We needed to break out of our classroom routine, so I thought an online research project on jobs that require math skills would serve that purpose as well. I didn't realize how easy it would be to create a compelling project until I went to Monster.com, searched for keyword algebra, and had to sort through hundreds of results. I was impressed by the range of careers and employers. There were a lot of teaching jobs among the results, however, which is the last thing I wanted my students to focus on.
So I asked my students to find 10 non-teaching jobs that required math skills. I gave them 5 job search engines to use:
I told them to search only for "algebra" or "math". I created a graphic organizer for students to record the information they found, especially what the job entailed and what math skills were required. I included a set of reflection questions at the end of the project, to hammer home the main ideas:
- List some ways you could find out more information about jobs you were interested in.
- Which job did you find the most interesting? Explain why.
- What do you think is the most important thing you learned through this project?
- Is there anything you think you now want to know more about based on this project?
This year, I didn't get the same "why do we need to know this?" feeling from my students, so I held off on this project until the end of the year. The project remains mostly intact, with a few key changes:
- Removed Monster from the list of websites (too slow, too many requests to register when searching) and replaced it with Indeed, a job metasearch engine.
- Added a space in the graphic organizer for Degree Required. I know that many students failed to realize that needing math skills didn't necessarily mean graduating from college with a math-related degree.
- Added one more question to the Reflection Questions: What was the most surprising or unexpected job you found in your search results?
- Encouraged students to seek jobs in a career they were interested in, instead of jobs located in or near our state (I think the former is far more relevant to them than the latter).
Downloads: original version, 2008 updated version
This project and many others are my book Ten Cheap Lessons: Easy, Engaging Ideas for Every Secondary Classroom. Click the Ten Cheap Lessons tag for more posts.
7 comments:
Great idea. I'm going to use this at the beginning of the year as a "Why do I gotta study math" project. Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas.
You should have them use www.realmatch.com and add math as a skill. You'll find all the open positions.
You have to know the basics.
Mr. D,
I was thinking of using this the first week of school. Great idea! I wanted to ask you though, do you require the students to put the job description and the types of math skills needed in their own words to as to avoid any plagiarism?
No, no such requirement. It's not plagiarism if I'm asking for direct quotes and the source (though not in MLA format or anything like that). This is more of a report than a paper.
Nevertheless, it's an interesting idea. It would add a level of literacy to the project, and it would ensure students understood what the employers were asking for. That would certainly help hammer home the point of the exercise.
Why is it called a "Six Weeks Project"? Did I miss something? BTW Thanks for being awesome and generous!
Lillian, sorry about the confusion! It's called "Six Weeks Project" because it was the major project of our six-week grading period. It has nothing to do with the time needed to complete it. :)
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