 |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Science Professional "Shadowing" and Interviewby: J. Schnierlein Brien McMahon H.S. Norwalk, CT. 06854 AEJSchnier@aol.com Type of entry: Project, but it has also been a classroom activity. Type of activity: This has been a hands-on activity, a simulation, an off-site activity, and a possible portfolio entry. Target audience: Any student, high school preferred because of maturity level in the work place, and the danger in some jobs. Background information: I initially started doing this in marine biology because so many of my students all wanted to be Jacques Cousteau, running around in a bathing suit in warm water, all-year-round. Imagine the shock on some of their faces when they were told to be at the dock at 4:30 A.M. by the lobsterman who volunteered to take them out in January! Warn the students about weather with out-door jobs. The project usually takes 45 minutes to discuss in class, and about 8 to 10 hours for the student to accomplish. After teaching for more than a quarter of a century I am seeing students less aware of the skills required for most professions in this world. It is not their fault. As a child, I can remember going to see my father at work in the steel mills when we would pick him up at the end of the day. Many times he would take me for a walk through the plant and explain what he did and what the other mens' jobs were. I knew I would need math skills, industrial technology skills, communication skills, graphics skills, and so forth, and knew why I was taking courses in school. Today, that is almost unheard of as insurance companies, company policies, daycare centers, etc. have kept this information out of the home unless each parent spends the time explaining careers to their children. Some of you might be interested in a career in science or technology. This is your opportunity to get a small taste of that career. You may present this in either a written report format, or a videotaped production. Be sure the people you work with are willing to be taped first before using that option. Find a person who has a career in science or technology, and shadow them for at least 5 hours and complete the following: Keep a detailed diary of events during the 5 hours: Keep track of events in 15 minute time blocks, even if what is done appears to be routine or dull. Record as much as possible about the person's job without being obnoxious or getting in their way. (50 points) Interview the individual in regards to his profession: (50 points total) What skills are needed in: math, science, Industrial technology, English, history or foreign language skills. (25 pts) Salaries; beginning, mid-career, and end-of a career. Some professions work on a quota system and then get good-year vs. bad-year salaries. (5pts) Good and bad points of the job. (5 pts) Equipment used: the boat, scientific equipment, costs to buy, lease and operate, equipment (overhead costs). (5 pts) Why they do what they do - what made them get into the profession and the number of years the individual has in the profession (5 pts) Was the day you observed a "typical" day, if not what was different. Also are there any traditions involved in the job. (5 pts) The questions and answers should be included with the diary. The diary should reflect 5 hours of recorded observations - not unconsciousness. It is much better to have more observations than less. When you have an idea who you would like to shadow, ask well in advance as these are usually very busy people and they have to fit you into their schedule as well as schedule a time appropriate for such an activity. I suggest that you send the person you are interviewing a copy of this so they know what to expect, as well as preparing for the interview. It would also be a courtesy on your behalf to send the individual a copy of your report as well as a "Thank-you" note for their time and commitment to education. Some science-related careers in our area . Any doctor medical technician naturalist lobster man oyster man curator at TMC civil engineer mechanical engineer dentist chemical engineer environmentalist environmental engineer herpetologist ornithologist wildlife manager game warden physicist planning & zoning officials nurse chemist harbor commissioner harbor master ichthyologist shellfish commissioner fish-market owner public health official conservation commissioner dental technician chemical technician safety inspector pharmacist criminologist forensic scientist astronomer physicians assistant astronaut nurse practitioner midwife geologist well driller architect electrical engineer computer engineer zoologist botanist pathologist entomologist virologist bacteriologist zoo keeper Public works engineer Sewage treatment tech. Water company tech. Science teacher Electric company tech. phone company tech. forester Cablevision tech. Electronics repairman Emergency Medical tech veterinarian veterinary technician marine biologist horticulturist landscape architect lab technician - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The following is taken and modified from work by E. Daugherty and S. Smith at San Mateo (CA) H.S. HOW TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW:YOU CAN EITHER SET UP AN INTERVIEW BY MAKING CONTACT IN PERSON OR BY USING THE TELEPHONE. IN EITHER CASE, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY BEFORE YOU START. FOR EITHER TYPE OF CONTACT: 1. Know what you will say before you say it. 2. Be direct, polite, succinct. 3. Identify yourself as a Brien McMahon H.S. student. Then explain the purpose of your call and the project. 4. Have many possible interview dates to choose from so you can accommodate the professional's busy schedule. Remember that they are doing you a BIG favor. 5. Make sure that all parties know when the dates are. 6. Give the interviewee your name and phone number in case they need to contact you. Anticipate scheduling problems!! 7. Ask if there is anything the interviewee thinks you should bring to the interview or shadowing, such as special clothing or equipment. 8. ASK IF YOU WOULD BE PERMITTED TO TAKE PICTURES AND/OR TAPE THE INTERVIEW IF YOU HOPE TO DO SO.9. Thank them for their time at the end of the interview. 10. Send them a copy of your report and a thank-you note. Certification of Career Project Interview(turn this in with project)Name of Interviewer(s): _____________________________________________ Date of Interview: _____/_____/_____ Time:____________ Location of Interview: _______________________________________________ Name of the Professional: ____________________________________________ Job Title: __________________________________________________________ Signature of the Professional: ________________________________________ Company: ________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ Phone number: __________________________ About the interview?To be filled in by the intervieweeWas the Interviewer on time?_________________________________________ Did the interviewer act in a courteous and prepared manner? _______________ Other Comments: __________________________________________________
|
View Activity Description  |
||
Custom Search
on the AE Site
|
||
 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|