Get in the Act!

1. Get in the Act! National 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System (4-HCCS)- Workforce Readiness www.n4hccs.org

2. Get in the Act! Presenters • Laura Allen MSUE 4-H Youth Development lacourse@msu.edu (517) 432-7632 • Sheila Urban Smith MSUE 4-H Youth Development smiths20@msu.edu (517) 432-7612

3. Workshop Goals • To understand the foundation of Get in the Act! • To learn the components of the Helper’s and Youth Guides and the interactive CD • To experience activities from Get in the Act! • To leave ready to get in the act!

4. Get in the Act! is for Middle School Youth • Age group 11 – 13 (Grades 6 – 8) • Settings • 4-H Clubs • Afterschool Programs • Classrooms

5. What is Workforce Readiness? • Helps youth prepare for the world of work • Series of learning experiences starting in early childhood and continuing throughout adult life • Prepares the way for later career decision making

6. Youth Participating in This Curriculum Will: • Practice self-awareness, critical thinking and ethical decision making. • Identify personality types and learning styles. • Explore other personality types and learning styles. • Acquire the ability to apply critical life skills to real life experiences. • Practice working with others. • Connect school to career.

7. Key Design Elements • All activities and skill areas: • Directly support the National Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) workforce and educational standards. • Are developmentally appropriate. • Fit the “learn by doing” experiential learning model - key in all 4-H programs.

8. Ages and Stages of Youth DevelopmentCharacteristics | Teaching Tips • Youth can take responsibility in planning and evaluating their work. • Youth can plan their social and recreational activities. • Give youth responsibility for group activities, including planning, implementing and evaluating. • Provide opportunities for youth to work together. Form committees to plan recreational and social activities.

9. Youth gain skills in social relations with peers and adults. Youth can be quite self-conscious. Provide activities that foster social interaction with peers and adults. Avoid asking youth to share their work individually until they feel more comfortable with the group. Ages and Stages of Youth DevelopmentCharacteristics | Teaching Tips

10. Youth can discuss current events, international affairs and social issues with some help. Youth want to make decisions but still depend on adult guidelines. Use discussion activities and games to encourage awareness of current events and issues. Establish guidelines that give parameters for youth to follow. Ages and Stages of Youth DevelopmentCharacteristics | Teaching Tips

11. Youth have strong emotional attachments to older youth and adults. Choices are often unrealistic. Encourage youth to participate in activities with older youth and adults. Assist youth in making realistic choices. Review their plans, discuss alternatives and help them weigh options before making decisions. Ages and Stages of Youth DevelopmentCharacteristics | Teaching Tips

12. Youth Development and Life Skills • Targeting Life Skills (TLS) Model

13. SCANS Skills • SCANS Competencies • SCANS Foundation Skills • SCANS Programming Model • Workforce Preparation Model

14. Workforce Readiness and Collaboration • People, not organizations, become partners. • Partners may have initial reservations. • Partners identify common goals and are sensitive to each other’s agenda. • Partners need to be honest with each other. • True partners function as each other’s mentors. • Partner’s roles may change over time. • Partners share credit or consequences. • Conflicts may arise that can jeopardize the project. • Celebrate together.

15. Service Learning in Youth Workforce Readiness • Elements of High Quality Service Learning • Integrated Learning • High Service • Youth Voice • Reflection • Collaboration • Evaluation

16. Helpful Hints to Prepare Youth to Get in the Act! • Creating a Learning Environment • Facilitate the Knowledge • The “Right" Way • Rules of Engagement • Selecting Supplemental Resources for the Workforce Readiness Project

17. Get in the Act! Goals • To guide youth in learning experientially about the world of work and how to positively engage a teammate, customer or possible employer • To help youth prepare for their first paying jobs and prepare them to be positive, productive citizens • To introduce youth to their personality and learning styles

18. Get in the Act! Subheadings • Places • Lights, Camera, Action! • Movie Chat • Script • Sequel • Munchies • Sound Track • Concession Stand (available soon) www.n4hccs.org/workforcereadiness

19. Get in the Act! Getting Started • Script Writer • Complete prior to starting the activities. • Script Highlights • Complete after completing the activities. • Before and After Self-Evaluation of Workforce Readiness Knowledge • Achievement Program Checklist √√

20. Get in the Act! 3 Key Learning Areas • Personal Qualities • Teamwork • Thinking Skills

21. Helper’s Guide:Personal Qualities Lesson Outcomes • Who Am I? • Self-understanding • Learning style • Just Doing My Job • Respect for others • Teamwork

22. Helper’s Guide:Teamwork Lesson Outcomes • Don’t Lose Your Marbles! • Developing teamwork • Cooperating with others • Problem solving • No Man is an Island • Self-responsibility • Cooperation, communication and trust

23. Helper’s Guide:Thinking Skills Lesson Outcomes • Your Dream Job • Critical thinking • Time Traveler • Communicating with others • It’s Your Turn to Talk • Public speaking

24. Youth Guide: Personal Qualities Lesson Outcomes • You’re Hired! You’re Fired! • Building positive self-confidence • Honesty • Trust • Did you hear about? • Demonstrating integrity and honesty

25. Youth Guide: Teamwork Lesson Outcomes • Digging Deeper • Communication • Leadership • Trust • Problem solving • Critical thinking • Decision making • All Together Now • Acceptance • Respect • Diversity • Teamwork

26. Youth Guide: Thinking Skills Lesson Outcomes • Inquiring Minds Want to Know • Interviewing • Evaluation • Research • Be a Star! • Goal setting • Steps towards goals • Volunteer opportunities • Academics and career success • Choosing school electives • What Future Path Will You Take? • Lifelong learning • Value of post-high school education

27. Get in the Act! Interactive CD Two Parts • Exploring Your True Colors • Ability to print an informational sheet • On the Job Choices • Illustrates common youth workplace challenges

28. Get in the Act! It’s a Wrap! • Certificates & Evaluation • Activity Ideas • Project Online Contents • Resource List