Career Exploration for Special Education Students -- Procedure

The idea of the project was to have learning disabled students write a selected group of people regarding their careers. Before getting involved in the actual project, the teacher introduced how computers worked, what the Internet is, and what type of applications can be done on the Internet. Students were given a list of sample questions to help them formulate their letters. The following are sample questions that the students used to formulate letters to career resource people.

1. What is the career you are employed in? What company employs you?
2. What type of educational preparation did you have to reach that career?
3. What type of educational preparation would you recommend?
4. How long have you been employed in your current career?
5. What are the duties and responsibilities of your current job?
6. What advice would you give someone considering this career?
7. What is the average income in this career for someone with your education and years of experience?
8. What is your sex?
9. Where do you live?
10. What is your age?

The students had a discussion with the teacher about appropriate questions to ask in their letters. The students were then given a list of email addresses of various people with a short description of their careers (attachment A). Each student choose two people.

The resource people were all volunteers who Suzanne had communicated with previously. They were sent a letter (attachment B) asking them for their participation. Fifty-seven people were asked to participate and thirty-seven responded that they were available during the time frame and interested in participating.

The students were instructed on how to send email on the IBM compatible 286 computer. Later in the semester, the students were instructed on how to use Eudora on a 486 IBM compatible computer.

The students sent the letters (attachment C) and usually received responses within 2 - 3 days. The students read the responses and wrote thank you notes (attachment D).

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