Best Practice

• Academic Success Center - Brandon
• Academic Systems
• Accessibility and Web Site Development
• Best Practices for Online Instructors
• Blogging
• CD Roms in Classroom
• Distance Learning
• For Counselors
• For Librarians
• Getting Off To A Good Start
• Having Fun in the Classroom
• High School Technology Initiative
• Incorporating Service Learning in Microbiology for Community Benefit
• Instructional Simulations
• Learning Commons - Dale Mabry
• Managing Disruptive Classroom Behavior
• Online Resources
• PDAs in the Classroom
• Reducing Plagiarism
• Service Learning
• Service Learning Veteran's Website Project
• Student Services: RoadTrip, DRIVE & Crossroads
• Summer Conference Roundup(2004)
• Teaching Online
• Technology is everywhere!
• The Write Stuff
• Using Email Effectively

Technology is everywhere! ...Laurie Ragsdale and Rebecca Patten-Lemons

HCC 's Career Centers utilize technology in all facets of their services. Each campus of HCC has a Career Center located within Student Services that exists to help students in all areas of career exploration, employability skills, and job searching. The Career Centers are here to help students achieve success in the world of work. With today's busy students, much of this process is now available using technology.

Many of our students begin their academic journey at HCC without knowing what career they want to pursue. The Career Center helps these students through the career exploration process so that they can determine which career fields and occupations are best suited for them. This process includes using CHOICES available online at ( http://www.florida.echoices.com ) and other online programs to conduct self-assessments or interest profiles. Additionally, sites such as the OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK ( http://www.bls.gov/oco ) provide a career exploration resource on hundreds of occupations so that a student can learn up-to-date information including salary, education/training requirements, working conditions, job outlook and much more. By using these websites, the student can explore their possibilities and gain helpful decision-making facts anywhere&. whether it be in the Career Center, a computer lab, or at home!

Although career decision-making is an important step, students often need help in other areas as well. A good resume is an important tool for students to use in order to market themselves. The Career Center offers a wealth of information relating to resume styles, business correspondence, and interviewing tips. By using the Center's computer programs, students can utilize resume-making programs to create an effective resume that will help them get noticed in a tough job market. They can also use interactive programs to prepare for a job interview. The program will ask some of the most popular interview questions, allows the user to provide a response, and then evaluates the answer. This technology allows the students an opportunity to produce a great looking resume and feel at ease when going on a job interview, as they know they have done the appropriate preparation.

Once a student has chosen a career field, learned about the industry, and created a resume, they are ready to conduct their job search. Yikes! Job searching can be a daunting task at times. The good news is that the Career Center helps by providing job listings that are right at your fingertips. By using the Center's computers, students can access online job listings and email their resumes. The Career Centers are also excited to announce a new form of technology that will assist students in their job search. In the near future the students will have access to a job search program that will allow for resumes and job searching to be done online. Employers who are interested in hiring HCC students/alumni can visit the site to post job opportunities, review student resumes and search for qualified applicants. This added technology would make all the Career Center resources more accessible to our students and employers!