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Which Route To Success?

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Teri Mann

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Which Route To Success?

Students will explore diverse career pathways, understand the non-linear nature of career development, and identify how different decisions can lead to varied professional outcomes.

Understanding career exploration is crucial for 12th-grade students as they approach post-secondary life. This lesson helps them visualize real-world career challenges and opportunities, preparing them for future decision-making and empowering them to navigate their own paths.

Audience

12th Grade Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

A decision-path game where students collectively make choices that shape virtual career journeys.

Materials

Branching Scenarios Slide Deck, Decision-Tree Cards Game, Group Debrief Discussion Guide, and Scenario Outcomes Answer Key

Prep

Adventure Path Setup

15 minutes

  • Review the Branching Scenarios Slide Deck and Decision-Tree Cards Game to familiarize yourself with the scenarios and decision points.
    - Print and cut out the Decision-Tree Cards Game, if using physical cards. Alternatively, prepare to display them digitally.
    - Ensure projector/screen is ready for the Branching Scenarios Slide Deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Dream Job Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "If you could have any job in the world right now, what would it be and why?"
    - Have students briefly share their answers in a quick whip-around or by writing it down. This activates prior knowledge and sparks interest.

Step 2

Introduction to Career Adventures

5 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of career paths not always being straight lines. Use the Branching Scenarios Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to explain that today's activity is a 'choose-your-own-adventure' style game.
    - Explain that as a class, they will make collective decisions that shape a character's career journey, demonstrating how choices impact outcomes.

Step 3

The Decision-Tree Game: Round 1

15 minutes

  • Display the first scenario from the Branching Scenarios Slide Deck (Slide 3) or distribute the first Decision-Tree Cards Game card.
    - Read the scenario aloud and present the two initial decision options.
    - Facilitate a brief class discussion on the pros and cons of each choice.
    - Have the class vote on which decision to make. Move to the corresponding outcome slide/card based on their vote (e.g., Slide 4a or 4b).

Step 4

The Decision-Tree Game: Round 2 & 3

15 minutes

  • Continue with subsequent scenarios and decisions, following the path chosen by the class.
    - Encourage further discussion before each vote, prompting students to think about the long-term implications of their choices.
    - The goal is to navigate 2-3 rounds of decisions, showing how one path branches into many possibilities.

Step 5

Group Debrief and Reflection

10 minutes

  • Lead a class debrief using the Group Debrief Discussion Guide.
    - Discuss the different paths taken, the unexpected twists, and how individual decisions influenced the final outcomes.
    - Connect the game back to real-life career planning, emphasizing flexibility and adaptability.
lenny

Slide Deck

Which Route to Success?

Navigating Your Career Adventure

Welcome students and introduce the concept of career exploration. Emphasize that not all paths are straight.

Your Career Adventure Starts Now!

Together, we'll make decisions that shape a character's career journey. There are no right or wrong answers, just different paths!

Explain today's activity: a choose-your-own-adventure game about career paths. Students will make decisions as a class.

Scenario 1: The High School Graduate

Meet Alex, a bright 12th-grade student about to graduate. Alex enjoys working with their hands and is good at solving problems. They are unsure about college but feel pressure to choose a path.

Present the first scenario. Read it aloud and ensure students understand the initial situation.

Decision Point 1: What should Alex do?

Option A: Alex decides to enroll in a 4-year university, majoring in Engineering.

Option B: Alex explores vocational training programs for skilled trades like electrician or plumber.

Present the first choice. Ask students to discuss in small groups or as a class before voting.

Path A Chosen: University Bound!

Alex goes to university and majors in Engineering. The courses are challenging, but Alex enjoys the problem-solving aspects. They take out student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. After graduation, Alex lands an entry-level engineering job.

Outcome for Option A. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of this choice.

Decision Point 2 (from Path A): What's next for Engineer Alex?

Option A1: Alex focuses on getting promoted within their company, working long hours and taking on extra projects.

Option A2: Alex decides to pursue a Master's degree part-time to specialize in renewable energy.

Present the next decision if Path A was chosen. Facilitate discussion and voting.

Path B Chosen: Trade School Strong!

Alex enrolls in a 1-year electrician vocational program. The hands-on training is a perfect fit, and Alex quickly excels. The program is more affordable, and Alex graduates with minimal debt. They quickly find an apprenticeship with a local electrical company.

Outcome for Option B. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of this choice.

Decision Point 2 (from Path B): What's next for Electrician Alex?

Option B1: Alex works for the local company for several years, gaining experience and becoming a journeyman electrician.

Option B2: Alex decides to start their own independent electrical contracting business after their apprenticeship.

Present the next decision if Path B was chosen. Facilitate discussion and voting.

The Adventure Continues...

Every decision opens up new possibilities and challenges. What will your future hold?

This slide can be used as a placeholder for further branching paths, or to wrap up a shorter game.

Reflecting on Your Journey

Career paths are rarely straight lines. Your decisions, big and small, will shape your unique route to success!

Transition to the debriefing discussion. Emphasize that career paths are dynamic.

lenny

Game

Which Route to Success? - Decision-Tree Cards

Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards, cut them out, and use them to guide the game. Each card presents a scenario and a decision. The class will vote on an option, and you will proceed to the corresponding outcome (which can be read from the Scenario Outcomes Answer Key or discussed verbally).

Card 1: Scenario Start

Scenario: Meet Alex, a bright 12th-grade student about to graduate. Alex enjoys working with their hands and is good at solving problems. They are unsure about college but feel pressure to choose a path.

Decision Point 1: What should Alex do?

  • Option A: Alex decides to enroll in a 4-year university, majoring in Engineering.


  • Option B: Alex explores vocational training programs for skilled trades like electrician or plumber.


Card 2A: Path A Outcome (University Bound!)

This card follows if Option A was chosen from Card 1.

Outcome: Alex goes to university and majors in Engineering. The courses are challenging, but Alex enjoys the problem-solving aspects. They take out student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. After graduation, Alex lands an entry-level engineering job.

Decision Point 2 (from Path A): What's next for Engineer Alex?

  • Option A1: Alex focuses on getting promoted within their company, working long hours and taking on extra projects.


  • Option A2: Alex decides to pursue a Master's degree part-time to specialize in renewable energy.


Card 2B: Path B Outcome (Trade School Strong!)

This card follows if Option B was chosen from Card 1.

Outcome: Alex enrolls in a 1-year electrician vocational program. The hands-on training is a perfect fit, and Alex quickly excels. The program is more affordable, and Alex graduates with minimal debt. They quickly find an apprenticeship with a local electrical company.

Decision Point 2 (from Path B): What's next for Electrician Alex?

  • Option B1: Alex works for the local company for several years, gaining experience and becoming a journeyman electrician.


  • Option B2: Alex decides to start their own independent electrical contracting business after their apprenticeship.


Card 3A1: Path A1 Outcome (Climbing the Corporate Ladder)

This card follows if Option A1 was chosen from Card 2A.

Outcome: Alex works hard, impresses their superiors, and is promoted to Senior Engineer within five years. They earn a good salary but find their work-life balance is sometimes challenging due to demanding projects.

Decision Point 3 (from Path A1): What's Alex's priority now?

  • Option A1.1: Alex continues to prioritize career advancement, aiming for a management position.


  • Option A1.2: Alex seeks a role with better work-life balance, even if it means a slight pay cut or lateral move.


Card 3A2: Path A2 Outcome (Specializing for Impact)

This card follows if Option A2 was chosen from Card 2A.

Outcome: Alex earns their Master's degree and secures a position at a cutting-edge renewable energy firm. They feel passionate about their work, contributing to sustainable solutions, and their specialized skills command a higher salary.

Decision Point 3 (from Path A2): How does Alex want to lead?

  • Option A2.1: Alex becomes a project lead, managing teams on large-scale renewable energy installations.


  • Option A2.2: Alex focuses on research and development, aiming to innovate new technologies in the field.


Card 3B1: Path B1 Outcome (Mastering the Craft)

This card follows if Option B1 was chosen from Card 2B.

Outcome: Alex becomes a highly respected journeyman electrician, known for their reliability and skill. They enjoy steady work and the satisfaction of expertly completing projects for various clients, eventually mentoring apprentices themselves.

Decision Point 3 (from Path B1): What's Alex's long-term vision?

  • Option B1.1: Alex continues as a respected journeyman, valuing their hands-on work and community reputation.


  • Option B1.2: Alex decides to teach electrical trades at a vocational school, sharing their expertise with the next generation.


Card 3B2: Path B2 Outcome (Entrepreneurial Spark)

This card follows if Option B2 was chosen from Card 2B.

Outcome: Alex successfully launches their own electrical contracting business. The initial years are challenging, requiring long hours and smart budgeting, but Alex thrives on the independence and the opportunity to build something from scratch.

Decision Point 3 (from Path B2): How does Alex want to grow the business?

  • Option B2.1: Alex keeps the business small and focused, maintaining personal involvement in all projects.


  • Option B2.2: Alex expands the business, hiring more electricians and taking on larger commercial contracts.


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lenny

Discussion

Group Debrief: Reflecting on Your Career Adventure

Teacher Instructions: Use these prompts to facilitate a class discussion after completing the "Which Route to Success?" game. Encourage open sharing and diverse perspectives.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Unexpected Turns: What was the most surprising turn or outcome in our character's career journey? Why was it surprising?



  2. Decision Making: How did it feel to make collective decisions about someone's career? Were there moments of disagreement? How did you resolve them?



  3. Impact of Choices: Can you identify a specific decision we made that had a really big impact on Alex's path? What was it?



  4. Skills and Interests: How did Alex's initial interests and skills (working with hands, problem-solving) play into the choices we made and the paths that unfolded?



  5. Non-Linear Paths: This game showed that career paths aren't always straight. What does 'non-linear' mean to you in the context of a career? How does this game illustrate that?



  6. Real-World Connections: How might these types of decisions, opportunities, or challenges show up in your own future career exploration?



  7. Flexibility is Key: What is one important takeaway about career planning or decision-making that you learned from this game?



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lenny

Answer Key

Scenario Outcomes: Answer Key

Teacher Instructions: Use this answer key to guide the game by reading the outcomes of student decisions. It provides the narrative for each chosen path.

Card 1: Scenario Start

Scenario: Meet Alex, a bright 12th-grade student about to graduate. Alex enjoys working with their hands and is good at solving problems. They are unsure about college but feel pressure to choose a path.

Decision Point 1: What should Alex do?

  • Option A: Alex decides to enroll in a 4-year university, majoring in Engineering.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex goes to university and majors in Engineering. The courses are challenging, but Alex enjoys the problem-solving aspects. They take out student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. After graduation, Alex lands an entry-level engineering job.

  • Option B: Alex explores vocational training programs for skilled trades like electrician or plumber.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex enrolls in a 1-year electrician vocational program. The hands-on training is a perfect fit, and Alex quickly excels. The program is more affordable, and Alex graduates with minimal debt. They quickly find an apprenticeship with a local electrical company.

Card 2A: Path A Outcome (University Bound!)

Decision Point 2 (from Path A): What's next for Engineer Alex?

  • Option A1: Alex focuses on getting promoted within their company, working long hours and taking on extra projects.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex works hard, impresses their superiors, and is promoted to Senior Engineer within five years. They earn a good salary but find their work-life balance is sometimes challenging due to demanding projects.

  • Option A2: Alex decides to pursue a Master's degree part-time to specialize in renewable energy.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex earns their Master's degree and secures a position at a cutting-edge renewable energy firm. They feel passionate about their work, contributing to sustainable solutions, and their specialized skills command a higher salary.

Card 2B: Path B Outcome (Trade School Strong!)

Decision Point 2 (from Path B): What's next for Electrician Alex?

  • Option B1: Alex works for the local company for several years, gaining experience and becoming a journeyman electrician.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex becomes a highly respected journeyman electrician, known for their reliability and skill. They enjoy steady work and the satisfaction of expertly completing projects for various clients, eventually mentoring apprentices themselves.

  • Option B2: Alex decides to start their own independent electrical contracting business after their apprenticeship.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex successfully launches their own electrical contracting business. The initial years are challenging, requiring long hours and smart budgeting, but Alex thrives on the independence and the opportunity to build something from scratch.

Card 3A1: Path A1 Outcome (Climbing the Corporate Ladder)

Decision Point 3 (from Path A1): What's Alex's priority now?

  • Option A1.1: Alex continues to prioritize career advancement, aiming for a management position.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex achieves a leadership role, managing a team of engineers. They influence important projects but spend more time in meetings and less on hands-on engineering. The financial rewards are significant, but the stress levels are high.

  • Option A1.2: Alex seeks a role with better work-life balance, even if it means a slight pay cut or lateral move.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex transitions to a smaller firm with a more collaborative culture and flexible hours. While their salary is slightly less, they feel more fulfilled and have more time for personal interests, maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Card 3A2: Path A2 Outcome (Specializing for Impact)

Decision Point 3 (from Path A2): How does Alex want to lead?

  • Option A2.1: Alex becomes a project lead, managing teams on large-scale renewable energy installations.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex excels as a project lead, overseeing the construction of major solar farms and wind turbine projects. They enjoy the challenge of managing complex operations and seeing their work contribute directly to clean energy initiatives.

  • Option A2.2: Alex focuses on research and development, aiming to innovate new technologies in the field.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex thrives in the R&D department, developing cutting-edge battery storage solutions and more efficient solar panels. Their innovations are patented, and Alex becomes a recognized expert, enjoying the intellectual challenge of pushing technological boundaries.

Card 3B1: Path B1 Outcome (Mastering the Craft)

Decision Point 3 (from Path B1): What's Alex's long-term vision?

  • Option B1.1: Alex continues as a respected journeyman, valuing their hands-on work and community reputation.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex continues to be a highly sought-after electrician in their community. They take pride in their work, enjoy the variety of projects, and appreciate the freedom and direct impact of their skilled labor. They are a mentor to younger apprentices.

  • Option B1.2: Alex decides to teach electrical trades at a vocational school, sharing their expertise with the next generation.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex transitions into teaching at a local vocational school. They find immense satisfaction in guiding aspiring electricians, sharing their practical knowledge, and helping students gain valuable, in-demand skills. Their experience makes them an inspiring instructor.

Card 3B2: Path B2 Outcome (Entrepreneurial Spark)

Decision Point 3 (from Path B2): How does Alex want to grow the business?

  • Option B2.1: Alex keeps the business small and focused, maintaining personal involvement in all projects.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex's small electrical business gains a reputation for quality and personal service. Alex enjoys the direct relationship with clients and the ability to control project scope, finding a good balance between work and personal life.

  • Option B2.2: Alex expands the business, hiring more electricians and taking on larger commercial contracts.

    • Outcome (Read aloud): Alex's business grows significantly, taking on major commercial and industrial electrical contracts. They become a successful business owner, delegating tasks and focusing on strategic growth, though this also brings new managerial challenges and responsibilities.
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