Focused Learning
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What is Focused Learning?

Focused learning involves successful completion of four related units of study. Each career pathway has several learning focuses. Focuses help students select their elective courses around a more specific career path. Students may complete course work in more than one focus or take additional course work within a focus to deepen their knowledge in their chosen career path.

When do students declare a focus?

All students should have a four-year plan of study around a career path.  Beginning in the 10th grade, students will have declared a focus. Students can change a focus if they find this is not an area of interest.  Students are never locked into a specific focus. 

studentsFocused learning was developed using the six-career pathways model and current courses offered to Lee’s Summit R-7 students.   A pathway is a method of searching for a career that fits your interests and lifestyle and then allows you to build academic courses around it. The pathway recommends individual high school courses – both academic and career-related – to concentrate on which are specifically geared toward the career you’ve chosen. All of this planning starts as early as high school and continues as you enroll in a college or university and decide on degree programs and classes needed to help you prepare for your career.

This is a guide to assist students, parents, counselors, teachers, educators and others with resources around a particular career path. The pathways were designed by high school teachers, college professors, and professionals whose expertise lies in that particular field. These focuses are just a beginning; the plan is for focuses to change as the job demand and needs of our student population changes. 

Each pathway is chock full of information to educate students about:

 

Congratulations on taking the first step. Come on in. The world truly is yours. Now explore one of thirty-seven (37) Areas of Focus organized around the six (6) color-coded career paths:

Arts and Communications Pathways – The Creative Path
Business Management & Technology Pathways – The Business Path
Health Services Pathways – The Health Path
Human Services Pathways – The Helping Path
Industrial & Engineering & Technology Pathways – The Building & Fixing Path
Natural Resource Pathways – The Nature Path

Additional career information:

  • Specific careers, including occupation descriptions, outlook and salaries www.bls.gov/oco/
  • Post-high school options such as certificate and degree programs at institutions throughout Missouri www.wincareers.com User name and password required
  • Missouri Connections helps students open the door to career exploration and educational planning. Sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri students in public and private schools (grades 7-16), their parents, guidance counselors, and educators can use the online system at no charge  (http://missouriconnections.org/ )

 

Arts and Communications Pathways – The Creative Path

art chair Walk down this path if you love the arts -- whether it’s performing or visual and the venue is a stage or a museum. Maybe you are interested in fashion, architectural or landscape design.  Also check out these pathways if you want to write for a newspaper or magazine or if you hope to find work as a television broadcaster.

Business Management & Technology Pathways – The Business Path

business Walk down this path if you are someone who likes to market new products, manage budgets and sell real estate. Would you like to own your own business someday?  Maybe you see yourself working as a convention planner or hotel manager working at exotic resorts.  Perhaps you see yourself in a business administrative position.  Also check out these pathways if you enjoy designing web sites or want to develop new computer games.

Health Services Pathways – The Health Path

health Walk down this path if you want to save people’s lives. With an aging population, more people are living longer than decades ago but they also are fighting diseases and illnesses. Careers in these pathways deal with keeping people healthy and using technology to diagnose and treat health problems.  If you have an interest in Dentistry, Ophthalmology, becoming a Forensic Scientist, or a Speech Pathologist, this is the pathway for you.

Human Services Pathways – The Helping Path

group If you want to give back to your community, walk down this path. The careers span the spectrum – from educating children to protecting neighborhoods to responding to accidents to serving the public as an elected official. The careers in these pathways are varied but are rooted in a general principle: to help others in need.

 Industrial & Engineering & Technology Pathways – The Building & Fixing Path

shuttle Walk down this career if you never stop wondering how things work. If you’re a detail-oriented person who loves to use technical and mechanical skills then consider these pathways. The careers range from a carpenter and electrical engineer to a machinist and automotive service technician.

Natural Resource Pathways – The Nature Path

globe If you want to save the planet from global warming or toxic waste then walk down this path. If you would like to develop new food products and market them globally or are fascinated with animals and their well-being then this could be the pathway for you?  If you want to safeguard the environment for generations to come then consider careers in farming, landscape technology, forest conservation, environmental science and zoology and wildlife.  Check out the Natural Resources Pathways.