2015 Semester Exam

I'm sorry I couldn't be in class today.  My daughter has a stomach bug and is staying home from school.  Please answer the following exam questions in a Word document and email them to me at mattspinella@gmail.com for a grade.  I will have your exams graded by 3pm today.

Part 1: Reflection Essays – 100 points (50 points per essay)

Compose two (2) reflection essays (minimum 200 words for each)on any of the following concepts covered this semester:

• ·         The importance of safety in the classroom and workplace
• ·         How to apply for an entry-level job (fast food, grocery store, retail, etc.)
• ·         Proper interview preparation
• ·         The importance of a resume
• ·         Electronic vs. physical portfolio
• ·         Digital footprint
• ·         Branding yourself

Your essay should include information you’ve learned, how you can apply what you’ve learned, and how your learning can help separate yourself from other job candidates or college applicants.

Part 2: Employability Skills – 25 points

Perform a Google search on your desired career and identify which knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are essential.  Be specific about your desired career (Examples: If you wish to be a CPA, will you pursue tax or audit? If you wish to be a nurse, what licensure will you pursue?).  Use current job postings and articles to compose a descriptive list of at least five (5) employment requirements.

Part 3: Ethical Conduct in the Workplace – 25 points

Often, in lower-level job settings (fast food, grocery store, retail), employees face ethical dilemmas.  Describe a scenario in which an employee’s ethics would be challenged, and explain at least two ways you could practice good ethics in the workplace.  Examples include:

·         Handling large sums of money

·         Inappropriate comments in the workplace

·         Alienating co-workers based on gender, race, religion, or sexual preference

·         Stealing merchandise

Part 4: Interview for a position at ABC Grocery Store – 50 points

Please write out your answers for the following questions:

1.    Tell me a little about yourself.

2.    What is your biggest strength and how can it help you succeed in your career?

3.    Tell me about one of your weaknesses.

4.    Tell me about a time in which you failed.

5.    Do you have any proof that you can complete the tasks required for this position? - Great time to show off the portfolio

6.    What do you know about this position?

7.    Do your grades in school reflect your work ethic?

8.    Tell me about a time in which you were faced with a challenge and succeeded.

9.    Why should I hire you?

1        10.  Do you have any questions for me?

I Good luck on the exam.  Have a safe and restful Winter Break!

Let's Put This Fancy Equipment to Good Use

This week, we're going to use our new camera to complete a majority of our tasks.  I haven't broken down the tasks into daily assignments.  Rather, I've laid out the work we will do and how we will do it.  Please see below for what we'll get done this week:

Class Photo:
We need to choose a day when we can get our class photo taken.  I will have a 6th period planner in to take our picture.  This image will be loaded to our Google+, Twitter, and YouTube pages

WBL Videos:
Well try to record the following videos for each student:

1. 20-Second Introduction
1. If you feel as if your video last week isn't sufficient, we can do these first
2. Placement (or Desired Placement) Description
1. What is your (desired) placement?
1. Those of you who are employed have been focusing on that job as your guide in completing our tasks, so please use your current job in this video
2. What are your job responsibilities?
1. Please be specific.  Discuss what you do and how you do it rather than just stating, "I work the register," or, "I clean up."
3. How do you conduct yourself on the job?
1. Again, please specify how you handle yourself with co-workers, supervisors, customers, etc.
4. How do you use literacy on the job?
1. Talk about employee handbook, safety manuals, reading updates or messages from your boss, etc.
5. How is numeracy incorporated on the job?
1. If you work the register or handle money, this is obvious.  
2. Also think about time management or budgeting (allocation of funds from your paycheck)

***You will use Monday's class to compose talking points for your videos.  

***We will complete our 20-second intro videos first and load all of them to our YouTube, class website, and Google+, as well as tweet them.

***After completing our Placement Videos, you will use the editing software on the school computers to make them professional.  Editing will be tough, so use one another as you work through the process

On Friday, you will compose a 200+ word blog post about what you did this week.  Please use the following questions to guide your entry:

1. What did you discuss in your videos?
2. Do you feel your videos are a good representation of yourself?  Would an admissions officer or scholarship panel be impressed by your submission?
1. That's the point of making these videos
3. Explain the purpose of having these as evidence of excellent work in an electronic portfolio.
4. What other activities would you like to do next semester to add to your portfolio?

That's it for this week.  Next week we'll focus on preparing for the mid-term.  See you tomorrow!