Convergence of Media Technology and Career Development Series

The workshop reviewed examples of multi-media, kid career test resources.

1.      Goals and Objectives:

After attending presentation, career development professionals at K-8 level will be able to –

·         List examples and features of elementary/ middle school iPad, iPod, and Excel career awareness applications

·         List steps to create elementary/ middle school iPad, iPod, and Excel career awareness applications

2.      Program Description

Elementary and middle school digital learners are waiting for the convergence and synchronization of career development principles with today’s electronic media.  Career development professionals are developing computing devices applications for the Media Generation.  With these resources, the iKids will develop 21^st Century Skills.

3.      Literature Review

There is the need for the development of career development resources that utilize new media technology capturing the hearts of this generation.  Edutopia (2005) and the Kaiser Foundation (1999) called these students the iKids, Twenty-First-Century Students, digital learners, or Media Generation.  According Kaiser Foundation Kids & Media @the New Millennium Report (1999), “Young people (ages 8-18) have received mainline electronic media in the world for more than six hours a day, on average via the filter of computing devices: the cellular phones, handheld gaming devices, PDAs, and laptops they have taken everywhere, plus the computers, TVs, and game consoles at home.” 

As a result, there must be a convergence and synchronization of career development principles with today’s electronic media.  Career development professionals must design and sequence engaging career awareness and career exploration education projects. These projects will use mobile career tools that foster any place, any time learning.  The goal of these products is to motivate students to fulfill the 21^st Century Skills mission –

·         To be a productive contributor in society in our 21^st century

·         To be able to quickly learn the core content of a field of knowledge while also mastering a broad portfolio of essential learning, innovation, technology, and career skills needed for work and life (21^st Century Skills. Learning for Life in Our Times, 2009)

Some of the resources include -

• PowerPoint 
• Issuu Library -  http://issuu.com/maryaskew 
• Evernote Library - https://www.evernote.com/pub/explorecareers/ncda 
• Paint Careers With Colors Fact Sheets   
• HollandCodes.com virtual catalog.