Next Generation of Kid Career Resources

Hollandcodes.com features the following kid's career awareness, cutting-edge media technology products.

The My Rainbow Career Finder program is an alternative to the paper and pencil RIASEC kid career test. The program is an automated poster scoring system that automatically produces the three letter Holland Code based on the selection that the children provide. Upon completion of the report, we will send you a PDF report.

With the My Rainbow Career Finder, children sort posters according to likes and dislikes.

The automated scoring system tallies the results and generates a Holland Code.

There is no more counting, tallying, or figuring.


Kids, children, and students will enjoy making their selections and with just the click of a button.


The poster analyzer clarifies thoughts, integrates new knowledge, and promotes critical thinking.

New concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood.

The My rainbow career finder organizes and analyzes information. Children -

• See how Holland Codes are connected to careers
• Realize how careers can be grouped and organized

The kid career test software also improves –

• Attention Span and Concentration: holds audience's attention and helps people absorb information
• Memory Skills and Understanding: improves ability to absorb information
• Speed of Learning: reduces the time it takes to complete career tests.

Read more about the My Rainbow Career Finder...

Using Twitter as a Career Development Tool: A Middle School Experience

Article reprinted from NCDA Career Convergence - http://ow.ly/Bthik

Written by Allison Rosemond

The use of social media in career development continues to grow. From college career centers using Facebook for marketing career services to career-seekers using LinkedIn for networking, social media sites are fast becoming a mainstay of the career development process for adults. However, only within the last few years has the use of social media for career development trickled down to K-12 public schools. To help close the gap, readers will be introduced to the use of Twitter for virtual job shadowing at a middle school, consisting of 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students who learn through the experience of professionals representing several career clusters using 140 characters or less.

In the Beginning

The goal of this project was to design an age appropriate career activity using a medium familiar to students. To accomplish this goal, the author utilized a modified version of a Twitter-based virtual job shadowing activity developed by the Southeast Florida Information Network with permission from the Manager of Staff Development Services. The final version was tweaked to suit the needs and capabilities of the school and students.

Planning

The first stage of the planning involved identifying the resources needed. The project required participants to have access to the Internet and Twitter throughout the day to tweet about their daily tasks, special projects, etc. After reviewing the list of the 16 federal career clusters, the school surmised that careers within the Information Technology, Business, Marketing & Sales and Arts, A/V Technology & Communications career clusters would be appropriate. Likewise, students would need to have access to the Internet, so the Keyboarding classes were chosen to conduct the interaction.

To recruit participants, businesses were contacted through their Human Resources or Public Relations department. To promote the idea, the project was described as a way for employees to share information about their careers in a casual manner with little interruption to the business day, in ways that will allow students to broaden their knowledge of the World of Work without having to leave campus.

Next, the school corresponded with and secured confirmation from interested employees. Overall, seven businesses and 15 employees participated. Also, the school collaborated with the Coordinator of the local Regional Education Center (REC) for Greenville County South Carolina to offer an orientation. South Carolina has 12 RECs across the state to assist in the implementation of Personal Pathways to Success, the state’s interpretation of the Education and Economic Development Act (2005). Through the collaboration with the local REC, the orientation allowed the participants to learn details of the virtual job shadowing project and, receive a Twitter ‘crash course’, about setting up an account and sending tweets. Employees were required to make their Twitter accounts public for the duration of the project.

The Project

Each participating class received an introduction to the project and a 3-5 minute Twitter tutorial. Prior to tweeting, students conducted research, using O*Net, on a career of one of the employees by locating the following information:

• Tasks
• Work Activities, Styles, and Values
• Education required
• RIASEC Interest Code
• Median Hourly Wage (for South Carolina)
• Projected Growth (for South Carolina)

The first class received an initial tweet from each participating employee that read:

 “Welcome to my day! Just started (specific task) as (job title) for (company).” #GMSvirtualjs

Each subsequent class reviewed the timeline of tweets exchanged before sending new tweets. One by one, students came to the front of the classroom to send tweets from a chosen computer, as the Twitter feed was shown on the Promethean Board for all to see. The employees also tweeted pictures, so students could see their colleagues, office amenities and office spaces.

Participating employees were able to respond to students’ questions regarding:

• how you got your start in this career- what or who encouraged you to pursue it
• interesting things about your career
• uninteresting things about your career
• hobbies or extracurricular activities that can prepare someone for this career
• high school/college classes someone can take to prepare for this career

Follow-up

The success of the project was measured by how well the students were engaged during the project and from feedback received from participants’ survey. It is our experience that the students were absorbed and challenged by the project. Students commented that “the project was a fun way to do virtual job shadowing, instead of just watching career videos” and many were excited to go home and show the tweets to their parents. The participants’ survey pointed out that the project was well organized.

Recommendations for future projects

• Allow students to take ownership of the project;
• Have fewer teacher prompts, more student-directed tweets;
• A classroom environment, with no more than 35 students, works well and, tweets should be sent from one designated computer, with an adult supervisor present;
• Spread the project across an entire day instead of a few class periods, to allow a larger number of students to learn about a greater variety of job tasks within a career;
• Develop a clear explanation of what information employees should share and, allow employees to view the O*Net research activity being conducted by students, for an understanding of prior knowledge students will have about employees’ careers.

To view the students’ O*Net research activity and participant survey, email the author at arosemond@greenville.k12.sc.us. For more information on Personal Pathways to Success, visit www.scpathways.org.

Source:  “The article, Using Twitter as a Career Development Tool: A Middle School Experience, by Allison Rosemond, originally appeared in NCDA's web magazine, Career Convergence, at www.ncda.org. Copyright © 11/2012. Linked with permission.”  

To get more information about career development and social media.

Middle School Career Education System $99.95 Sale!

Sale ends 12/24/10!

Overview

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL learning techniques and career test for kids that use colors to represent Holland Codes and Paint Careers With Colors Codes.The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career System clarifies thoughts, integrates new knowledge, and promotes critical thinking. New concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids System organizes and analyzes information. Children, youth, and adults -

• See how Holland Codes are connected to careers
• Realize how careers can be grouped and organized

The Paint Careers With Colors System also improves –

• Attention Span and Concentration: holds audience's attention and helps people absorb information
• Memory Skills and Understanding: improves ability to absorb information
• Speed of Learning: reduces the time it takes to complete career tests.

Use the Paint Careers With Colors System at -

• Schools
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• YMCA/ YWCA Programs
• Afterschool Programs
• Kids Go To Work Days
• Career Days
• Summer School Programs

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids System is an excellent career test for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS and for other people -

• Who are In ESL/GED programs
• Who have limited reading ability
• Who have limited knowledge of English
• Who are developmentally delayed
• Who are learning disabled
• Who have special needs
• Who have limited access to education
• Who are chronically unemployed

The Paint Careers With Colors System has the following items -

• Kids Career Test (Printed Version)
• Online Career Test & Self Scoring Calculator
• Colors to Careers Posters
• Color Key
• Poster Analyzer
• Starter Kit
• Career Resource Guide
• Guide to Unlock Your Potential
• Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration
• Training Manual
• Flash Cards and Bingo Cards
• CD ROM Collection
• FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases)

Read about Paint Careers With Colors System -

• Overview
• Purpose and Rationale for the Paint Career With Colors System
• Description of the Paint Career With Colors System
• Components
• Primary Markets
• Market Competition and Special Features
• Literature Review
• Preview/ Certification Program
• CD ROM Collection
• FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases)

In career awareness programs, students do not make premature career choices. Elementary school career education is not career exploration or career preparation. Elementary students remain open to new career ideas and possibilities. Elementary students build awareness of -

• Self
• Personal interactions
• School
• Workforce

Career awareness programs use age appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. Age appropriate activities expose students to a variety of -

• Different jobs
• Career information sources
• The reasons why people work

Programs also incorporate academic career pathways into classroom activities.

After completing an elementary school career awareness program, students have -

• Higher grades
• Higher academic achievement
• Improved school involvement, as well as
• An increase in career awareness exploration, personal, and interpersonal skills

In addition, the students complete more complex courses and have a higher graduation rate from high school.

In summary, in elementary school career programs, students:

• Learn and apply the academic material
• Know and value self
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Identify interests and build relationships between the school environment and the work force
• Build academic, communication, problem solving, and social skills
• Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills
• See the connections between learning in school, academic skills, job related skills, and careers
• See career possibilities
• See themselves as a future contributor to the job force
• Receive empowerment
• Build self-determination (2,7,9)

Purpose and Rationale for the
Paint Career With Colors System

1. What does the Paint Career With Colors System measure?

The Paint Careers With Colors System measures -

• Interests
• Abilities
• Skills

2. What are the concepts or theories underlying the development of this Paint Career With Colors System?

Dr. John L. Holland (1985) created Holland Code Career Model, Holland Hexagon Model or Holland Codes.

The Holland Code Career Model matches jobs into -

• Job codes
• Interest clusters
• Work personality environments
• Personality types

The Occupational Codes are -

• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional

Holland Codes assessments provide -

• Career cluster information
• College major information
• Lists of careers
• Job finder resources

Description of the Paint Career With Colors System

1. What is the structure of the instrument?

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL learning techniques and career test for kids that use colors to represent Holland Codes.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test clarifies thoughts, integrates new knowledge, and promotes critical thinking. New concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Job Test organizes and analyzes information. Children, youth, and adults –

• See how Holland Codes are connected to careers
• Realize how careers can be grouped and organized

2. How many parts are there in career test?
The Paint Careers With Colors test has six sections.

3. What does each section measures?

Each section measures the one of the six RIASEC or Holland Codes.
4. How many items does the Paint Career With Colors System contain?

The Paint Careers With Colors has 54 items.

5. What type(s) of scores are generated?
2 – letter Holland Code

6. What is the format of the System?
The Paint Careers With Colors is a printed test. Group or individual administration? Paint Careers With Colors can be administered to groups and individuals.

7. What are the required response modes of the System?
Paper-and-pencil

8. What is the total estimated time required for administration?
Total estimated time is 30 minutes.

9. What is the proposed scoring procedure?
The Paint Careers With Colors is self – scoring. How long will it take to score the Paint Career With Colors System? Total scoring time is 5 minutes.

Components

1. What nonconsumable (i.e., reusable) components do you anticipate will be required for administering, scoring, and interpreting the Paint Career With Colors System? (e.g., System manuals, scoring keys, System plates, booklets, manipulatives)?

Paint Careers With Colors System contains –

• Career Model
• Table of Contents
• Starter Kit
• Facilitator's Manual
• Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents
• Occupational Posters with Colorful Graphics
• Poster Instruction Sheets
• Color Chart
• Web Site and Book Resource Guide

2. Describe each of these components in terms of the anticipated production characteristics: page size, number of pages, color(s) of ink, special forms (e.g., multi-forms, self-carboning), extraordinary use of graphical images, line drawings, or other illustrations, etc.

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL career exploration System for children that use colors to represent Holland Codes.

Career Models
There are two models –

• RIASEC Version
• Paint Careers With Colors Version

The RIASEC Version is for Middle School students. For Middle School students, the RIASEC Version should be used with the Self-Directed Search Career Explorer. The Paint Careers With Colors Version uses easier – to – read terms for elementary school students.


Starter Kit

The Starter Kit helps teachers, counselors, and parents prepare for a Paint Careers With Colors System. The Starter Kit has the following items –

• News Release
• Flyers for children
• Flyers for teachers, counselors, and parents
• Tent Cards
• Name Tags
• Stickers for Tent Cards and Name Tags

Facilitator's Manual

The Facilitator's Manual provides detailed step-by-step instructions to administer and implement the different aspects of the Paint Careers With Colors Kids Program.

Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents

The Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents gives a description of the different parts of the Paint Careers With Colors System.

Career Test Guide

The System Guide provides teachers and counselors with step – by – step instructions for teachers and counselors.

Occupational Posters with Poster Instruction Sheets

Over three hundred (300) Colors to Careers Posters feature--

• Graphics
• Holland Codes
• Paint Careers With Colors Codes.

The Paint Careers With Colors Posters are Easy Scoring. You sort the posters quickly according to likes and dislikes. At the end of the poster sorting exercise, you will have your Holland Code and Paint Careers With Colors Code. The posters are an excellent way to explore careers. The poster shows you’re the relationship between Holland Codes, Paint Careers With Colors Codes, and careers.

Paint Careers With Colors Color Chart

The Paint Careers With Colors Color Chart shows all of the information listed on the posters –

• Job Titles
• Career Color Codes
• 3 letter Holland Codes
• Colors to Careers Poster Numbers

Web Site and Book Resource Guide

The Web Site and Book Resource Guide provides additional information about web site and books for children.

Primary Markets

1. What is the target population for the Paint Careers With Colors System (i.e., demographic characteristics such as age, gender, etc.)
The target population for the Paint Career With Colors System is elementary or middle school students.

Other individuals who use the Paint Careers With Colors include people –

• Who are In ESL/GED programs
• Who have limited reading ability
• Who have limited knowledge of English
• Who are developmentally delayed
• Who are learning disabled
• Who have special needs
• Who have limited access to education

2. What professional discipline(s) would be the potential purchasers and users of this System?

Professional disciplines include –

• Universities and college – Elementary school education and counseling professors
• Teaching – Teachers, tutors, and home educators
• Counseling – School counselors, career development facilitators, life coaches, and career coaches
• Child Development – After – School Instructors, Career Day Facilitators, and Community Agency Staff
• Social Services – Social workers, crisis counselors, and At – Risk Children Program Staff

3. Which settings would be appropriate for use of this System (e.g., schools, private clinics, hospitals, private practice, etc.)?<

Settings for the Paint Careers With Colors include –

• Schools
• Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA Programs, and other community organizations
• Afterschool Programs
• Kids Go To Work Days
• Career Days
• Summer School Programs

Market Competition and Special Features

What other Systems are currently available that serve a similar function?

There is not a wide selection of Holland Code, visual, color-coded career systems available for elementary or middle school students.

Paint Careers With Colors Model

There are two versions – the RIASEC Version and the Children’s Version.

The RIASEC Version is for Middle School students. For Middle School students, the RIASEC Version should be used with the Self-Directed Search Career Explorer.

Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Job Test uses self-by-step activities, career games for Kids, and kids activities for career choices to highlight Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes. On each page, you choose the careers that you like or are interested in.
At the end of the job test for kids, you summarize your results. The Summary Sheet identifies your Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.
The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test comes with a Colors to Careers Career Model, Colors to Careers Code or Holland Code Descriptions, and Color Key. The Paint Careers With Colors Child Career Test is an excellent tool to introduce you to career exploration, Holland Codes, and Colors to Careers Codes. The graphics hold your attention as you identify your career interests.

Career Test comes with -

• Children Test
• Children Test Guide
• Photo Test
• Photo Test Guide
• RIASEC Test
• RIASEC Test Guide

The Career Tests are printed on heavy-weight glossy, durable paper!

Colors to Careers Posters

Over three hundred (300) Colors to Careers Posters feature graphics, Holland Codes, and Colors to Careers Codes. The Colors to Careers Posters are Easy Scoring. You sort the posters quickly according to likes and dislikes. At the end of the poster sorting exercise, you will have your Holland Code and Colors to Careers Code. The posters are an excellent way to explore careers. The poster shows you’re the relationship between Holland Codes, Color-to Careers Codes, and careers.

Career Posters comes with -

• Children Version
• Leaders Version
• RIASEC Version
• Photo Posters
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Photo Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – RIASEC Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Children Version

Cost: $25/ Student

Colors to Careers Key

The Colors to Careers Color Chart shows information listed on the career tests and posters –

• Job Titles
• Paint Careers With Colors Codes
• 3 letter Holland Codes
• Paint Careers With Colors Poster Numbers

Color Key Charts are available in the following versions -

• Color Key-RIASEC Version
• Color Key-RIASEC Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Children Version
• Color Key-Children2-Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Photo Version
• Color Key-Photo-Alphabetized Version

Cost: $10/ Student

Paint Careers With Colors Poster Analyzer

The Analyzer program is an alternative to the paper and pencil model of RIASEC Paint Careers With Colors. The Analyzer will automatically produce the three let code based on the selection that the test taker provides.

The Holland Codes Occupational Poster Scoring System is an automated poster scoring system.

With the Holland Codes Occupational Poster Scoring System, clients sort posters according to likes and dislikes.

The automated scoring system tallies the results and generates a Holland Code.

In addition, the new automated system can be used over and over again with individualized results based on the user’s selections.

There is no more counting, tallying, or figuring.

Clients, students, and children will enjoy making their selections and with just the click of a button have their unique Holland Code results displayed on the computer screen. You will enjoy using this career exploration activity.
Cost: $20.00

Paint Careers With Colors Promotional Starter Kit

Use the Starter Kit to promote the Paint Careers With Colors System.The Starter Kit helps teachers, counselors, and parents prepare for a Paint Careers With Colors System. The Starter Kit has the following items –

• News Release
• Flyers for children
• Flyers for teachers, counselors, and parents
• Tent Cards
• Name Tags
• Stickers for Tent Cards and Name Tags

The flyers and News Release help to advertise the Program.

The News Release advertises the beginning of the Paint Careers With Colors System. Send out the News Release prior to starting the system.

The Children’s and Adult’s Flyers provide information about the Paint Careers With Colors System.

Use Name Tags and Tent Cards to identify children, students, teachers, counselors, or parents.

Individuals place stickers on Name Tags and Tent Cards. The Stickers lists the 6 Holland Codes or 6 Colors to Careers Codes. When the children or students have completed the Career Test, they will be instructed to place the correct labels on their Name Tags and Tent Cards. The Stickers identify each individual’s Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.
Cost: $25/ Starter Kit

Career Resource Guide

The Career Resource Guide (Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, and Teens) includes additional information from the following areas –

• Holland Code Career Assessment Activities
• Awareness, Assessment, and Knowledge Resources
• Career Exploration Sites

The Career Resource Guide (Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, and Teens) covers -

1. Look at Exploring Careers Web Sites

• CURRICULUM
• CAREER INFORMATION
• SCIENCE CAREER GROUP
• SPECIFIC CAREERS — SCIENCE

2. Look at Exploring Careers Books
Cost: $10.00/ Student

Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum 2009

This Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum provides strategies –

• To motivate students to expand their knowledge of themselves and the world of work
• To empower students with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to enhance their career and personal development
• To encourage the discovery and refinement of students’ work values, interests and skills, as well as their academic and career planning

The contents of the Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum are -

1. Outline
2. Introduction
3. Career Exploration

• THREE STEPS WITHIN THE CAREER PLANNING AND EXPLORATION PROCESS
• STEP ONE: AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ASSESSMENT
  
  • Types of Career Planning Resources
  • Examples of Holland Codes Resources
  • Four Personal Styles
  • Holland Code Assessment
• STEP TWO: EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPLORATION
  
  • Internet Career Exploration Resources
  • Career Book Resources
• STEP THREE: CAREER PLANNING
  
  • Holland Codes and College Majors
  • Resume Writing
  • Resume Writing Web Sites
  • Preparing for an Interview

4. Bibliography
5. Appendix

• Career Exploration and Planning
• Areas Influencing Career Planning and Exploration
• Expanded List of Areas Influencing Career Planning and Exploration
• Career and Vocational Knowledge
• Different Occupational Areas
• Career Exploration Exercise Results
• Additional Career Websites

Cost: $10/ Student

Unlock Your Treasure – Children

The Children’s version of the Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration is used in conjunction with the Self Directed Search Career Explorer and the Paint Careers With Colors System (Children's and RIASEC Version).

The Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration has 3 sections:

• Guide to Exploring Careers
• Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, Kids and Children
• Visual Aids or Screenshots from the Unlock the Treasure Chest Guidebook

The Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration is for kids and children who need a manual that will guide them through the steps of exploring careers.

The topics included in the Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration are:

• Learning about Yourself
• Find the Secret Code
• Understand the Secret Code – The Holland Code
• Find Your Career Group
• Identify Careers Using Paint Careers With Colors System
• Identify Careers Using the Self Directed Search Career Explorer
• Explore Careers Using Career Web Sites
• Explore Career Using Career Books

Cost: $15/ Student

Training Manual

The Training Manual provides detailed step-by-step instructions to administer and implement the different aspects of the Paint Careers With Colors System. The Training Manual covers the following areas –1. Introduction (For Parents, Teachers, & Counselors)
2. Paint Careers With Colors System –

• Model
• Career Test
• Posters
• Color Key

3. Awareness & Assessment: Teacher, Counselor, & Parent Guide

• 3 Ways To Choose a Right Career Test For Your Child or Student
• Holland Career Self Assessment Tests
• Features Of Career Self Assessments Tests

4. Guide To Exploring Careers – For Children

• Learning About Yourself
• Day One: Meet Your Guides and Get Your Map
• Day Two: Meet John Holland, a Great Explorer
• Day Three: Find The Secret Code
• Day Four: Understand The Secret Code – The Paint Careers With Colors Code
• Day Five: Find Your Career Group
• Day Six: Get Your Holland Code.
• Day Seven: Get Your Career List
• Day Eight: Look at Exploring Careers Web Sites
• Day Nine: Look at Exploring Careers Books

5. Career Posters – Keys To Explore Holland Codes, Paint Careers With Colors Codes, and Careers
6. Day Ten: Look at Career Posters
7. Paint Careers With Colors Career Posters

• Preparation For Career Poster Activity
• Sorting By Likes And Dislikes
• Summary Sheet
• Final Review
• Highest Code Letters

8. Starter Kit
9. Visual Aids Or Screenshots For Teachers, Counselors, Or Parents
10. Flash Cards
Cost: $20/ Training Manual

Flash Cards and Bingo Cards Sets

The purpose of the Flash Cards and Bingo Cards are to help the students:

• Discover their interests, abilities, and skills.
• Find out what makes their personality tick.
• Explore careers with middle school students, children, and kids.
• Link careers to interests, abilities and skills.

Flash Card Set has -

• Flash Cards – Adults Version
• Flash Cards - Children Version

The Bingo Cards has -

• Bingo Card Set – Children Version
• Bingo Master - Children Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – Children Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – Children Version
• Bingo Card Set – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – RIASEC Version

Cost: $10/ Bingo Card/ Flash Card Set

Paint Careers With Colors CD ROM Collection

There are four (4) Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

• Foundational CD-ROM
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 1 – Training Resources
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 2 – Promotional Starter Kit Materials
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 3 – Holland Codes Toolkit
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 4 – Presentational Materials

Here is a detailed outline of the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

Foundational CD-ROM

1. Career Test - Children & RIASEC – Revising

• Children Test
• Children Test Guide
• Photo Test
• Photo Test Guide
• RIASEC Test
• RIASEC Test Guide

2. Color Key

• Color Key -RIASEC Version
• Color Key –RIASEC Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Children Version
• Color Key-Children2-Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Photo . Version
• Color Key-Photo-Alphabetized Version

3. Posters

• Children Version
• Leaders Version
• RIASEC Version
• Photo Posters
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Photo Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – RIASEC Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009-children Version

4. Introduction

• Overview
• RIASEC VS Children Table
• Fact Sheets
• Paint Careers With Colors Wheel – Children
• Paint Careers With Colors Wheel – RIASEC
• RIASEC & Children Model Table

Bonus CD-ROM Number 1 – Training Resources

1. Career Resource Guide
2. Curriculum 2009
3. Unlock Your Treasure – Children
4. Training Manual
5. Mini-Posters - Children's Version

• Mini Posters Labels
• Mini Posters Instructions
• Mini Posters Scoring Sheet

6. Career and Holland Game

Bonus CD-ROM Number 2 – Promotional Starter Kit Materials

1. Brochure
2. Labels - Children Codes
3. Labels - RIASEC Codes
4. Flyer – Adults
5. Flyer – Children
6. Name Tags
7. News Release
8. Poster
9. Tent Cards

Bonus CD-ROM Number 3 – Holland Codes Toolkit CD-ROM

1. Analyzer
2. Flash Cards

• Flash Cards – Adults Version
• Flash Cards - Children Version

3. Bingo Cards

• Bingo Card Set – Children Version
• Bingo Master - Children Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – Children Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – Children Version
• Bingo Card Set – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – RIASEC Version

There are FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With CD Collection Purchases).

End of Year Sale -Paint Careers With Colors Site Licensing Purchases

Teachers and counselors in the USA can purchase a single license that entitles all of their students to use the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection. The cost is discounted to a very affordable rate.

There are FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With CD Collection Purchases).


Offer expires December 24, 2010!

Read more...

Career Portfolios

The Importance of Career Planning When in School

Career portfolios focus on the importance of career planning in school. What are career interest portfolios?

A career interest portfolio is -

• Snap shot of the interests, abilities, and skills
• Diary that lists your goals, dreams, and visions
• Log book for career exploration and planning
• Guidebook to future career planning
• Storybook of your lifetime journey

Career interest portfolios are self awareness or occupational exploration portfolios. These portfolios provide guidance in completing the three steps of the career planning process –

• Self-Knowledge
• Educational and Occupational Exploration
• Career Planning

Self-knowledge deals with our self-concept, interpersonal skills, growth, and development.

Educational and occupational exploration reveals the relationships between learning, work, career information skills, job seeking, skill development, and the labor market.

Career planning includes self-assessment, career exploration, decision making, life role formation, goal setting, and the implementation of career choices.

A Career interest portfolio lists -

• Career test results
• Career interests -What you like to do
• Skills – Activities that you do well
• Values – Beliefs that are important to you
• Favorite subjects
• Favorite activities and hobbies
• Career experiences: Field trips, interviews with people at work, and interactions with mentors or key resource people
• Future job possibilities

A career interest portfolio helps you -

• Highlight your interests, abilities, and skills
• Recognize your strengths
• See the relationships between extracurricular activities and career goals
• Learn about world of work
• Open your eyes to new job opportunities
• Identify workplace skills
• List your career exploration objectives
• Focus on achieving the right career objectives
• Set realistic achievable goals
• Make educational and career plans

The career interest portfolio is an excellent aid for students. Education, learning, and training serve as the bridge between school and world of work. School is a time of transition. A career interest portfolio serves as a journal to record special activities and events.

The career interest portfolio helps students -

• Increase self awareness
• Expand knowledge of careers
• Improve career exploration and planning skills
• Develop motivation and self confidence

Career interest portfolios provide students with awesome opportunities to gain self awareness as well as to explore and understand the world of work.

Use the career interest portfolios with the Paint Careers With Colors Career Tests.

There are two (2) career assessments that have career portfolios -

• Kuder Career Planning Survey – For Adults and College Student
• Paint Careers With Colors – Middle School Students

The Bridge Between Elementary School and High School - Middle School Career Education

Middle School is a bridge between Elementary School and High School. Middle School is a time of transition.

Need for Middle School Career Education

National Alliance of Business (1999) believed that Middle school was an ideal age at which to expose students to the challenging world of work. Kerka (2000) described middle school as the threshold between elementary and high school, between childhood and adulthood. Middle school career education laid the groundwork for future career development by helping students achieve the following goals:

* Knowledge of personal characteristics, interests, aptitudes, and skills

* Awareness of and respect for the diversity of the world of work;

* Understanding of the relationship between school performance and future choices

* Development of a positive attitude toward work (Developmental Career Programs 1998)

Yet, without Middle School Career Education, students failed to build a foundation of the connection between high school academic subjects, potential careers, world of work, and post-secondary training (Kerka 1994, Wells and Gaus' 1991, Finch and Mooney 1997, Johnson 2000). As a result, students had poor self concepts, possessed poor intrinsic motivation, lacked self awareness, and made limited career choices. Finally, some of the students who failed to participate in a career education program dropped out of school (Castellano et al., 2002).

Benefits of Middle School Career Education

Middle School Students who completed career education programs had the following positive outcomes -

* Increased understanding of the world of work leading to an openness to an increased number potential careers (McDonald and Jessell 1992, Hughes, 1993, Smith 2000, Finch &amp; Mooney, 1999)

* Improved skills to make informed decisions and complex career information problem solving (McDonald and Jessell 1992)

* Enhanced academic, personal, and teamwork skill development(Toepfer, Smith 2000, Finch &amp; Mooney, 1999, Kerka 2000)

* Increased career awareness, self-esteem, clearly defined goals, a sense of direction, and motivation to persist and attain a postsecondary education and training (Bell, T.H. 1983, McDonald and Jessell 1992, Toepfer, p. 63, O'Brien et al. 1999, Marcos, K. 2003)

National Career Development Guidelines - Career Education Model

Teachers and counselors structured middle school career education resources, career self assessment tests and tools upon the National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). Career knowledge, skills, and decision-making processes built the NCDG Guidelines.

The framework had three domains, goals, and indicators of mastery under each career development goal.

The three domains were:

* Personal Social Development (PS)

* Educational Achievement and Lifelong Learning (ED)

* Career Management (CM)

The learning competency stages were:

* Knowledge Acquisition (K). Youth and adults at the knowledge acquisition stage expanded knowledge awareness and built comprehension. They recalled, recognized, described, identified, clarified, discussed, explained, summarized, queried, investigated and compiled new information about the knowledge.

* Application (A). Youth and adults at the application stage applied acquired knowledge to situations and to self. They sought out ways to use the knowledge. For example, they demonstrated, employed, performed, illustrated and solved problems related to the knowledge.

* Reflection (R). Youth and adults at the reflection stage analyzed, synthesized, judged, assessed and evaluated knowledge in accord with their own goals, values and beliefs. They decided whether or not to integrate the acquired knowledge into their ongoing response to situations and adjusted their behavior accordingly.

An example of the Personal Social Development domain was:

* PS1.K2 identified your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents.

* PS1.A2 Demonstrated use of your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents.

* PS1.R2 Assessed the impact of your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents on your career development.

Key elements of Middle School Education Program

Based upon the National Career Development Guidelines, the key elements of a middle school career education program increased students' awareness of their own interests and helped them learn about a wide variety of occupations. The key elements of Middle School Education Program included -

* Career exploration resources - Tests, web sites, books, and software

* Interest inventories

* Career portfolios

* Field trips

* Curriculum

* Career days

* Community partnerships

Career Tests

Middle school career tests provided information on the relationship between job interests, key characteristics, college majors, hobbies, abilities, and related careers. According to Bell, T.H. (1983), middle school students used career tests to identify the three high career activity interests, and the three low areas of interest. Then, Lane (2000) discussed that the avoidance of low interest areas was far more important since low interest areas minimized personal motivation.

Career Portfolio

As a second key element, career portfolios recorded the journey from school to post secondary training and/ or the world of work. Lane (2000) reported that a portfolio was a written account that compiled -

* Vision, goals, and dreams

* Important resource people

* Valuable learning opportunities

* Major career exploration objectives

* Learning activities, skill practice, fieldwork, interviews, and work experience

* Personal, academic, and social strengths

* Areas that need improvement?

* Evaluation of skill and personal development performance in the major areas of career development

* Junior high school courses liked most and the success in such courses.

* Junior high school courses liked least and the success in those courses.

* Sports and athletics and success in such areas

* Music, dancing, and acting and success in such areas

* Literature, writing, and speaking and the success in such areas

* Three high career interest activities

* Three low career interest activities

* Three high general aptitude areas

* Three low general aptitude areas

* Three high job-career plans with reasons for selection

Community Partnerships

In addition to career tests and portfolios, community resources served key elements. Examples of community resources and partnerships were -

* Field trips to community businesses and agencies

* Community resource speakers

* career awareness fair

* Special collaborative programs (Smith 2000)

Community resources and partnerships provided opportunities for students to explore the world of work. Community events expanded the students' understanding of job duties, work place skills, and the relevancy of school subjects.

Middle school career education program provided students with awesome opportunities to gain self awareness as well as to explore and understand the world of work. Career exploration resources, career portfolios, community partnerships and career days provided invaluable experiences.

References

Bell, T.H. (1983). A Nation At Risk.

Castellano, M., Stringfield, S. And Stone, J.R., Iii. (2002, March). Helping Disadvanted Youth Succeed In School: Second Year Findings From A Longitudinal Study Of CTE-Based Whole-School Reforms. Columbus, Oh: National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education.

Developmental Career Programs For Schools. (1998, August 27). Acaenews 1, No. 17.

Finch, C., &amp; Mooney, M. (1999). School-To-Work Opportunities In The Middle School: Concepts And Issues (Report No. Mds-1096). Macomb, Il: NCRVE Materials Distribution Service. (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. Ed 413 509)

Finch, C. R., And Mooney, M. (1997). School-To-Work Opportunities In The Middle School: Concepts And Issues. Berkeley, CA: National Center For Research In Vocational Education, University Of California. (Ed 413 509)

Hughes, M. (1993, December). Promoting Middle Schoolers' Understanding of the World of Work. Paper Presented at the Meeting of the American Vocational Association Convention. Nashville, TN.

Johnson, L. S. (Summer 2000). The Relevance of School to Career: A Study in Student Awareness. Journal of Career Development, 26, No. 4: 263-276.

Kerka, S. (1994). Vocational Education in the Middle School. Eric Digest No. 155. Columbus, OH: Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education.

Kerka, S. (2000). Middle School Career Education and Development. Practice Application Brief No. 9. Columbus, OH: Eric Clearinghouse On Adult, Career, and Vocational Education.

Lane, J. (2000, Summer). Scientific Approach For Developing and Testing A Students' Job-Career Plan Before 11th Grade. Education.

Marcos K. (2003, June 1). Gearing-Up For Career Awareness: Profile Of A Middle School Career Program. Eric/Cass Digest Eric Educational Reports.

Mcdonald, J. L., and Jessell, J. C. (1992, Summer). Influence of Selected Variables on Occupational Attitudes and Perceived Occupational Abilities of Young Adolescents. Journal of Career Development 18, No. 4: 239-250.

National Alliance of Business. (1999). Learning to Succeed. Preparing Young People for Tomorrow's Workplace. Washington, DC: Author.

National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC) (1987). National Career Development Guidelines. National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, 2100 M Street NW, Suite 156, Washington, Dc 20037

O'brien, K.M., Dukstein, R.D., Jackson, S.L., Tomlinson, M.J., And Kamatuka, N.A. (1999, March). Broadening Career Horizons For Students In At-Risk Environments. The Career Development Quarterly, 47. Alexandria, Va: National Career Development Association.

O'brien, K. M. Et Al. (1999, March). Broadening Career Horizons for Students in At-Risk Environments." Career Development Quarterly 47, No. 3: 215-229.

Smith Agnes E. (2000, Summer). Middle School Career Exploration: The Role of Teachers and Principals Education.

Toepfer, C. F. (1994, January). Vocational/Career/Occupational Education at the Middle Level. Middle School Journal 25, No. 3: 59-65.

Toepfer, C.F., Jr. (1994, January). Vocational/Career/Occupational Education at the Middle Level: What Is Appropriate For Young Adolescents? Middle School Journal, 25 (3). Columbus, Oh: National Middle School Association.

Toepfer, C.F., Jr. (1997). Winning Ways: Best Practices In Work-Based Learning. Ann Arbor, MI: Tech Directions Books/Prakken Publications.

Wells, R. L., and Gaus, D. (1991). Study Of Kentucky Middle School Students' Knowledge of Career Options. Louisville: University Of Kentucky.

Read more about middle school career education tools.

Favorite Career Questions

Hollandcodes.com loves receiving calls and e-mails from our customers.

Here are some of the favorite questions -

• Which test is the right test for -

• High school students
• College Students
• Career changers
• People re-entering the workforce

• What is the difference between a career test and a career planning guidance system?
• What are the features of the different tests?

• Is the Self Directed Search available on-line? Or printed?
• Is the Strong Interest Inventory available on-line? Or printed?
• What does the Kuder Career Planning Survey have?

• What are the meaning of the Holland Code scores?
• What is the differences between Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional Holland Codes?
• What are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional careers?
• What are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional degree programs?
• How do I match my Holland Codes to different careers, college  programs, and training opportunities?
• I have taken a career test. What do I do next?

We are here to help you make the right choice!

We can provide specific answers about the prices and features of the Hollandcodes.com career tests.

We are here to help you!  We can help you match your interests, abilities, and skills to careers and college major programs.

We can assist you in interpreting the results of your Holland Code career test or career guidance system.

Do you want to gain insight into the world of work?   We can introduce you to hundreds of experts.

The expert profiles offer critical insights from real professionals, including:

• Resumes
• Week in the Life
• Career Likes
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• Ideal Career Profile
• Ideal Career Path
• Suggested Reading
• Industry Organizations
• Interview
• FAQs
• Photos
• About Me
• About My Career

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Middle School Career Tests

for Teachers, Counselors, and Parents

Middle school teachers and counselors prefer VISUAL learning techniques and vibrant kid career resources. Teachers and counselors are looking for products that clarify thoughts, integrate new knowledge, and promote critical thinking. Teachers and counselors present new information so that the concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood. 

Middle school career education tools should improve –

• Attention Span and Concentration: holds audience’s attention and helps people absorb information
• Memory Skills and Understanding: improves ability to absorb information
• Speed of Learning: reduces the time it takes to complete career tests.

Middle school career education tools introduce your students careers and interests. The graphics and visuals hold your students’ attention. The tools uses career kid self-by-step activities, tests, posters, games, and activities. Middle school career resources provide excellent ways to explore careers. The resources show the relationship between interest areas and careers.

Middle school career awareness programs use age appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. Age appropriate activities expose students to a variety of –

• Different jobs
• Career information sources
• The reasons why people work

Programs also incorporate academic career pathways into classroom activities. After completing an middle school career awareness program, students have –

• Higher grades
• Higher academic achievement
• Improved school involvement, as well as
• An increase in career awareness exploration, personal, and interpersonal skills

In addition, the students complete more complex courses and have a higher graduation rate from high school. 

Hollandcodes.com provides information about middle school career tests, career assessment tests, career exploration classroom activities, career planning curriculum, educational career assessments, kids games, kids activities, and educational resources. These resources are aligned with the following National Career Development Guidelines.  Hollandcodes.com sells the following kid career tests or career test activities –

• Self Directed Search Career Explorer (SDS CE)
• PICS Interest Career Survey
• Paint Careers With Colors System

 

Self Directed Search Career Explorer Assessment and Finder

The Self Directed Search is –

• Easy to use, printed – Complete the career self assessment test in 30 minutes.
• Tested, proven, and dependable – Used by over 22 million people worldwide.
• An excellent, introductory resource

The Self Directed Search Career Explorer (SDS CE) is a middle school career test with a 3rd grade reading level. 

The SDS Career Explorer has kids activities. 

The kid career test matches interests, activities, and skills to Holland Codes and 400 careers. 

PICS Interest Career Survey

The PICS Interest Career Survey is a middle school career test, Picture Interest Test, and an easy-to-do Holland Code assessment that uses 36 sets of 3 pictures as a quick way to –

• Explore their career interests
• Find a job that fits

The PICS Career Survey (PICS) is an excellent kid career test for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS and for other people –

• Who are In ESL/GED programs
• Who have limited reading ability
• Who have limited knowledge of English
• Who are developmentally delayed
• Who are learning disabled
• Who have special needs
• Who have limited access to education
• Who are chronically unemployed

The Picture Interest Test –

• Takes less than fifteen minutes to complete and score
• Uses pictures of people at work
• Is self-administered and self-scored

To finish the PICS Career Survey, you –

• Look at 36 sets of 3 pictures.
• Choose which of the three portrayed occupations seems most interesting.
• Total the number and kind of pictures selected.

As bonuses, with each purchase, you receive the Career Locator and Career Planning Worksheet. 

The Career Locator matches Holland Code interest areas to 600 careers. Careers are placed in one of the following groups – Careers that require Short Term On-the-Job-Training, Moderate Term On-the-Job-Training, Long Term On-the-Job-Training, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Professional Degree, and Postsecondary Vocational Training. 

On the Career Planning Worksheet, you record information about education required, projected earning, job outlook, skills, and next step.

Paint Careers With Colors Kid Career Test

The Paint Careers With Colors System is a kid career test that introduces you to interests, Holland Codes, and careers. There are two versions of the kid career test –

• RIASEC Version
• Children’s Version

The RIASEC Version is for Middle School students. For Middle School students, the RIASEC Version should be used with the Self-Directed Search Career Explorer. 

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Job Test uses self-by-step activities, career games for Kids, and kids activities for career choices to highlight Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes. On each page, you choose the careers that you like or are interested in. 

At the end of the career test for kids, you summarize your results. The Summary Sheet identifies your Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test comes with a Colors to Careers Career Model and Colors to Careers Code or Holland Code Descriptions. The Paint Careers With Colors Child Career Test is an excellent tool to introduce you to career exploration, Holland Codes, and Colors to Careers Codes. The graphics hold your attention as you identify your career interests. Career Test comes with –

• Children Test
• Children Test Guide
• Photo Test
• Photo Test Guide
• RIASEC Test
• RIASEC Test Guide

 In summary, in middle school career programs, students:

• Learn and apply the academic material
• Know and value self
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Identify interests and build relationships between the school environment and the work force
• Build academic, communication, problem solving, and social skills
• Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills
• See the connections between learning in school, academic skills, job related skills, and careers
• See career possibilities
• See themselves as a future contributor to the job force
• Receive empowerment
• Build self-determination

 Read more…