Welcome to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Career Education and Work (ASCEW), an Online Learning Program for students, grades k-12. Students are taking on a great challenge preparing for their future. Pennsylvania’s economic future depends on our students becoming well-educated and skilled to perform in today’s economy. No student should leave school without a solid foundation in Career Education and Work. The rapidly changing workplace and the demand for continuous learning and innovation require students to carefully choose careers, model skills and abilities to today’s jobs, and plan for their future. This online, interactive learning program is a virtual teaching and learning tool for the PA Academic Standards for Career Education & Work for grades 3, 5, 8 & 11. A total of 92 interactive career lessons, games and puzzles, 23 each for the 4 grade levels, directly address the Standards. These focused mini-lessons allow students to progress at their own rate through the standards and track their knowledge and understanding in a virtual teacher grade book. The lessons provide interactive instruction that describes what students should know and be able to do in the areas of Career Awareness and Planning, Career Acquisition, Career Retention and Entrepreneurship.

Also included in the CEWS program are teacher lesson plans and activity sheets to teach the standards. These plans are organized by grade level and major PA State Standards strand. For example: the eighth grade lesson on “Time Management,” number 13.3.8.E, will be found in the 8th grade plan for the third major strand of the standards names “Career Retention and Advancement.” Each of these plans starts with a listing of the major standard, grade level, a detailed description of what the major standard means, and then each individual lesson plan. These individual lesson plans are complete with objectives and additional resources designed to help you enhance the lessons.

It is suggested that before initiating this with students, the teacher familiarize him/herself with the content of the ASCEW including the lessons, the links provided, any handouts and activities suggested and overall navigation of the site.