Introduction   ı   Tasks   ı   Process   ı   Resources  ı   Presentation Evaluation  ı  Conclusion
 

Introduction:

How many times have you sat in a math class and asked yourself, "Why do I have to learn this? Will I ever use this with the job I'm going to have!" But Math is very important. You will use some kind of math for the rest of your life in just about everything you do. Don't believe me? Let's do some research and you're going to be surprised.

Tasks:

Over the next few days you will be searching the Internet to discover your career interests and their link to mathematics. First, you will take a test to help you decide on a possible career that will work best for your interest level at this point in your life. After the test you will start your research to determine how math connects to your chosen career by using the links provided and outside interviews. Finally, you will design a Power Point presentation based on your research.
 

Process:

1. Take the career discovery interest quiz by clicking on the link in the resources section, if you need help choosing a job. Choose ONLY those items that you have an interest in doing now or might like to do in the future. Be selective and HONEST! DO NOT CHOOSE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS!!! If you don't need help choosing a job, go to step 5.

2. After you have clicked "SUBMIT", your results will be listed in one or more of the six interest areas. These interest areas have been included on your notes page.

3. Click on the link of the first interest area this site has identified and look through the various jobs that are suggested. Most students will only look at the jobs listed under "Civilian Job"; however, if you have an interest in the military, you may certainly choose a job from that category. Write down any jobs under question #1 you find interesting from this list. It is possible for you to not have a box filled out.

4. Click on the back arrow once if you have more than one interest area and repeat Step 4 until all of your interest areas have been filled in on your notes page.

5. Once question #1 has been completed, answer question #2. Choose one career that will be the topic of your project. If you decide to change the topic during the course of this project, discuss this with your teacher and realize people's interests change all the time. Also, since you will have to interview someone, please do not choose to be a professional athlete.

6. Use the links in the resources section to answer the questions on your research sheet that you printed out in the beginning. These questions will help you with your final presentation. You must answer these questions after you read and research your specific job title.

7. Now you must complete part of your research outside of school time. Be sure to do this next step AFTER you have researched your chosen career. Your next task is to conduct an interview. Interviewing is an oral format. It is NOT appropriate to give the person you are interviewing the list of questions and a pen and ask them to fill it out. You may do this on the phone with your parents' permission or meet one on one with an adult you know.

8. Interview someone other than your parents. If you need help in locating someone, please see your teacher. They often have many connections or can offer ideas of where to go or who to call. Please do not wait until the last minute to conduct your interview as people have busy schedules.

Resources:

Work Interest Quiz

U.S. Department of Education

Next Step: Your life after High School

Math Careers Database

More Math Careers Database

College Boards: Majors and Career Profiles

Vocational Information Center

Indiana Jobs and Careers

Career Overview

Indiana Colleges and Universities

Presentation Evaluation:

Now you can begin putting your final project together! By using the information you learned from your research and interview, create a slide show with at least 5 slides and no more than 10 using Microsoft Power Point. Remember to give credit to your resources when needed. You may use a separate slide for this, but this does not count as one of your required 5.

Requirements:

Content -
  Uses of Math in "your" career. 
  Remember! The more examples and the more specific the examples are,
  the better the grade.

Mechanics -
  Use of correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Slide Show -
  Included 5 - 10 slides with the required information about the topic. 
  Include 1 resource slide (does not count in your required 5). 
  No more than two backgrounds.
  Use text and graphics.
  Text is readable.
  Examples of animation - Do Not OVERUSE animation.

Work Habits -
  Use class time wisely.
  Effective use of the Internet during research.
  Did not visit sites not related to assignment.

(attached rubric to your information packet)

Conclusion:

By now you should have discovered that the math skills you are learning now and throughout your schooling is very important for being able to live in the real world and will be carried over into your future career.