include this at the END of your report.
6.
Center the title – Works Cited.
7.
Use a hanging indent for your references.
8.
You will need to include at least TWO references. Look at the examples on the
next page.
Coin Career Community. http://community.coin3.com. Coin Educational Products;
3361 Executive Parkway, Suite 302, Toledo, Ohio 43606 (January/February
2007).
http://www.calpoly.edu (content viewed: Day/Month/Year).
9.
Grading will be based upon information researched, grammar/composition, spelling,
formatting, references, completeness, and following directions.
10.
NO PLAGIARISM IS ACCEPTED.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES -- WEBSITES
www.collegeboard.com
www.petersons.com
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/
http://www.bls.gov/
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
www.csus.mentor
www.scac.ca.gov
ADDITIONAL READING BOOKS
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career
information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about
their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do
on the job, working conditions; the training and education needed, earnings, etc. GREAT!
Study Away: The Unauthorized Guide to College Abroad. Anchor Books, 2003. Looks at
programs at 68 schools abroad. CHECK IT OUT!
The Winning Edge: The Student-Athlete’s Guide to College Sports 2002. Covers useful
information for those students interested in participating in college athletics.
Part VI. COIN/CAREER POWERPOINT
Instructions: Open PowerPoint. Create a multi-media PowerPoint presentation
about your major/career. Use your report information from COIN3 (report).
You are required to make 6 slides. Of course, you can make more if needed.
Include these requirements:
SLIDE
1.
SLIDE LAYOUT/CONTENT
Title slide – Your career/major
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Use Word Art for the title
Include your name and period somewhere on this slide
Introduce your career/major in a creative way
Include a picture that depicts your career or major
Bullet Slide – Description of your occupation
a. Keep bulleted lines SHORT. Use only 3-7 words
b. Write NO more than 7 lines for the description
3. and 4.
Blank slide – Details of your career/major
a. Use callouts and auto shapes to give details
b. Use adjectives and short wordings
 -Education requirements
 -Necessary skills
 -Specialties about your occupation
 -Earnings
 -Employment Outlook
5.
Slide of your choice – School Choice
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
6.
Location
Cost per year
Main attraction to this school
School activities/sports
Include a school picture or school mascot
Slide of your choice - Conclusion slide
a.
b.
c.
d.
Comments about the Coin3 software
Comments about the surveys/assessments and results
Personal comments
May include a small picture or background
Further Notes:
1.
Add a unique background or use a design template. Background MUST
correspond to the slide content.
2.
Add transitions and animations.
3.
It is not necessary to add timings.
4.
Print as a handout with 6 slides per page. (One sheet!!)