Guidance and Career Education

Curriculum

All guidance and career education courses encourage career exploration and skill development through experiential learning activities, such as job shadowing, community involvement, work experience and cooperative education. In addition, guidance and career education courses are particularly well suited for inclusion in programs designed to provide pathways to apprenticeship or workplace destinations, including the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), and in programs leading to a diploma with a Specialist High-Skills Major.

Grade 10 Career Studies Course (GLC 20) (compulsory):
At the centre of the guidance and career education program is the compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies Course (GLC 20), in which students learn how to identify, investigate, and pursue goals in education, work, and community activity. This is a half-credit compulsory course that provides students with an introduction to self-assessment, development of personal and interpersonal skills and a general understanding of career planning. Students will assess their interests, skills, and characteristics and investigate current economic and workplace trends, work opportunities, and ways to search for work. The course explores post-secondary learning and career options, prepares students for managing work and life transitions, and helps students focus on their goals through the development of a career plan.

The other courses in the guidance and career education curriculum are optional courses but any one of them may be used to fulfill the Group 1 compulsory credit requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma.

Grade 9 Learning Strategies 1: Skills for Success in Secondary School (GLS 10):
This course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.

The Grade 10 course Discovering the Workplace (GLD 20) provides students with opportunities to discover and develop the workplace essential skills and work habits required to be successfully employed. Students will develop an understanding of work through practical hands-on experiences in the school and in the community, using real workplace materials. They investigate occupations of interest through experiential learning opportunities, such as worksite visits, job shadowing, work experience, simulations, and entrepreneurial projects. This course helps students make plans for continued learning and work.

Designing Your Future, Grade 11 (GWL 30) This course prepares students to make successful transitions to post-secondary destinations as they investigate specific post-secondary options based on their skills, interests, and personal characteristics. Students will explore the realities and opportunities of the workplace and examine factors that affect success, while refining their job-search and employability skills. Students will develop their portfolios with a focus on their targeted destination and develop an action plan for future success.

Leadership and Peer Support, Grade 11 (GPP30)
This course prepares students to act in leadership and peer support roles. They will design and implement a plan for contributing to their school and/or community; develop skills in communication, interpersonal relations, teamwork, and conflict management; and apply those skills in leadership and/or peer support roles - for example, as a student council member or a peer tutor. Students will examine group dynamics and learn the value of diversity within groups and communities.

Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School, Grade 12 (GLS40/GLE40/GLE30)
This course improves students’ learning and personal management skills, preparing them to make successful transitions to work, training, and/or post-secondary education destinations. Students will assess their learning abilities and use literacy, numeracy, and research skills and personal management techniques to maximize their learning. Students will investigate trends and resources to support their post-secondary employment, training, and/or education choices and develop a plan to help them meet their learning and career goals.

Navigating the Workplace, Grade 12 (GLN40)
This course provides students with opportunities to develop the workplace essential skills and work habits required for success in all types of workplaces. Students will explore occupations and careers of interest through participation in real workplace experiences. They will make plans for continued learning and work, work with others to design learning experiences, and investigate the resources and support required to make a smooth transition to their post-secondary destination.

Curriculum

Curriculum

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