Overview
Proven effective at facilitating significant and measurable skill gains in a relatively short time period, Keys2Work uses ACT’s WorkKeys® system and KeyTrain® curriculum as the basis for a standardized system, or common language, for improving basic problem-solving skills needed for today’s labor market.
Ideal for students with IEPs, Keys2Work allows you to provide hours of differentiated instruction and measure gains in the following career skill areas:
Features
MEASURE - pretest quickly establishes training baseline and equates a skill level to a potential wage
EXPLORE - uses an O-Net interest inventory linked to 1000 career cards and 16 career cluster cards to link foundation skills, like reading and math, to job requirements and a Career Plan of Study
IMPROVE - work-based curriculum provides individualized remediation targeted at identified gaps
CERTIFY - provides a meaningful workplace preparation credential based on a WorkKeys score
SUCCEED - comprehensive program monitoring and reporting system generates automated reports simplify program evaluation
Notes on Implementation
◼Skill gains possible in just 4-6 hours online; classroom supervision/ support is recommended
◼Training provided for program implementation and outcome tracking
◼A comprehensive diagnostic tool and developmental curriculum is provided for individuals with very low functioning skill levels
Key Outcomes for Students
◼Increased skill gains in core foundation skills needed for virtually any career
◼Identification of favorite careers and career clusters
◼Measured gains in income potential
Video
Overview
The PA e-Mentoring program allows schools to provide their students with an online career mentor within the classroom. eMentors communicate with students through emails and an online curriculum that leads to a college and career plan for each mentee. PA eMentoring offers working and retired adults, parents, and mature college students a fun, easy, and flexible alternative to traditional face-to-face mentoring, and offers employers a way to establish meaningful connections with youths and schools within the community.
To learn more or to sign up to be an eMentor volunteer, go to www.pa-ementor.org.
Features
◼10-12 week program
◼Program built around 10 online curriculum activities
◼Curriculum addresses PA’s Academic Standards for Career Education
◼Online and training provided for mentor and mentee
◼Email communication archived for monitoring and evaluation purposes
◼Allows parents, teachers and local employers to get involved in mentoring
Notes on Implementation
◼Face-to-face training available for schools
◼Curriculum allows mentors to mentor more than one student at a time
◼All mentors must pass a national criminal and child abuse screening
◼Smart Futures staff will assist to promote local mentor recruitment
◼Monitoring and reporting system provided for teachers
Key Outcomes for Students
◼A printable College and Career Plan
◼Stronger career focus with increased awareness of available career paths
◼Increased interest in 2-year education opportunities
◼Higher self esteem
Video
Overview
This fun, friendly virtual school provides students with access to resources to help connect their own interests, values and knowledge, skills and abilities to real opportunities in the workplace. Through on-line career exploration activities and inventories, students access information about careers and career clusters they may be interested in pursuing, as well as the training required to reach their goals.
Each youth participating with My Career Journey will receive a comprehensive and personalized “Career Journal.” This multi-page document written from the perspective of a caring career counselor, weaves the data provided by the online inventories and activities into a meaningful and fun review of relevant opportunities in appropriate post-secondary education, careers, and career clusters.
Features
◼Complete online inventories that uncover their interests, values, skills, knowledge and abilities
◼The Career Library includes over 1000 interactive career cards and 16 cluster cards linked to valuable career exploration resources
◼Each youth is given a locker containing their career story notebook and a favorite careers folder
◼Website activities address Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Career Education and Work
◼Tracking and reporting system captures data for easy monitoring and evaluation
Notes on Implementation
◼Complete story can be written in under 2 hours of online activity
◼Program is designed to be self-paced
◼Free online training
Key Outcomes for Students
A personalized career journal for each student that includes the following:
◼Career Clusters and Pathways
◼Abilities and Aptitudes
◼Work Values
◼Interests
◼Non-Traditional Workplace Roles
Video
Overview
Smart Futures has partnered with Wells Fargo to develop Financial Literacy 101, an online financial literacy resource built around the award -winning Hands on Banking® program. Hands on Banking® provides best-in-class, online learning content while Smart Futures provides pre and post assessments and a student tracking system allowing educators to monitor and document student progress. The program age-appropriately tests and enhances student knowledge on a variety of financial literacy topics through three dif- ferent modules targeted to young adults (grades 9-12), teens (grades 6-8), and kids (grades 4-5).
Financial Literacy 101 is free to all Pennsylvanian schools and community- based organizations.
Features
◼Partnership with Wells Fargo’s award-winning Hands on Banking® program
◼Contains modules for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults
◼Provides a MEASURE pretest and CERTIFY post-test
◼Certificate given for score of 80% or better
◼Built-in student tracking system allows teachers to monitor student progress
Notes on Implementation
◼Program is free to districts and organizations in PA
- get your instructor access code at www.smartfutures.org
◼Each module contains approx. 2 - 4 hours of online curriculum
Key Outcomes for Students
◼Increase in knowledge of basic concepts related to money and finance
◼Pre-test and post-test scores broken down by topic
Video