A1

Developed by: Jennifer Jones

Level: 9-12

"On a Mission"

Standards Expectations	This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards: 4. Career Awareness and Employment Readiness Skills 6. Knowledge and Skills to Achieve Career Goals The students will: 4.1 Apply knowledge of personal abilities, work habits, skills, interests, and values to career choices. 4.4 Demonstrate an understanding of how personal characteristics relate to career choice 6.1 Evaluate how interests, abilities, and achievement relate to attaining personal, social, academic, and career goals
General Approach	Students will consider their own values, then examine college and university websites for their mission statements and related policies to see how they match up.
Activity Steps	1. Engage the students in a discussion about their values--both concrete and abstract--and how they relate to higher education. 2. Have the students list their values related to institutional selection on the Values Worksheet. 3. Instruct students to look up a prospective institution based on some of those values through this search engine. 4. Using the Institution Worksheet, a. have the students search for the institution's mission statement, b. and then other applicable areas for the remaining questions. 5. When the Institution Worksheet has been completed, discuss the information found and how it may shape their selection of an institution.
Time Required	In the classroom, this activity could be completed within one hour. It could also be used as a homework assignment, and cover part of two classes--the first for the introduction, and then the second for reflection upon completion.
Resources Needed	1. Internet Access 2. Values and Institution Worksheets 3. Writing Utensil
Performance Indicators	The students will be able to: Use technology and other sources to locate college, financial aid, and job information. Relate interests, abilities, and achievement to personal, social, educational, and career goals.