Finding your ‘power-button’
Do you know someone who really enjoys their job? Do you think that happens by accident or do you think you can plan to have a career in a field that really interests you and where you can realise the dream of really enjoying your job?
And how is it that some people who seem to have everything in a job still find the work they do un-rewarding and un-satisfying, even if they earn a lot?
It seems obvious, but often we simply do not take the time to think about what is really important to us in our work. Have a look at the table below and see how you score the importance of each of the ten dimensions listed. There are no wrong or right answers of course, it's just a demonstration of how different we all are, and of how important it is to know what your career power-button is!
A STAR Quality Education
Are you a teacher? If so, we'd like to hear about your school's STAR Programme.
STAR stands for "Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource" and this is what the New Zealand Ministry of Education website says about it:
"The Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) provides all state secondary schools with additional funding to access courses that provide greater opportunities for students. The objective of STAR is to enable schools to better meet the needs of students by personalising learning pathways and facilitating a smooth transition to the workplace or further study".
The amount of funding a school receives depends on how many year 10,11 and 12 students they have on their roll, but for example, a school with 150 of each will receive in the order of $80 000 per year.
Schools do not have to report back to the Ministry of Education as to the use of STAR funding, but the website guidebook does provide 'best practice' guidelines and pro forma reporting templates for the use of School Boards of Trustees. http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/Schools/Initiatives/STAR.aspx
How is STAR working in your school? Do you have a view about how STAR funding could or should be used? Does your school have STAR Programme successes you would like to share? Do you think STAR funding is being properly used?
We would love to hear your opinion (and remember you don't have to leave any personal details if you have something contraversial to say)
Does New Zealand really need more University Graduates?
A University graduate will earn approximately $1.5 million dollars more than a school-leaver with no other qualifications, and be less likely to go to prison, or die before reaching their normal life expectancy age. These are just some of the assertions made in an address by Derek McCormack from AUT University.
Speaking to business leaders in July 2009, Mr. Mc Cormack referred to recent research to support these and other statements, highlighting the fact that New Zealand is falling behind other OECD countries.
He says we need graduates for key occupations, but we also need pool of adequately qualified people simply to run New Zealand businesses and compete in the world arena.
What is your view? Are we fixated on University education or does AUT have a point?
Read the full story at: http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/87037/why-nz-needs-more-graduates.pdf
Psychometric testing
Employers use psychometric testing extensively to gauge the suitability of candidates for jobs. Can psychometric testing also help you find the right career? Here is a link to a very brief article on the benefits of psychometric testing in career guidance. What's your view?
http://www.opragroup.com/images/opra/pdf/community/Articles/psychometric%20assessment.pdf
Should Schools allow Access to Facebook?
Schools generally do not allow access to Facebook and other social networking sites. It's hard to imagine how they could allow students access without things getting out of hand, but this is the way the world is moving so shouldn’t schools be looking to USE things like Facebook rather than trying to block access? Can you think of ways that schools could use social networking to interact with their communities?
Recent Comments
- Whr24U: Hi Grace – thanks for your comment. Perhaps we should change the question to “Should schools use...
- Grace Manalili: Excuse me? Facebook usage in schools? Aren’t we (I’m still a student, don’t get me...
- Mike: There are a number of articles on the New Zealand ICT website that may be of interest –...
- Whr24U: Mike – Thanks for this – you echo the sentiments of others who have commented on our Facebook...
- Mike: Perhaps if a school/classroom created a dedicated page to manage? Otherwise, I think that Facebook should not...
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