Visual Thinking and Career Development Using Graphic Organizers

Visual Thinking and Career Development: Using Graphic Organizers to Enhance Your Impact Session 3: Cluster Diagrams and Circles Dr. Katharine S. Brooks You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Goals of this webinar series 1. Introduce visual techniques for different career issues to enhance your career advising activities. 2. Encourage you to develop even more creative ways to explain and illustrate choices, options, or ways to think about a situation. 3. Promote an action-oriented approach which helps client take a more active role. Dr. Katharine Brooks : You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Advantages of Visual Thinking “It’s easier to organize your thoughts if you can see them. ” Visual thinking: • Helps us organize and clarify our thoughts, while reducing complexity. • See relationships more easily. • Encourages specific types of thinking or problem-solving. • Enhances understanding and retention of information • Is easy to do and inexpensive • Provides a tangible “take-away” product for students. Dr. Katharine Brooks : You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Pie Wedges C R E I S A

Venn Diagram Skills Values Jobs

Target 4 -year college 2 nd Year at CC 1 st Year at CC

Covey’s Circle of Influence Circle of Concern Circle of Influence

Cycle Discover Destiny Dream Design

Expanding Circles Professional Organizations Teachers & Supervisors Friends Family

Cluster Diagrams http: //www. flickr. com/photos/deanhp/ Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Cluster Diagram

When to Use Cluster Diagrams • Considering several options • To demonstrate how one central idea can expand to other ideas • To demonstrate how divergent ideas or items can be consolidated into a whole. • Examples: – Skills analysis – Career choices Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Clusters: Possible Lives Cosmetologist Nurse Nutritionist Humane Society Coach Me CSI Analyst Dietician Elementary Teacher Fitness Trainer Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Analyzing the Possible Lives Exercise 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Review the career ideas with the student Look for themes in the choices Select 2 -3 to start analyzing Draw a line from the center to the job Write the steps to get to the job Watch the energy level Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Clusters: Possible Lives Ask: Can you do that career tomorrow? Nurse Nutritionist Steps If not, ask student to insert the steps to get to the career. Notice where the student starts to gain or lose energy in the process. Cosmetologist Humane Society Coach Me CSI Analyst Dietician Elementary Teacher Write down the main themes. Fitness Trainer Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Strengths Organized Multi-tasker Patient Jobs? ________ Problem Solver Creative Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Strengths Organized Story________________________ Multi-tasker Patient Story__________ Jobs? ________ Story__________ Problem Solver Creative Story__________ Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Cover Letter Design How I heard about job Strength #2 What I like about Job Strength #1 Cover Letter for Job Why I think I would do this well What do I most want them to know about me? What is the next action step? What I know about company or job How can they contact me? Dr. Katharine Brooks: You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career

Questions? Thank you for attending. Look at your schedule for next week and see if there’s a place you could try applying one of these visual exercises. “See” you next Friday! Kate Brooks