A Systematic Approach for K-16 Career Integration
Connect the Work is a transformative method for integrating career readiness into K-16 systems.
Starting as early as Kindergarten and through college, our resources promote self-discovery, leading to a better understanding of self, and how to match strengths, interests, and values to life's opportunities.
Shortlisted for the HundrED Global Collection 2024
Connect the work Recognized as a significant Global Education innovation!
Connect the Work is shortlisted for the HundrED Global Collection, highlighting the 100 brightest education innovations from around the world! HundrED Global Collection gathers the most impactful and scalable 100 education innovations in one collection. These innovations are reviewed and selected by an expert board of education experts and teachers and shared in their global network of leading education stakeholders.
How Are Our Resources Designed?
Connect the Work resources are based on recognized career development theories and feature evidence-based career readiness design elements.
- Develop Identity... Who Are You? - Our curriculum includes a wide range of activities that engage students to identify and think about their strengths, interest, and values. Students benefit from repeated inventories, surveys, journaling, and discussing their aspirations as they develop a sense of identity for their present and future self.
- Expand Experiences ... How Are You Growing? - Projects, group work, simulations, embedded work experiences, and interactions with role models help students expand the context and understanding of the world of work. Who out there is doing specific kinds of work? What are the options?
- Map Opportunities... What Are Your Options? - Students make sense of the wide range of opportunities and how to access those options, Students explore career paths in high school and beyond, investigate different kinds of career sectors, and become ready for various present and future opportunities.
- Reflect and Dream... Where Are You Headed?- Career development is not a linear experience. It often involves adjusting to new contexts, adopting new strategies, and refining goals. Students develop their narrative and set goals, learn the discipline of honest reflection which helps strengthen their ability to guide their educational and career paths.
The Components of a Quality Career Readiness Resources
Effective career readiness initiatives focus on developing personal identity and provide a sense-making process for mapping work-related opportunities.
As school districts realign their work to meet expectations for career and life readiness, a range of products and initiatives are emerging.
- How do districts make the right choice?
- What is the criteria for evaluating effective career readiness programs?
- What research should inform decisions?