Discovering the right path for a lifelong career has always been a formidable task. Initiating career considerations early is crucial; however, delaying this decision may prove to be too late.
This study introduces a framework tailored to high school students, considering their adolescent mindset, facilitating them in making informed choices about their career paths.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
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PROJECT POSITIONING
RESEARCH AND SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIZING DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
FINAL DESIGNS
EC12 STUDY PLAN (COURSE DESIGN)
CLUB CAREER CAFE (SPATIAL DESIGN)
CLUB CAREER CAFE (WEB DESIGN)
BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
PROJECT TIMELINE
PROJECT FRAMING
Subject of Study | Problem Statement | Target Audience | Purpose of the Project | Scope of the Project | Significance of the study
SUBJECT OF STUDY
This study aims to formulate a strategy for high school adolescents, assisting them in exploring and selecting an appropriate career path. The choice of a field of study holds significant importance, impacting professional decisions and future earnings. The focus on high school students as the primary end-users involves understanding their psychology, behavior, and activities, with a specific emphasis on a concise analysis of career paths. Career exploration, defined as purposeful activities to enhance self-knowledge and understanding of the external environment, is a crucial aspect explored in this study. Business Dictionary defines a career as the lifelong progress and actions related to one's occupations, encompassing various jobs, earned titles, and accomplishments over an extended period.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
During adolescence, individuals often make their initial career-related choices, which can significantly impact their lifelong vocational, psychological, and social well-being. High school students, facing challenges in deciding the right career path, may be influenced by various factors such as peer pressure, family expectations, competition, and future salary prospects.
The global job market currently faces challenges, marked by a 4.2% increase in unemployment to over 197 million worldwide, with youth being particularly affected. Unemployment rates among those aged 15 to 24 constitute 12.6% of the global total, and this number is expected to rise to an average of 211 million in 2017.
Choosing the wrong career path contributes to unemployment, making it crucial for adolescent high school students to invest time in making informed decisions. Exploring future career options based on interests, aptitudes, and values is essential. The primary goal of school counseling is to assist high school students in understanding the link between their academic achievements and potential careers.
TARGET AUDIENCE
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The aim of this study is to instill career readiness in high school adolescents who may grapple with choosing the right path. The strategies developed intend to transform the process into an enjoyable journey, free from peer and adult pressures.
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
SCOPE
9th - 12th graders who are/might be struggling to decide the right career path for themselves
CONTENT
A study considering the five human factors (Behavioral, Physical, Cognitive, Emotional and Perceptual) will be done on these students with the help of the other target audiences to determine a strategy leading them to decide their career paths.
SUBJECTS
High School students, their parents/guardians, teachers and counselors in the high school would be the main stakeholders. Peers can also help generate insights.
LOCATION
Savannah, Georgia, USA
TIMELINE
December 2016 - March 2017
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
to the RESEARCHER
Engaging in this study presents a valuable chance to reflect on my 27-year educational journey, offering a personal exploration of alternative paths had different decisions been made. The comparison between an adolescent making a career decision and an adult reconsidering one allows for a nuanced analysis. If the outcomes differ, it opens up a new avenue to investigate how a midlife career change can significantly impact an individual's life.
to the STUDENTS
This study is undertaken to maximize the benefits for students. Those with a clear career path can validate and enhance their professional knowledge, while those uncertain can gain clarity and determine their desired direction.
to the TEACHERS
Interviews uncovered that teachers, preoccupied with preparing their subjects, often lack the time for one-on-one career guidance with students. Another issue is their insufficient training in providing proper guidance. The Career Club aims to address this by training teachers to effectively guide students even during regular classes.
to the PARENTS
Club Career extends its benefits to parents as well. Some parents, lacking motivation, struggle to guide their children in the right direction, often due to uncertainty about their child's aspirations. This club welcomes parents to join sessions with their students, fostering understanding of their career paths and encouraging equal participation in their endeavors.
PROJECT POSITIONING
Opportunity Statement | Positioning | Competitors Analysis | Value Proposition | 'Onliness' Statement
OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESEARCHER
There exists an unexplored business or consulting potential for design strategists to connect Design Management with high schools. Educating students at this stage with design management methods can assist them in evaluating career options and making informed choices. Design strategists can play a significant role as educators in high schools.
An exceptional opportunity exists to establish an interpersonal framework among students, educators, and professionals, facilitating the process of students choosing the correct career path.
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WORLD
This non-region-specific study holds significant scalability, making it applicable in countries where students may overlook opportunities and make career choices they dislike. Its impact can extend globally, contributing to challenges like rising unemployment, decreasing work efficiency, and growing mental and physical pressures related to work, as well as addressing issues like depression.
POSITIONING
Selecting the correct career path has consistently posed a challenge for students over the decades. Numerous individuals, both in the physical and virtual realms, have extensively delved into this challenge. The following are some competitors who provide similar solutions for helping students find the right career path.
COMPETITORS ANALYSIS
VALUE PROPOSITION
FOR the High School Students
WHO are finding difficulties in choosing the right career path,
WE (Club CAREER) offers an intra personal platform for students to interact with other students, teachers and parents. A unique opportunity of making one on one interaction between students and industry professionals could be offered.
UNLIKE other career counselors and coaching who lack providing market experience to the students and directly or indirectly imposes ideologies. At the same time, completely lacking students and professional interactions.
'ONLINESS' STATEMENT
(WHAT) CLUB CAREER is the only strategic framework
(WHO) facilitates High School students to define a right career path for themselves
(WHERE) in a specially designed infrastructure (club)
(WHEN) within their school hours or on weekends
(HOW) by engaging students with a subject matter professionals and career counselors
(WHY) for students to firmly decide on the career path after trying out various probable options with the professionals.
RESEARCH AND SYNTHESIS
Research Methodology | Research Space | Research Questions | Surveys | Research Findings
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This project adopts a qualitative contextual case study framework, aligning with the humanistic approach to understanding research queries. While quantitative methods are deemed more reliable due to their numeric and objective nature, qualitative research delves into people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behavior, and interactions, generating non-numerical data. The integration of qualitative research into intervention studies is gaining attention across disciplines (GibsonG et al., 2004).
The contextual foundation is reinforced by both Primary and Secondary research findings. Secondary research laid the groundwork for understanding how career paths are defined for high school adolescents and current choices made by professionals. Primary research involved interviews, surveys, and interactions with students, subject experts, counselors, Design Management professors, high school teachers, and peers. The goal of conducting primary research was to grasp the latest trends and insights into how adolescent students perceive careers, obtaining firsthand information for further tangible processing.
Interviews were conducted in-person and over the telephone to explore personal perceptions about career paths among the target audience. Surveys, facilitated through platforms like Survey Planet, engaged a mass audience to collect indirect responses, which were subsequently consolidated for analysis.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
How might we use Design Management Methods to enable high school adolescents to determine their career path?
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RESEARCH SUB-QUESTIONS
1. What are Design Management Methods?
2. How might we define High School Adolescents?
3. How might we describe an individual's career path?
4. Why is determining career path crucial for high school adolescents??
SURVEY AND SURVEY FINDINGS
1. Students
2. Teachers
3. Parents
Survey Findings
SYNTHESIZING DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
Findings to Insights Matrix | Insights Matrix to Opportunity Matrix | Opportunities | Reframing Statement | Design Criterias
FINDINGS to INSIGHTS MATRIX
INSIGHTS MATRIX to OPPORTUNITY MATRIX
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
REFRAMING STATEMENT
" There is a unique opportunity to make the high school adolescents realize the importance of choosing the right career path. "
" There is a unique opportunity to build an Interpersonal framework between the students, educators and professionals to help the private high school students decide the right career path to choose. "
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Initial Statement
Reframed Statement
DESIGN CRITERIAS
PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
Concepts (SWOT Analysis) | Concepts (Spider Chart) | Concept Comparison
INITIAL DESIGN CONCEPTS
CONCEPT 1: CAREER ARCADE
CONCEPT 2: INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
CONCEPT 3: CLUB CAREER
CONCEPTS COMPARISON
FINAL DESIGN - 1
EC12 STUDY PLAN (COURSE DESIGN)
Given the potential of Club CAREER to provide diverse services and effectively implement various design criteria, the decision was made to proceed with the concept. The Club CAREER can accommodate multiple activities, and to streamline their execution, an EC12 Plan is introduced. Comprising 13 attributes, this plan serves as a framework to shape and define the activities within the Club.
Students face problems choosing the right path in the first place. This plan will enable students to choose directions which they want to pursue.
BENEFACTORS: Students
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents
ACTIVITIES: Listing careers, career quizzes, career descriptions, group discussions, etc.
Most of the students lacked Exposure to different Career options. This plan will help them connect with the Career Coaches and industry experts.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Teachers
FACILITATORS: Industry Experts, Career Coaches
ACTIVITIES: One on One Coaching, Career Day, Seminars, etc.
Sharing your choices voluntarily can boost students' confidence in their career decisions and stimulate group discussions.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Parents
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents, Students
ACTIVITIES: Group discussions, sign up participation, School Assignments, etc.
At this age, students should grasp the concept of money, as many of them are unaware of the potential costs associated with their studies.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Parents
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents
ACTIVITIES: Financial workshops, estimation workshop, Budgeting Workshops, etc.
Club sessions will feature lectures by professionals, teachers, and parents. Students are encouraged to take notes and reflect on the content at a later time.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Teachers, Parents
FACILITATORS: Orators, Speakers, Teachers, Parents
ACTIVITIES: Group talks, lectures, facilitation workshops, etc.
Sharing your choices voluntarily can boost students' confidence in their career decisions and stimulate group discussions.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Parents
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents, Students
ACTIVITIES: Group talks, lectures, facilitation workshops, etc.
This crucial step is essential for finding the right career path. Collaboration among all target users proves highly beneficial for achieving success.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Parents
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents
ACTIVITIES: Groups talks, internship opportunities, Mock projects, Shadowing, etc.
To obtain firsthand information from primary sources, students need to establish connections with professionals in the relevant subject matter.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Teachers, Parents
FACILITATORS: Speakers, Teachers
ACTIVITIES: Group discussions, professional lectures, Intellectual Development Exercises.
A step to assist students in creating diverse channels towards the professional world. This process helps students learn networking skills and refine their career scope.
BENEFACTORS: Students
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents, Students
ACTIVITIES: Social media presence, lectures from professionals, professional dinner invitations, etc.
This step is beneficial for all students, focusing on teaching effective communication skills at this crucial age.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Teachers
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents
ACTIVITIES: Group discussions, visual and verbal communication workshop and lectures, Etiquettes, etc.
The Club will incorporate traditional career finding techniques, utilizing it as a platform where counselors can be invited to contribute.
BENEFACTORS: Students, Parents
FACILITATORS: Career Counselors
ACTIVITIES: Counseling on appointment, counseling workshop sign ups, etc.
The Club will organize quizzes, arcade games, and other interactive activities for students to participate in, fostering motivation.
BENEFACTORS: Students
FACILITATORS: Field Experts, Teachers, Parents, Students
ACTIVITIES: Career related games, quizzes, raffles, etc.
Who doesn't like a Cup of Joe? A much need jolt of energy will be available during Club hours for everyone!
BENEFACTORS: Everyone!
FINAL DESIGN - 2
CLUB CAREER CAFE (SPATIAL PLANNING)
An operational framework will be established within the Club to implement the outlined EC12 steps. This physical interface will be strategically placed at specified times and specific spots within the Club premises to ensure accessibility and engagement. The creation of this infrastructure will be made possible through the support and collaboration of sponsors and investors who share a common vision for the advancement of students' career development. This expansion aims to provide a comprehensive and interactive environment for students to navigate through the various career-related activities seamlessly.
1. CHOOSE
Students can select career options in the enclosed mezzanine or from information boards on the stairwell.
2. CO-CREATE
After reserving a table, students can initiate a co-creation session by the wall to utilize the space for writing.
3. CHALK-TALK
Professional lectures in the double-height space ensure attention from all Club participants, and those on the mezzanine floor can view from above by opening the doors.
4. COMMERCE
For more personalized discussions, financial literacy sessions can take place in smaller groups, fostering a more intimate learning environment.
5. CONNECTION
A more public space to discuss connections, as it promotes extroverted behavior, and an open environment can enhance this learning experience.
6. COGNITION
Cognitive activities necessitate a private space upstairs to facilitate enhanced learning and one-on-one discussions.
7. COLLABORATE
Activities related to collaboration typically involve larger groups. Exploring collaboration in an open space can be an interesting and dynamic approach.
8. CHANNELIZE
Any communal space would be suitable for activities related to networking and channelizing efforts.
9. COUNSELING
Counseling is ideally conducted one-to-one, and a long desk set up for face-to-face discussions can prove to be efficient for such interactions.
10. COMMUNICATE
A common space is ideal for communication activities, promoting interaction and a dynamic atmosphere.
11. COMPETE
Competitive events in the club are spaced out due to the need for active navigation throughout the entire space. This approach ensures a pertinent use of the club.
12. COFFEE!
The coffee shop/bar should be easily accessible for everyone, as it serves as a common function used by everyone throughout the day.
FINAL DESIGN - 3
CLUB CAREER CAFE (WEBSITE)
[A UX Study (Research and Design) underway...]
The creation of a virtual interface, in the form of a website, will serve as a comprehensive platform detailing the locations and details of all the EC12 steps. This online interface will encompass vital information, including current events and menu updates, making it the primary source for students to access and connect with the Club. The user-friendly website aims to enhance communication, providing a centralized hub for students to navigate and stay informed about the Club's offerings and activities.
The Club Career interface is designed for simplicity and efficiency, ensuring ease of operation and understanding. The website incorporates a smooth transitional effect upon launch, featuring all the EC12 steps prominently on the cover screen, as they are the core elements of Club Career offerings. Despite being an intra-personal space, students navigate through the website for an overview.
Each clickable box on the home screen directs users to a specific screen with detailed descriptions of the respective EC12 plan. The menu bar provides simple navigation options, enhancing the overall user experience and facilitating easy access to relevant information and plans within Club Career.
COVER PAGE
ABOUT US PAGE
LOGIN PAGE
COUNSELING PAGE
[A UX Study (Research and Design) underway...]
BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
GEORGIA
THE UNITED STATES
GLOBAL
PROJECT TIMELINE
