Exploration Experiences

(Employer Guides)

Exploration Experiences

Exploration experiences go beyond the brief exposure of awareness-building activities either by extending the experience through multiple interactions, or through more rigorous student preparation, reflection, and debrief. Through exploration activities, students make more specific goals for their future, gaining a concrete understanding of the middle school, high school, and postsecondary education and training that will help them prepare for additional work-based learning activities to help them achieve their career goals.

Presenters share:

how to increase career knowledge
the career and employability skills that it takes to get, keep, and advance in a career
how to set personal and career goals
how to find careers based on personal strengths, interests, talents, skills, etc.

Exploration Experiences are appropriate for learners at the following levels:

Middle School
High School
Post-Secondary
Adult

Exploration Outcomes

Expose students to the career options available within specific industries

Encourage students to ask questions about the training and schooling necessary for entry into the workforce

Encourage students to ask questions and learn more from multiple employees within a career pathway about getting hired and advancing in various roles

Provide opportunities for students to further explore educational and career options in order to better understand the educational, content, and skill requirements

Preparing for an Exploration Activity

Prepare industry specific resource material to share with teachers and students
Prepare work place to meet safety requirements for a visit
Arrange any media needs with the host teacher in advance

Following-Up after an Exploration Activity

Host teacher will share any additional student questions/feedback
Debrief with employees and share feedback with host teacher/program coordinator
Arrange for other ways that the school and organization can work together to support student interest and learning

Exploration Experiences Success Criteria

Equity and Access: Ensure all students have access to high-quality work-based learning experiences within their chosen pathway.

All students have access to Exploration level activities
Intentional effort is made for inclusion and representation in Exploration level activity

Alignment: Ensure all student work-based learning experiences are aligned to promoted pathway curriculum at the high school and post-secondary levels.

Employer expectations are aligned with educational learning outcomes
The Exploration level activity prepares students for the application of employer expectations for Preparation level activities

Engagement: Ensure all work-based learning agreements between education and industry partners reflect diverse employer engagements across all promoted pathways and provide high-quality work-based learning experiences for students and employers.

Provide expertise and resources to engage students and encourage their success in a pathway
Participate in post-activity survey(s) and/or reflection(s)

Typically one-time experiences at school or through a huakaʻi or field trip to build student awareness of the wide range of career, college, and community options available to them

Awareness Experiences

Exploration experiences go beyond brief exposure of awareness-building experiences by extending the experience through multiple interactions or more rigorous student participation

Exploration Experiences

Preparation level experiences strengthen student content knowledge and skills through coursework linked to extended interaction with community and industry professionals

Preparation Experiences

Training experiences are extended interactions that require the application of the learned technical, employability, and academic knowledge in real-world industry settings

Training
Experiences