Resources
Three hundred middle school students from all over the country worked closely with developers to design a Web site called Funworks that links the interests and hobbies of young people, ages 11 to 15, to future careers. The site, created by the Gender, Diversity, and Technology Institute at Education Development Center, features information about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as games, quizzes, and more. In addition, Funworks provides educational resources for guidance counselors, teachers, media specialists, and parents.
The U.S. Department of Education recently unveiled http://www.college.gov a new web site that aims to motivate students with inspirational stories and information about planning, preparing and paying for college. It includes an interactive tool for students to create an "I'm going" personalized roadmap that details the steps to take to get to college. Content is also organized and presented in a way for students to easily find the answers to their higher education questions: Why Go?
The Oklahoma Career Information System has a new user blog. There is a wealth of information available to support the system. Contact Natalie Gay at ngay@okcareertech.org to subscribe.
The federal government has a website: (www.govbenefits.gov) that is its official benefits website. This website provides access and information to more than 1000 benefit and assistance programs in that nation, including numerous education related programs. Users can complete the confidential questionnaire and receive a customized list of benefits that they may be eligible to receive.
Editorial Projects in Education Research Center has developed an online tool that allows users to find their school district (or any school district in the nation) and download a special report for the district with detailed information on graduation rates that includes an analysis of where students are lost from the high school pipeline. The reports also compare district results with state and national figures.
