Lesson 3: High Performance Manufacturing and Career Exploration
Duration of Days: 7
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to contrast "traditional" vs. "high performance" manufacturing environments and analyze the evolving role of the "frontline worker." Subsequently, students will utilize the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) to evaluate the growth, salary, and educational requirements of a specific manufacturing career.
How has the role of a "Frontline Worker" changed with the introduction of automation and data (High Performance Manufacturing)?
What "employability skills" are required in modern manufacturing beyond just physical labor?
How do you use Labor Market Information (LMI) to determine if a career is a good financial investment for your future?
High Performance Manufacturing
Frontline Worker
MAN.09.01: Identify and describe the roles and responsibilities of a high-performance manufacturing workforce.
EMP.02.01: Demonstrate the ability to research career information and interpret job descriptions and requirements.
CCTS (Career Ready Practices): Plan education and career paths aligned to personal goals.
Description:
Students review the "High Performance Manufacturing" and "Frontline Worker" PowerPoints. They define key concepts such as lean manufacturing, empowered workforce, and advanced technical skills.
Students undertake the Career Exploration Project. They navigate the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) to research one specific occupation. They must synthesize this data into a presentation covering salary, job outlook (growth rate), and required skills.
Purpose: To bridge the gap between abstract industry concepts and the students' personal futures, shifting their perception of manufacturing jobs from "dirty/dangerous" to "high-tech/high-skill."
DOK Level:
Level 2 (Concept): Describing the characteristics of a high-performance worker.
Level 3 (Strategic Thinking): Drawing conclusions about a career's future viability based on statistical data from the OOH.
Provide a direct link to the "Quick Facts" section of the OOH for their specific job, which summarizes the data in a table format, reducing the cognitive load of reading heavy text.
Formative: Notes taken during the lecture on High Performance Manufacturing.
Summative: Career Exploration PowerPoint.
-
Rubric Criteria:
-
Data Accuracy
-
Analysis
-
Reflection
-
Digital Resource: Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh)
-
Slides: "High Performance Manufacturing" and "Frontline Worker" decks.
-
Worksheet: A "Career Research Organizer" for students to draft their findings before creating slides.