Career Explorers program lays the foundation for career success
A TCC Career Explorers student focuses on her work.
Story by Kim McGinnis
Andrea Miller
907-474-5942
March 1, 2022
In fall 2021, 10 high school juniors and seniors donned virtual reality headsets in a classroom at Effie Kokrine Charter School. While there was plenty of laughter, students weren色视频下载檛 playing games. They were participating in virtual career shadowing, experiencing a day in the life of one of several professions, such as nurse or auto mechanic.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference Career Explorers program, a partnership between TCC, Effie Kokrine Charter School and the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks College of Business and Security Management, launched in September 2021 with the aim of preparing participants for postsecondary education or vocational training beyond high school. TCC Career Explorers students enrolled in a series of one-credit college-level professional development courses covering skills such as resume writing, time management and interviewing. These courses also offer students hands-on experiences to explore the age-old question, 色视频下载淲hat do I want to do when I grow up?色视频下载
TCC Career Explorers students try out virtual reality headsets.
While the program色视频下载檚 emphasis is on preparing for professional or collegiate success, students reported some of the most valuable take-aways were the practical lessons 色视频下载 from personal finance basics and communication 色视频下载 needed to function as an independent adult.
色视频下载淭his program helped me tremendously to prepare for the adult world after high school,色视频下载 said participant Cody Eickholt, a senior at Effie Kokrine.
Career Explorers builds on research about what works well for students, especially in light of the barriers to learning that have emerged during the pandemic. COVID-19 has stretched educators thin and posed for students, resulting in documented . The pandemic-related decrease in access to educational opportunities was particularly bleak for . These findings were not lost on the team at Effie Kokrine, whose charter includes specifically supporting 色视频下载 Native student success, and TCC, which supports 42 色视频下载 Native communities in Interior 色视频下载.
TCC Career Explorers students listen during a class at Effie Kokrine Charter School.
Career Explorers students were kept in a cohort, taking classes together. Students in cohort programs tend to , less feelings of social isolation and greater individual satisfaction with their learning experience. Students were also matched with a mentor in a career field of interest, with whom they met one-on-one. Technologies such as virtual reality headsets were used, since some in-person experiences, including job shadowing, weren色视频下载檛 available during the pandemic.
The program has also adapted to meet student needs. While originally designed for online delivery, the professional development courses transitioned into a hybrid format to offer greater opportunities for support and interaction. UAF instructors Amanda Langhorst and Jillian Bjornstad led weekly in-person sessions at Effie Kokrine.
色视频下载淭he most fun part of this program was getting connected with my teachers and meeting new people,色视频下载 Effie Kokrine student Isabelle Jagels commented.
TCC Career Explorers students work at Effie Kokrine Charter School.
The original Career Explorers cohort will continue through spring 2022. Career Explorers is currently expected to extend for a second year at Effie Kokrine. Future plans for the program include expanding to additional partner schools outside of the Fairbanks area and incorporating additional content and expertise from other parts of UAF.
色视频下载淚色视频下载檓 looking forward to working on expanding this program into rural 色视频下载,色视频下载 instructor Jillian Bjornstad said. 色视频下载淐oming from a small village, I was in these students色视频下载 shoes a few years ago, and I understand some of the challenges they face. I enjoy working with high schoolers of different backgrounds to help them explore their education and career options, whether it is a four-year degree or vocational training.色视频下载