In an effort to prepare American high school students for future careers, many states have implemented specific career readiness standards and programs. One such program is known as Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO), which are hands-on, credit-bearing experiences outside of the classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration.…

Recent trends in agricultural education have demonstrated that the number of middle school programs and students has been increasing. Despite this, middle school agricultural education students, teachers, and programs have been underserved. For example, middle school agricultural education teachers lack the training and resources to meet the needs…

This study reports a qualitative grounded-theory investigation that explored school counselor trainees' experiences engaging in psychoeducational group lessons with first-generation college-going (first-in-family) high school students. As part of this semester-long, group-based experiential training, counselor trainees developed and implemented…

With the need to increase minority representation in the polar sciences, a team of researchers from a southwestern United States public university developed an innovative field research experience entitled the International Polar Year-Research and Educational Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities (IPY-ROAM). Supported by a National Science…

How do internships and work experience, such as volunteering, give students a taste of the environment in which they hope to be employed? How do they provide pathways between educational institutions and the workplace? This paper reports on a qualitative research study about the initial professional learning experiences of individuals newly…

This paper discusses the problem of low achievers in school and offers suggestions for helping them. It describes one high school's development of a career exploration program--including work experience in the 12th grade--to motivate students who are unable to cope with the regular program. (LD)

The Community Learning Program in a Florissant, Missouri, high school provides hands-on career exploration experiences supervised by community sponsors. The program is described here and students' positive responses to an evaluation questionnaire are outlined. (MJL)

Morehead State University's technical writing internship program provides students who are not suited to larger, industry-based writing internship programs with professional writing experience. Most interns are English majors, and only the best and most interested students are selected. The program confers 3-6 semester hours' credit and aims to…

Most nursing assistant programs place emphasis primarily on the cognitive and psychomotor aspects of the student's education. The school must focus on career exploration to meet fully its responsibility for helping students prepare for work. (JOW)

A study was done to examine the effects of an Early Field Experience Program on interpersonal skills. Results supported the hypothesis that early teaching experience positively affects the interpersonal capabilities of prospective teachers. Therefore, a prospective teacher participating in this program is better equipped to establish more…

Relevant vocational exploratory programs are needed at the junior high school level. (GB)

College freshmen who participated in a field-based exploratory career experience gained increased knowledge of self and an in-depth knowledge of a career. (Ed.)

The Colgate University Career Exploration Program, where alumni in fields ranging from medicine to the ministry sponsor students for month-long internships, is described. Students take short courses or engage in independent study, the alumni sponsor rates the student and the faculty member provides the grade for the credited program. (MLW)

A survey conducted by the University of Arkansas at Fayettesville reveals that preprofessional experiences should be included in the first education course so that students might determine if career expectations match their career aspirations. (MM)