Jobs out of the box – STEM
The “Jobs out of the box” concept offers young people in the age of 13 – 16 the opportunity to experience professional activities in a combined form in a practical and “hands-on” way – according to the motto: “Only when you try it out do you know if it fits”. In a supplementary module, there is the opportunity to reflect on practical experiences with entrepreneurs from the region. This concept has so far been tested in the construction, services, electrical, retail/e-commerce, wood, metal and care & health sectors.
With regard to the STEM strategy of the Upper Styria East region, an additional box was developed and tested in RealityCheck, which is not based on the classic occupational sectors, but allows cross-occupational professions from the field of STEM – mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology – to be experienced practically. (STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths – in German: MINT – Maths, Informatik, Natural Sciences, Technique)
The assignment takes place as part of school lessons and complements resp. expands the curriculum “Educational and Career Orientation”. This RealityCheck can therefore be assigned to both the formal context and the non-formal area.
The concept “Jobs out of the box – STEM” combines practical “hands-on” activities based on selected professional activities in the broad STEM application area with internal and external reflection – teacher in the class and entrepreneurial personality from the region.
Methods and processes are in particular:
- Practical Practice
- Discovering and experiencing one’s own interests, competencies and potentials
- Information by entrepreneursn of the region
- Reflection together with entrepreneurial experience
- Securing the findings through guided further examination of occupational fields in STEM
- Linking the findings with the STEM school education offer
- Getting closer to a (preliminary) decision on further educational, training and career choices
Learning outcomes
Additional learning outcomes
- It’s more than motivation – the goal is to inspire and arouse lasting interest
Implementation
Step-by-step
The creation of the box, including hands-on application examples, is carried out by NGOs in close coordination with the network partners and professional representatives from the professional fields of STEM as well as with the regional management as partners in the MINT Strategy Upper Styria East.
The NGO creates detailed instructions for action on the overall pedagogical and didactic concept and on the practical use of the box and the concept as a handle for the teacher in the class.
Depending on the needs, the NGO – BerufsFindungsBegleitung supports school and teachers in contacting entrepreneurs in the region.
The companies in the region’s network partnership represent a competent and powerful resource for contact with entrepreneurs and in-company trainers of the regions from the field of STEM.
Involved professions
Schools are the place where the hands-on activities are carried out.
The creation of the boxes and the detailed instructions is carried out by the NGO.
Companies are actively involved by entrepreneurs and in-company trainers.
Preparation & follow-up
The concept Jobs out of the box – STEM is integrated into the regular lessons for educational and career orientation and part of an annual program and is prepared by the teachers of the class, accompanied and then further dealt with as part of the curriculum, together with other approaches to the real world of work that are provided for in the curriculum.
Due to the fact this concept is integrated into the annual programme, the concept Jobs out of the box – STEM has a lasting effect, both as a non-formal programme within a formal curriculum and as an element of the implementation of the STEM Strategy Upper Styria East.
Evaluation
The evaluation is carried out in coordination with the school’s teaching program, as the concept “Jobs out of the box – STEM” is used as an integrated part of the curriculum for educational and career orientation. Every evaluation at the school requires approval by the state’s education directorate.
- It is recommended to rate according to the categories
- Activation through hands-on approach
- Arousing interest in STEM professions
- Information content of the discussions with entrepreneurs in the region from the STEM field
- Results and findings from reflection
- Effect of linking to qualifying STEM content from school offerings