THE EXPECTATION OF COMPUTER LITERACY IN JOB HUNTING: OVERCOMING THE CONTENT AND LANGUAGE DEMANDS Presenter: Mallory Fix Lopez Affiliations: Temple University College of Education and the Garces Foundation

The Job Hunt

Workforce Education Standards  By the end of the workshop, teachers will be able to... ...feel more equipped to facilitate a learning environment that is conducive to learning workplace skills, such as job hunting  Standard 1-Establish an environment conducive to learning workplace skills. ...facilitate lessons that are directly linked to students’ employment goals-obtaining a job  Standard 2 Instruct guided by knowledge of students’ employment goals and opportunities ....give their students the resource of the internet for job seeking purposes, taking students beyond the concept of finding jobs through word of mouth.  Standard 3-Facilitate connections with systems and resources ...empower their students to be independent job seekers through facilitating guided practice that they can then continue at home.  Standard 4-Plan, prepare, and facilitate student centered workplace instruction

Agenda  Part I: What is computer literacy?  Part II: What are the consequences of low literacy (computer and language?)  Part III: Confidence in the Job Hunt  Part IV: Time to Apply  Part V: Webquest

Part I: Computer Literacy

What is computer literacy?  Starting the computer/logging on (cntrl+alt+delete)  Opening, saving, and printing files  Reading and sending messages, including attachments  Downloading attachments (and converting, if necessary)  Using simple software  Creating tables/charts  Editing documents, photos, etc.  Using the Internet to find information  Completing online applications and registration  Java  TROUBLESHOOTING!

A digital divide  Imagine that you are looking for a job- in any field. Where is the first place you would begin your search?  Newspaper  Flyers on Telephone Polls  Phone a friend  Internet  Walk in

Encounters while huntingComputer Skill 1. Thousands of websites with job postings 2. Setting up accounts for job search/applications 3. Researching job tips, interview strategies, etc. 4. Not getting scammed 5. Using the computer 1. Navigation of Internet; bookmark 2. Completing online forms and troubleshooting; creating s 3. Navigation of Internet; ability to read for relevant information 4. Identifying credible sources on the Internet 5. Mouse, clicking, trouble- shooting, download/upload, conversion of documents...and much more!

A digital divide  According to the Pew Research Center in a February 2014 report:  81% of adults use computers  Only 66% of those with high school diploma or less use computers regulary  Only 65% of those with a household income of less than $30,000 use computers regularly  However, 96% of individuals with a household income of $75,000 use computers regularly

Literacy Divide  According to Proliteracy.org, in 2012, of adults over 16yrs of age : 

Part II: Consequences of Illiteracy What are the potential consequences?  Turn and Talk with the person closest to you

Consequences of Low Literacy  According to Proliteracy.org (2012): among those with the lowest literacy rates, 43% live in poverty 75% of state prison inmates and 59% of federal prison inmates did not finish high school or can be classified as low literate The effects of low literacy cost the U.S. more than $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce and the loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.

Double Duty  Low computer literacy  Low literacy

Triple Threat  Low computer literacy  Low literacy  Non-native speaker of English

Part III: Confidence in the Job Hunt

Feelings...

Part IV: Time to Apply It’s important to continue to talk to students about feelings and confidence throughout the application process.

Resumes..references..interviews..oh my!

 PT  FT  OT  TBD  BOH/FOH  Yrs. Exp.  No exp. necessary  2 refs.  M-F,9-2

Please visit our website...  to find more information about employement opportunities to find more information about employement opportunities

And another...  Community College of Philadelphia Community College of Philadelphia

Student Support  1. Build Confidence  Job Hunting Journey Journal Consider doing an online blog Discuss feelings and ‘emotional rollercoaster’  2. Explicitly Teach vocabulary  Allow students to encounter words in multiple ways  Facilitate activities that allows them to use the word

Student Support  3. Gather necessary information in advance  Contact info Full formal name Address, phone number Working address (necessary for online applications)  References Full names Contact Info Ask or notify reference  Prior work history Chronological order- most recent to oldest Dates, supervisors, tasks of job

Resumes  Resume writing  will allow students to compile all necessary information in one location  will give them a piece of paper to present at a job interview  will allow them to have it available upon request  will allow them to feel prepared and knowledgeable to navigate the job-hunting process  Resume.com Resume.com

Summary  Emotional Support and Encouragement  Journaling – consider online blogging  Explicit Teaching of Vocabulary  Not just matching definitions to words, but rather using the vocabulary  Consider assigning a few vocabulary words to use in their journal writing  Authentic Assignments  Learning by Doing...but with support.  Building of Computer Literacy  Practice online (not just paper applications in class)  Gently force troubleshooting and problem solving  Use Think Alouds in troubleshooting

Web Quests  Please log on to the computers  Go to philaliteracy.org  Click on link to today’s conference  Click on Sessions at a Glance  Scroll down to Concurrent Session 3  Under this presentation description you will see 3 word documents; please open