Project Guide
Interactive Timeline Guide
Project Overview
In this guide, each small group will follow four structured phases to build an interactive college & career readiness timeline. Use the materials and checkpoints below to stay on track and meet the project objectives.
Project Objectives:
- Research key college and career milestones across 4–6 years.
- Collaborate to brainstorm personal goals and align them to milestones.
- Design a cohesive, interactive timeline that reflects each member’s aspirations.
- Practice teamwork, communication, and presentation skills.
Roles & Responsibilities (assign one per group member)
- Facilitator: Keeps the group on task and tracks time.
- Researcher: Gathers milestone data from provided slide deck.
- Designer: Sketches & lays out the interactive timeline.
- Presenter: Prepares the final presentation and leads the share-out.
Phase 1: Research (30 minutes)
- Open the Milestones & Goals Slides deck.
- Identify 6–8 major college and career milestones (e.g., college prep, internships, networking events).
- For each milestone, note:
- Description
- Typical timeframe (year or grade)
- Any required actions or deadlines
Take detailed notes here before passing to the Designer:
Phase 2: Brainstorm (30 minutes)
- Shuffle and distribute the Group Brainstorm Cards.
- Each member draws a card prompting a personal goal (e.g., leadership, skill-building, community service).
- Discuss and decide how each personal goal fits within the researched milestones.
- Jot down any new milestones or sub-goals inspired by this activity.
Use this space to map goals to milestones:
Phase 3: Draft Timeline (30 minutes)
- On chart paper or your digital tool, lay out milestones in chronological order.
- Use color-coding or icons to represent personal goals alongside standard milestones.
- Label each entry with a brief title, date/grade level, and visual cue.
- Arrange for clarity and flow: ensure the timeline reads left-to-right or top-to-bottom.
Sketch your rough timeline here:
Phase 4: Finalize & Present (20 minutes)
- Refine your draft: add colors, icons, and concise text.
- Practice a 2-minute presentation, highlighting:
- One key milestone
- One personal goal alignment
- How the timeline guides your future planning
- Present to the class. Peers will provide feedback using the Timeline Quality Rubric.
Final timeline adjustments and presenter notes:
Materials Needed
- Computers or tablets with internet access
- Chart paper, markers, sticky notes (optional)
- Milestones & Goals Slides
- Group Brainstorm Cards
- Timeline Quality Rubric
- Presentation area (whiteboard or projector)
Evaluation & Reflection
- Your timeline will be assessed using the Timeline Quality Rubric on accuracy, creativity, and clarity.
- After presentations, complete the individual Reflection Snapshot to capture takeaways and next steps.
Good luck planning your future—your map starts here!
Slide Deck
College & Career Milestones Overview
Use this deck to research and note key milestones from Grade 11 to post-secondary. For each milestone, record:
• Description
• Timeframe (grade/year)
• Required actions or deadlines
Stay organized and think ahead!
Introduce the session and explain the purpose of this deck. Emphasize that students will gather milestone details here to support their group timeline.
Why Plan Ahead?
• Clarifies your goals and reduces stress
• Helps meet application and program deadlines
• Guides extracurricular and academic choices
• Builds confidence in your future path
Discuss: What planning strategies have you used so far?
Highlight the benefits of proactive planning and prompt discussion among students.
Grade 11 Milestones
• PSAT practice & preparation
• Explore college majors & careers
• Join extracurriculars & take on leadership roles
• Begin community service or internships
• Research scholarship opportunities
Prompt: Which of these milestones aligns with your interests?
Walk through each Grade 11 milestone. Encourage students to relate examples to their interests.
Grade 12 Milestones
• SAT/ACT & subject tests
• College application essays & recommendation letters
• College visits & interviews
• FAFSA & scholarship applications
• Finalize resume & interview skills
Prompt: Note upcoming deadlines and required documents.
Explain critical tasks and deadlines in Grade 12. Stress the importance of staying on schedule.
Post-Secondary Milestones
• Complete college orientation & academic advising
• Declare a major & plan coursework
• Secure internships & build your network
• Explore study abroad & research opportunities
• Develop professional skills & update your resume
Prompt: What long-term goals will drive your next steps?
Discuss what comes after high school. Emphasize ongoing planning and goal-setting.
Research & Note-Taking Template
| Milestone | Grade/Year | Actions & Deadlines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Copy this table to organize your findings for Phase 1.
Provide a clear template for students to capture milestone details during their research phase.
Next Steps: Group Research Activity
- Assign roles (Facilitator, Researcher, Designer, Presenter).
- Use the table on the previous slide to record 6–8 milestones.
- Discuss and refine your notes within your group.
- Pass detailed notes to your Designer for Phase 2.
Refer back to the Interactive Timeline Guide for timing, roles, and checkpoints.
Explain Phase 1 next steps and link back to the project guide for timing and roles.
Activity
Group Brainstorm Cards
Purpose: These cards prompt each group member to identify a personal goal or aspiration that they can align with key college and career milestones.
Instructions: Shuffle the cards face-down. Each student draws one card and reads the prompt aloud. Discuss as a group how this personal goal fits or inspires new entries on your timeline. Jot down ideas and adjust your milestone map accordingly.
Leadership
“Identify one leadership skill you’d like to develop in the next year. What is a concrete action step you can take to practice this skill?”
Skill-Building
“Choose a new technical or creative skill related to your career interest. How will you acquire or improve this skill over the next two years?”
Community Service
“Describe a community service project you’re passionate about. What role could you play, and when would you plan to participate?”
Research
“Select a topic in a field you’re curious about. What steps could you take now to begin researching or exploring this topic?”
Entrepreneurship
“Imagine launching a small venture or startup in college. What product or service would you offer, and why? What is one first step toward making it real?”
Wellness
“Set a personal wellness goal (e.g., stress management, physical fitness, mindfulness). How will you integrate this habit into your weekly routine?”
Networking
“Think of one professional or academic network you’d like to join. What is one action you can take this year to connect with members?”
Time Management
“Identify a strategy to improve your time management (e.g., planners, digital tools). When and how will you start using it?”
Work Experience
“Consider an internship, job shadow, or part-time position relevant to your goals. Where could you apply, and what skills would you gain?”
Study Abroad or Exchange
“If you could study abroad or participate in an exchange program, where would you go and why? What planning steps are needed?”
Use these prompts to inspire discussion, new milestones, and personalized goal‐setting in your timeline.
Rubric
Timeline Quality Rubric
This rubric guides peer feedback and self-assessment of your interactive timeline on key dimensions. Rate each criterion from 1 (Beginning) to 4 (Exemplary).
| Criteria | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | All milestones are accurate and complete, with clearly stated deadlines and action steps. | Most milestones are accurate; one or two details (deadlines or actions) are missing. | Some milestones contain inaccuracies or lack key details; deadlines or actions are unclear. | Many milestones are inaccurate or incomplete; critical information is missing. |
| Creativity | Timeline design is highly original; personal goals are integrated in innovative and meaningful ways. | Timeline design is creative with some original elements; personal goals are connected. | Design is basic with limited originality; personal goal integration is superficial. | Timeline lacks creativity; no clear integration of personal goals. |
| Clarity | Layout is exceptionally clear and logical; labels, icons, and color-coding enhance readability. | Layout is clear and organized; minor labeling or flow issues. | Organization is confusing at times; inconsistent labeling or color use. | Timeline is unclear and hard to follow; missing labels or poor flow. |
| Presentation | Delivery is engaging and confident; effectively highlights key milestones and personal goals; reflection is insightful. | Delivery is clear and organized; covers main points; reflection is adequate. | Delivery is uneven; some points unclear; reflection is limited. | Delivery is unclear or rushed; misses key points; reflection absent or off-topic. |
Cool Down
Reflection Snapshot
Take a moment to reflect on your Future Map project. Answer the prompts below to capture your insights and plan your next steps.
- What was your biggest takeaway from creating your interactive timeline?
- How will this timeline guide your next steps toward college and career readiness?
- Which personal goal are you most committed to pursuing, and what is the first action you will take?
- One question or concern I still have is:
Warm Up
Future Focus Warm-Up
Estimated Time: 5 minutes
1. Quick Write (2 minutes):
- Imagine it’s 5 years after you graduate. Describe one college or career goal you hope to achieve.
2. Connect to Milestones:
- Review the Milestones & Goals Slides. Which milestone will be most critical to reach your goal? Explain why.
3. Pair & Share (2 minutes):
- Turn to a partner and share your goal and chosen milestone. Discuss how this step guides your planning.
4. Whole Group (1 minute):
- Volunteers share one insight: How does pinpointing a future goal help you map out the steps ahead?
Slide Deck
Watch this video on preparing for college. Identify at least three steps you can implement in your junior year to stay on track.
Introduce the video and explain that proactive planning for college can reduce stress. Ask students to note actionable steps and deadlines mentioned.