Cody Lee, a Post Secondary Programs Coordinator at Valley Center USD 262, understands firsthand the importance of career guidance. Her own journey to education was circuitous, initially swayed from music teaching by the loss of a mentor, then briefly diverted into accounting before finding her true path in business education. This personal experience fuels her passion to ensure students have clarity about their futures long before graduation. Recognizing that many students grapple with career decisions late in their high school years, or even after, Valley Center USD embraced a proactive solution: Xello, a comprehensive career and college readiness platform. As featured on EdSurge and other education platforms, tools like Xello are becoming increasingly vital in helping students navigate their options.
Empowering Students with Proactive Career Exploration
Valley Center USD’s implementation of Xello addresses a critical issue in education: students lacking direction as they approach graduation. Lee observed firsthand the anxiety and uncertainty among graduating seniors unsure of their next steps. To combat this, the district launched an advisory program coupled with career software, transitioning to Xello in the 2017/2018 school year. Lee praises Xello’s user-friendly interface, interactivity, and ease of navigation, emphasizing its role in inspiring and informing students about future possibilities. These career mapping tools, as highlighted by EdSurge and other educational resources, are crucial for engaging students in proactive career planning.
Xello’s strength lies in its ability to facilitate self-discovery and guide students through crucial conversations about their strengths and interests. For instance, a student aspiring to a medical career can use Xello to understand the necessary science aptitude. If a student struggles with science, the platform empowers advisory teachers to initiate meaningful discussions about skill development and realistic career pathways. This personalized approach, enabled by career mapping tools, ensures students are well-informed and prepared.
Integrating Career Mapping into the Curriculum
Xello is seamlessly integrated into Valley Center High School’s daily curriculum through a graded advisory program. For 30 minutes each day, students meet with mentor teachers for personalized guidance and feedback. During this dedicated time, students utilize Xello to explore diverse careers, research college majors, and gain insights into career-personality alignment using Xello’s Matchmaker assessment. This structured approach ensures that career exploration is not an afterthought but a core component of the educational experience.
The software provides in-depth career profiles, detailing required skills, income expectations, and relevant college majors. Crucially, Xello features integrated videos showcasing professionals in various fields, offering authentic perspectives on daily job realities, advantages, disadvantages, and advice for aspiring individuals. This comprehensive resource streamlines career research, providing students with clarity and a tangible vision for their future. EdSurge and similar platforms champion these types of career mapping tools for their ability to make career exploration engaging and accessible for all students.
Tangible Results: Increased Student Engagement and Future Readiness
Valley Center USD is witnessing significant positive changes since implementing Xello. Data extracted from the platform reveals that health science is a leading career interest among students, prompting the district to expand opportunities for relevant experiences and certifications in this high-demand field.
The proactive career exploration fostered by Xello has demonstrably increased student engagement in future planning. Students are actively pursuing certifications like Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), OSHA workplace safety, and CPR/first aid, demonstrating a concrete commitment to career readiness. In 2019, seniors earned 100 certifications, and the class of 2020 surpassed that with 106 certifications, highlighting a remarkable trend. The internship program also reflects this shift, with students exhibiting greater drive and clarity about their post-high school aspirations.
Expanding Career Exploration to Middle School
Valley Center USD’s commitment to early career exploration extends to younger grades. Initially implemented for grades 8-12, Xello is being expanded to include 7th graders. Eighth graders participate in the innovative “Future Me” project, using Xello to research careers and embody their future professions during a school-wide event. This project culminates in students presenting their career aspirations, required skills, and educational pathways to parents and community members. Furthermore, students develop four-year high school plans within Xello, reinforcing long-term career visioning.
Looking ahead, Valley Center USD plans to leverage more advanced Xello features, including lessons and course planning tools, to further enhance student career readiness. The district recognizes the immense potential of career mapping tools like Xello to transform student outcomes and ensure every student graduates future-ready. As EdSurge continues to report on innovative educational technologies, the success of Valley Center USD serves as a compelling example of how career mapping tools are essential for preparing students for the future workforce.
