Journal Entry 4 (November 11 - November 17)

Part 1: Worksite

This week, I visited Washington Career Paths at http://www.wacareerpaths.com. The website combines all of the essential job search tools and websites within the Washington area. The website is for people at all levels including high school students exploring career interests, military service members separating from armed services, or mid-career adults researching new opportunities.   

Part 2: Observation

The sight is intentionally graphic with minimal narration to promote ease of use for those with different learning and research styles. There are six essential sections for career explorers at different levels. These sections are:

• The Match Up
• The Start Up
• The Change Up
• The Train Up
• The Pay Up
• The Work Up

The Match Up helps the career explorer articulate their interests and assists in identifying potential careers that may suite those interests. Individuals may complete a long or a short survey of their personality, interests and skills. At the end of the survey, potential careers that align with the personality, the interests, and the skills indicated will be revealed. 

The Start Up is for high school students exploring their career interests. First, high schoolers are assisted with developing a plan. Then, they are assisted with career matching. Finally, students are given some options for starting school early or immediately following graduation. Some of these options include apprenticeships and Running Start. 

The Change Up is for adults seeking a career change. The first step is to identify career opportunities in high demand fields. Next, job seekers may explore transition assistance options that are tailored to meet their unique personal and professional needs. These options include military to civilian transition or worker retraining for those who have relocated or have been laid off. 

The Train Up offers assistance with training and educational programs. Explorers may review colleges in the Washington area. They may also visit the Check Out a College and the Centers of Excellence websites for programs such as fire service, homeland security, emergency medical technician, paramedic, automotive technician, and culinary arts, just to name a few. Finally, individuals may view available options for apprenticeships, construction, clean energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. 

The Pay Up allows career cruisers to review available funding and additional resource options. These funding sources may include financial aid such as grants, loans, work-study and scholarships. Additionally, individuals may be connected to the official website to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and they may also be connected with the points of contact for worker retraining within the Washington state community and technical college system. 

The Work Up combines all of the job search tools within the state of Washington and some federal job search options. Initially, job seekers are encouraged to review the Helpful Hints to Get You Hired section. In this section, job seekers are provided with three essential hints for job search success: 

1. Start with the end in sight
2. Narrow down the competition
3. Spread the word

Next, job seekers can visit gcflearnfree.org to research tips and tools for successful networking. Additionally, individuals may review the Washington state Employment Security Department website to research wages, occupations, industries, and potential for industry growth. 

It is an educational sight because career exploration and job seeking is a learned behavior. Many individuals have the will to learn but are unsure about how to get started in college. Many workers have worked in an industry for many years but they are unsure about how to obtain the training or education needed to become skilled in other areas. Additionally, all job seekers need assistance conducting an effective job search. This website provides individuals at all levels with the tools needed for a successful transition into college and/or the workforce. Moreover, it is easy to follow with few words and more graphics to help keep site cruisers engaged and on target. 

Part 3: Readings

The article I read focused on the 25 years of increasing testing and accountability culminating in legislative mandates such as No Child Left Behind. Essentially, the author discusses the environment in which teachers teach and learners learn. In earlier generations, teachers were almost omnipotent, unquestioned leaders of their classrooms and stern disciplinarians for those who were not performing within accepted behavioral standards. Then came a more relaxed generation where teachers smiled and encouraged students without the threat of corporal punishment, verbal admonishment, or gestural scolding. Then came the era of desegregation which upset our classroom dynamics yet again and teachers adjusted to this changed environment.

However, since 1980 federal and state governments have demanding more accountability and more measurable student outcomes. This has brought about an unprecedented level of standardized testing. American educators continue to press forward with this high accountability approach at the expense of other critical learning needs such art, music, and physical education. Teachers are also under constant scrutiny and many have complained about how they are spending more time teaching the test and less time focusing on other measures of student learning. Classrooms used to have evenly measured desks nailed to the floor. Classrooms eventually moved to less rigid infrastructures and students began to experience more freedom of movement within the classroom, especially in K-5. However, in many school districts, by the time students reach secondary education levels, many of the free moving classrooms have given way to traditional classroom setting. Additionally, other curricular activities such as art, music, home economics, and physical education have been reduced in many school systems. 

The author also addresses how teacher teach. He speaks of different approaches such as teacher directed, student directed, and a varied approaches. However, no one really has a clear picture as to how a teacher delivers curriculum in the classroom. The author highlights three cities and there transformation into schools with a high focus on standardized testing. These cities are Arlington, VA, Denver, CO, and Oakland, CA. Federal and state mandates ordered more accountability from these schools. These schools minority population has increased over time. However, the performance in these districts has substantially declined. Additionally, federal officials are afraid that as we become more information driven, high school graduates are proving less and less prepared for college or the workforce. 

The author conducted studies of the three school districts (Arlington, Denver, and Oakland). The author's findings showed more informality in instruction in the elementary schools in these three districts and persistence through secondary schools. This evidence contradicts interview responses from several teachers. However, what he found is that despite the continued pressure for standardized testing and text books being shaped around federal and state mandates, teachers are still finding ways to hug the middle. That is, they are meeting external mandates while continuing to create enrichment in their classrooms.

Cuban, L. (2007). Hugging the Middle: Teaching in an Era of Testing and Accountability, 1980- 2005. education policy analysis archives, 15(1), 1-29.

Part 4: Integrations

My problem of practice revolves around improving professional development and employee engagement within my department. This website may be used to help my staff review opportunities within the state of Washington. Many leaders seem to have a fear of employees leaving. However, I have found that being a leader involves mentorship and preparation for the next professional challenge. I feel that I am doing my staff a disservice by not supporting their professional aspirations whether they be within the current organization or elsewhere. This website may provide valuable tools for both student and staff care.