Career Orientation
Career Orientation is a one semester class for 8th graders in the Fort Smith Public Schools system. It is a comprehensive course designed to teach middle school students the job search and evaluation skills needed to live and work in today's global economy.
Guest speakers and computer interest inventories such as Kuder Career Planning and Explore expand their understanding of their own interests, abilities, aptitudes and skills. The teacher assists them in making meaningful and informed career choices and constructing a four year plan for their high school education. High school courses prepare them for vocational training or college education they need for their chosen career.
Career decisions made in middle school are likely to be tentative and the students will change their minds before graduation from high school. However, experience has shown that students will probably continue to be interested in the same career field or area.
For this reason Career Orientation is based on the 16 Career Clusters established by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education. This system or organizing the most commonly held jobs in the United States, offers career researchers a way to quickly identify a career cluster they are most interested in. The high school education required for all jobs in any specific career cluster is the same. Only after graduation do students branch out into specific careers. For instance, in the Health Sciences cluster, all high school students would take the same high school curriculum rich in science and math. After graduation they would all be prepared to proceed into college or vocational training leading to careers as nurses, physical therapists, brain surgeons, etc.