Study and careers
After-school computer clubs just for girls are being set up in schools.
The Computer Clubs for Girls (CC4G) pilots have worked so well, they will be set up in 3,600 UK schools from September.
It's part of a drive to get more girls into the IT industry.
- How we decide which skills are useful
- How we can identify the right course of study
Read the Press Pack report:
Play 'The skills weakest link'
Now run through the following scenarios and the skills linked to them. At the end of each section (e.g. technology) take a vote on which skill is the least useful of the four.
Send a text message
Programme a VCR
Iron a shirt
Word-process a letter
Read a train timetable
Scan a newspaper (for advert)
Light a fire without matches
Skin a rabbit
Drive a car
Drive a car
Fast and accurate typing
Speak German fluently
Build a web site
Be a winner
Run 100 metres in record time
Score the most goals in the Premiership
Win a Wimbledon title
Win the National Lottery (£4 million)
A family home
Look after a young baby
Fix things around the house
Express your feelings
Make sure bills are paid on time
How did students decide what was a useful skill?
Your family's values?
How money conscious you are?
How will you pick which subjects to study?
Specialising in some subjects and dropping others is part of growing up.
Below are some reasons for picking a subject.
Ask students to rank these reasons from best to worst.
You've heard it gets you a well paid job
You like your current teacher
It is what your mates are doing
You enjoy the work
You did well in your exams
It has got good facilities
It helps you get a particular job you want
Your parents want you to do it
Your older brother did it and says it's good
Print this list as a worksheet
Give out a copy of the list. Students can cut out the reasons and re-arrange them on a piece of A4 paper. When they are happy with the order, they stick them in place.
Students annotate the re-ordered list to justify where they placed reasons.
Swap lists with another student. Add labels to show why someone might disagree with each of their choices.
When you choose what to study you are swayed by outside influences. The more you can play to your real strengths, the better you will do. Recap examples of influences. How can you stand up for what you want to do?
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