Action Research

Lee Kaltman & Fred BlockAugust 23rd, 2013

leekaltman@gmail.comfblock@me.com

The arc of the project was conceived with the idea in mind to help the graduating seniors in

Harlem plan for their future.

Place of ResearchHarlem New York465 students64% graduation rate for 201345-55% college bound90% Free Lunch eligibility

Learners in this urban setting are graduating high school without clear

direction, or the necessary skills to be successful in today's environment.

Defining the problem

Our goal

To provide graduating seniors with a specific path to success after

they finish high school.

• Learner will identify a practical career

• Learner will research that career with relevant questions to answer in mind

• Learner will engage in social emotional learning to develop their path to success

Creating a solution

Process defined• Learner took a career test (John Holland's Career

Assessment) and reflected on test results

• Learner created, refined and reflected on a profile of themselves (using a new interactive transcript system called Transfolios) to figure out who they were, what they wanted and goals for their future

• With self-awareness and realistic career goals, learner researched salaries, schooling, degrees, obstacles and ways to overcome them

• Learner engaged in dialogue around conflict resolution in the work place

Process definedcontinued

Showcase of learning• 17 learners presented their findings on their

interactive transcript, or “transfolio”

• Learners had to present their path to success in a 2-5 min presentation

• Learners posted their research on their transfolio

Further Research Questions

Did this experience improve learners self-efficacy for achieving career development

after high school?

Will learners continue to use their transfolio after high school?

Would this experience have bigger impact if begins in 9th grade?

Any more questions please contact:

leekaltman@gmail.comfblock@me.com

!Fred Block and Ariana Radcliffe 2013 !

Use the following template to complete a comprehensive and accurate presentation of your transfolio. Your presentation MUST be no shorter than TWO minutes, but no longer than FIVE minutes. We will be using this presentation, as well as your completed transfolio as the basis for your final grade for English 12.

1) What is your objective or long-term goal? What do you want to achieve or where do you see yourself in 5 years?

a. My long-term goal is…

2) What are your short-term goals? What do you plan to do immediately after graduation?

a. After I graduate I plan to… b. This will help me achieve my long-term goal because…

3) Explain your biography here. Who are you? Why do you want to achieve these goals?

What motivates you?

a. I am motivated to do these things because… b. I have always wanted to become… c. I enjoy…

4) Give the details of your career or objective. What makes you want to pursue this path and

what will you have to do to get it?

a. The career/job/path I want requires me to get… (degrees, credentials, experience)

b. The competition for this position is… c. I know that I will get paid… d. This job is important because…

5) Explain the obstacles you will face in following this path.

a. I know this will be difficult for me because b. The obstacles I have to face will be…

6) Explain how you plan to overcome or get around these obstacles.

a. I plan to overcome these obstacles by…

7) Explain the strengths and skills you bring to the job and why you’re fitted for it, as well as

how you can improve a problem faced on this job.

a. I know I will do well in this position because b. I feel I can succeed here because… c. I know that a major problem my career faces is___________________ and I plan

to bring something new to it by_______________________________

i. Ex: I know a major problem in nursing is patient care, or patients not trusting their nurses. I plan to change this by being personable and kind and very honest with my patients from the beginning.

!

Appendix A