Blog Prompts

Blog #1: My Workplace: Tuesday Oct 11th

You should answer the following questions in the form of a LONG PARAGRAPH, using full sentences, proper grammar, and spell check. You will get full credit for giving SPECIFIC details and examples from your WLE day. Blogs are due by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY.

1.What is my workplace called, and what does it do?

2.Is it a small business, a medium sized business, or a large corporation?

3.Where is my workplace located and what does it look like?

4.How many people work there?

5.What sorts of people does my workplace employ?

6.Do most of the people there have a 4-year college degree, 2-year college degree, or technical certificate?

7.Who does my workplace serve?

8.What are the strengths of my workplace?

9.What are the weaknesses of my workplace?

Blog #2: My Mentor: Tuesday Oct 18th

1.What is my mentor’s name and job? (If I had more than 1, describe them both.)

2.What is their typical day (or week) like?

3.How did they become interested in this field and what skills/education background did they need?

Blog #3: My Role: Tuesday Oct 25th

1.What is my main responsibility? What is my “title”?

2.What other types of tasks am I completing each week?

3.What is a regular day like? Describe it from start to finish. Use examples and tell stories.

Blog #4: Project Brainstorm: Tuesday Nov 1st

1.Describe what I am thinking I’ll do for my WLE project.

2.How did I come up with this idea? Explain my thinking.

3.Why am I excited to actually do this project for the next 3-4 weeks?

4.In Academic Seminar, you’ll get help in actually planning out your project, but for now, type your brainstorm of what you’ll need to accomplish in order to finish your project in the next 3-4 weeks.

Blog #5: Progress on my WLE Project: Tuesday Nov 8th

1.What did you do at your WLE today?

2. What did you and your mentor talk about regarding your project?

3.What have you accomplished on your project so far?
4.Fill out this template AFTER your advisors has gone over the project details and giving you the worksheets to plan it... Workplace Learning Experience Project Plan_TEMPLATE.doc

Blog #6: Leadership Skills: Tuesday Nov 15th

1.What leadership skill(s) am I using the most? (Think Critically, Complete Projects Effectively, Collaborate Productively, or Communicate Powerfully?)
2. How well am I using this leadership skill at my WLE? How could I improve?

3.How does this leadership skill help me do my work?

4.What leadership skill does my mentor use the most? Why?

Blog #7: What I learned, Reflection: Tuesday Nov 22nd

ANSWER AS MANY OF THE FOLLOWING AS YOU CAN...WILL BE USEFUL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION and REFLECTION!

1.What have I learned about myself (what I can do, what I like) because of this

WLE experience?

2.What challenges did I face during my WLE and how did I overcome, address, or learn from them?

3.What passions, values, or life lessons did I learn from this experience?

4. How was my creativity put to use during my experience?

5.How did my WLE placement affect me, a community, my environment, or a particular group of people?

6.What do I believe now that I didn't before about this profession?

7.What specific skills did I learn or practice during my WLE that are important in this profession?

8.If someone were to ask me why what I did at my WLE was important, what would I say?

9. How will what I have learned from my WLE affect the choices I make in the future?

Blog #8: Professionalism: Tuesday Nov 29th

1.Remember way back when you were looking for your WLE? In order to find my WLE and get hired, I had to…

2.The most effective way of looking for a job and getting hired is by…

3.As a result of my WLE, I think being a professional or a responsible adult in the work world means…

Blog #9: Life at my WLE: Tuesday Dec 6th

1.What did you do today?

2.How have you improved as an intern?

3.What about your workplace makes it a great or not so great place to work?

Blog #10: The End: Tuesday Dec 13th

1.What final thoughts do you have about your WLE?
2.SENIORS: How will this experience affect your future decisions or goals?
3.JUNIORS: How will this experience affect what WLE you look for next year?

LAST YEAR’S PROMPTS:

Blog 10 (your last one!!)

DUE: Wednesday Feb 9th

1. If you went to your internship on Friday, Feb 4th:

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

•Title your post: “BLOG 10: My last day at WLE”
•What did you do on your last day of WLE?
•Reflect: what is the major thing you learned about yourself through your internship this year?
•Reflect: what is the major thing you learned about the world of work through your internship this year?
•Did you finish your project by today? If yes, describe what you did to finish on time. If no, describe what you need to do to finish.
•Will you need to return to your WLE to take photos or collect more evidence to use in your WLE presentation?
•If you are behind in your hours, what is your plan to get to 75 hours?

The most important AK grade for Q3 in Academic Seminar is for your WLE hours:

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 4th (last day of WLE) you get a 4.

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 11th, you get a 2

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 25th you get a 1.5

•If you finish your 75 hours by March 16th you get a 1

•If you don’t finish your 75 hours by March 16th, you get an NC.

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

2. If you did NOT go to WLE Friday, Feb 4th:

•Title your post: “BLOG 10: My last day at WLE”
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where/how did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•Since this was your last day and you didn’t go describe what you will do thank your mentor for their help?
•Reflect: what is the major thing you learned about yourself through your internship this year?
•Reflect: what is the major thing you learned about the world of work through your internship this year?
•Did you finish your project by today? If yes, describe what you did to finish on time. If no, describe what you need to do to finish.
•Will you need to return to your WLE to take photos or collect more evidence to use in your WLE presentation?
•If you are behind in your hours, what is your plan to get to 75 hours?

The most important AK grade for Q3 in Academic Seminar is for your WLE hours:

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 4th (last day of WLE) you get a 4.

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 11th, you get a 2

•If you finish your 75 hours by Fri Feb 25th you get a 1.5

•If you finish your 75 hours by March 16th you get a 1

•If you don’t finish your 75 hours by March 16th, you get an NC.
•

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

Blog 9

DUE: Wednesday Feb 2nd

1. If you went to your internship this week:

•Title your post: “POST 9: Description of my workplace”
•TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR WORKPLACE TODAY (to use in your presentation!)
•When you present your WLE project on exhibition night (juniors and seniors who didn’t pass last year) or to your Academic Seminar (everyone, for practice), you will need to give a detailed description of your workplace.
•Write a two paragraph description of your workplace.
•Take a moment to look around your workplace and make observations.
•How many people work there? Is it a small business, a medium sized business, or a large corporation?
•What type of work does your workplace do?
•What sorts of people does your workplace employ?
•Do most of the people there have a 4-year college degree, 2-year college degree, or technical certificate?
•Where is your workplace located and what does it look like?
•Be as descriptice as possible so that the people who will eventually watch your presentation have a clear picture of where you were interning.

2. If you did NOT go to WLE this week:

• Title your post: “POST 9: Description of my workplace”

•Since you weren’t at WLE, where/how did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•When you present your WLE project on exhibition night (juniors and seniors who didn’t pass last year) or to your Academic Seminar (everyone, for practice), you will need to give a detailed description of your workplace.
•Write a two paragraph description of your workplace.
•How many people work there? Is it a small business, a medium sized business, or a large corporation?
•What type of work does your workplace do?
•What sorts of people does your workplace employ?
•Do most of the people there have a 4-year college degree, 2-year college degree, or technical certificate?
•Where is your workplace located and what does it look like?
•Be as descriptice as possible so that the people who will eventually watch your presentation have a clear picture of where you were interning.

Blog 8

DUE: Wednesday Jan 26th

1. If you went to your internship this week:

•Title your post: “POST 8: Looking at other people’s blogs”
•This week you’ll reflect on your internship in comparison to other people’s WLE experiences.
•Read 5-10 blogs written by your peers (click on this link: blogs).
•In general, does it seem like you are learning more or less at your WLE than other people?
•Whose blogs did you read? Who is writing the best blog so far? What are they doing that makes their blog effective? What can YOU do to make your blog more effective?
•Does it seem like very many people are blogging? Since you know how to do it, pick one person who you’ll show how to blog so they can start getting credit for their blogs and earn a better grade in Academic Seminar.
•Now that you’ve been at your WLE for almost 2 months, are you getting “bored” or is your WLE still interesting? Why or Why not? What can you do, or who can you ask, if you need more, new things to do?
•Did you do anything new today that you haven’t done before at your WLE? Describe it!
•If you didn’t do anything new, what do you wish you could be learning? How will you convey this to your mentor?

2. If you did NOT go to WLE this week:

• Title your post: “POST 8: Looking at other people’s blogs”

•Since you weren’t at WLE, where/how did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•This week you’ll reflect on your internship in comparison to other people’s WLE experiences.
•Read 5-10 blogs written by your peers (click on this link: blogs).
•In general, does it seem like you are learning more or less at your WLE than other people?
•Whose blogs did you read? Who is writing the best blog so far? What are they doing that makes their blog effective? What can YOU do to make your blog more effective?
•Does it seem like very many people are blogging? Since you know how to do it, pick one person who you’ll show how to blog so they can start getting credit for their blogs and earn a better grade in Academic Seminar.
•Now that you’ve been at your WLE for almost 2 months, are you getting “bored” or is your WLE still interesting? Why or Why not? What can you do, or who can you ask, if you need more, new things to do?

Blog 7

DUE: Wednesday Jan 19th

1. If you went to your internship this week:

•Title your post: “POST 7: How my WLE project is going”
•What did you do this week for your WLE project?
•Describe what you are doing for your WLE project.
•What is your plan to finish your WLE project in the next 3 weeks? Describe the different benchmarks you are setting for yourself.
•If you haven’t figured out your WLE project yet, you are behind. What do you plan to do to get caught up?
•If you are behind in your hours (you should have 52 hours by today), what is your plan to get to 75 hours by Feb 4th?
•Extra Credit: email Joel (joel@es-impact.org) and tell him what the best thing about WLE is.

2. If you did NOT go to WLE on this week:

•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:
•Title your post: “POST 7: How my WLE project is going”
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where/how did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•Describe what you are doing for your WLE project.
•What is your plan to finish your WLE project in the next 3 weeks? Describe the different benchmarks you are setting for yourself.
•If you haven’t figured out your WLE project yet, you are behind. What do you plan to do to get caught up?
•If you are behind in your hours (you should have 52 hours by today), what is your plan to get to 75 hours by Feb 4th?
•Extra Credit: email Joel (joel@es-impact.org) and tell him what the best thing about WLE is.

Blog 6

DUE: Wednesday Jan 12

1. If you went to your internship:

•Title your post: “POST 6: Mentor Interview”
•Arrange a time to interview your mentor today (if not at work today, then call them over the phone).
•Requirements of the written blog:
•After you finish the interview, use your notes to write 2 paragraphs about what you learned from and about your mentor.

THE INTERVIEW:

•In order to better understand your workplace experience, it is important that you have a strong understanding of who your mentor is, as well as how and why they do what they do. The objective of the interview is to be able to “paint a portrait” of your mentor (both professionally and personally) and provide "real-life" information about the career field you are exposed to during your WLE.

•1. Ask your mentor to introduce themselves, their job & workplace location. Jot down notes!
•2. What are the main tasks you perform in your work? What is your typical day (or week) like? Jot down notes!
•3. How did you become interested in this field and what skills/education background did you need? Jot down notes!
•4. What advice would you give someone who is considering this type of job (or field)? Jot down notes!
•5. Develop more questions your own, and ask follow-up questions.
•NOW, use your notes to write 2 paragraphs about what you learned from and about your mentor.

2.If you did NOT go to WLE this week:

•Title your post: “POST 6: Mentor Interview”
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where/how did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:

•THE INTERVIEW:
•Call your mentor and interview them.
•In order to better understand your workplace experience, it is important that you have a strong understanding of who your mentor is, as well as how and why they do what they do. The objective of the interview is to be able to “paint a portrait” of your mentor (both professionally and personally) and provide "real-life" information about the career field you are exposed to during your WLE.
•1. Please write down some questions you can ask your mentor. You should call them sometime today or tomorrow in order to conduct this interview.
•Ask your mentor to introduce themselves, their job & workplace location. Jot down notes!
•2. What are the main tasks you perform in your work? What is your typical day (or week) like? Jot down notes!
•3. How did you become interested in this field and what skills/education background did you need? Jot down notes!
•4. What advice would you give someone who is considering this type of job (or field)? Jot down notes!

Blog 5

DUE: Wednesday Jan 5

1. If you went to your internship:

•Title your post: “POST 5: Friday Dec. 17th, Hours and Project”
•What did you do today? What did you accomplish? What did your mentor do? Write a journal entry. Be descriptive.
•To be on track to get your 75 hours, you should have 35 hours by now. Tell us if you’re on track or not. Use your time sheet. If you don’t have it, estimate about how many hours you’ve worked.
•If you’re behind, tell us what you plan to do to get up to 75 hours by Feb 4th, the last day of WLE. (You have 5 days of WLE left).
•What is your WLE essential question? What is your WLE Thesis? What are you planning for your project? What work have you already accomplished for your project? What items have you collected or photographed to use in your WLE exhibition presentation?

2. If you did NOT go to your internship:

•Title your post: “POST 5: Friday Dec. 17th, Hours and Project”
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•What did do during the day instead of WLE?
•To be on track to get your 75 hours, you should have 35 hours by now. Tell us if you’re on track or not. Use your time sheet. If you don’t have it, estimate about how many hours you’ve worked.
•If you’re behind, tell us what you plan to do to get up to 75 hours by Feb 4th, the last day of WLE. (You have 5 days of WLE left).
•What is your WLE essential question? What is your WLE Thesis? What are you planning for your project? What work have you already accomplished for your project? What items have you collected or photographed to use in your WLE exhibition presentation?
•If you are still looking for an internship, what did you do to try to find one?
•What additional help do you need? Who will help you?

Blog 4

DUE: Wednesday Dec. 15

1. If you went to your internship:

•Title your post: “POST 4: Friday Dec. 10th, Leadership Skills”
•The Leadership Skills are:
1.Think Critically
2.Complete Projects Effectively
3.Collaborate Productively
4.Communicate Powerfully
•What leadership skills are you using? Describe how you use them.
•What skills are you developing in your WLE that you could not develop in a classroom at Impact?
•What skills are you using in your WLE that you have learned at Impact?
•How is your role as a student different from your role as an intern?

2. If you did NOT go to your internship:

•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•What did do during the day instead of WLE?
•If you are still looking for an internship, what did you do to try to find one?
•What additional help do you need? Who will help you?

Blog 3

DUE: Wednesday Dec. 8

1. If you went to your internship:

•Who does your workplace serve? In other words, who benefits from your workplace’s existence?
•What are the strengths of your workplace? (What does your workplace do really well?) Explain.
•What are the weaknesses of your workplace? (What could your workplace improve?) Explain

2. If you did NOT go to your internship:

•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•What did do during the day instead of WLE?
•If you are still looking for an internship, what did you do to try to find one?
•What additional help do you need? Who will help you?

Blog 2 (OPTIONAL)

DUE: Wednesday Nov. 15

Joel couldn’t post a blog prompt today. If you still wrote a blog entry, let your AS teacher know.

Blog 1

DUE: Wednesday Nov. 3

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

1. If you went to your internship on Friday Oct. 29th

•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:
•What did do on your first official WLE day?
•How did you first day go?
•How did you do that you think impressed your mentor?
•What areas do you think you’ll need help with?
•Were you busy the whole time, or did you have a lot of “down time?”
•What are some questions you have for your mentor?
•What are some questions you have for your Academic Seminar teacher?

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

2. If you did NOT go to your internship on Friday Oct. 29th

•Write 2 paragraphs that describe the following:
•Since you weren’t at WLE, where did you spend the day?
•Describe why you didn’t go to WLE.
•What did do during the day instead of WLE?
•If you are still looking for an internship, what did you do to try to find one?
•What additional help do you need? Who will help you?

Intro Blog

DUE: Wednesday Oct 27th

(if you don’t remember how to add a blog entry, click here!)

1. If you HAVE an internship:

•Title your post: Intro Post: How I got my WLE: Oct 26th.
•Tell the story of how you got the internship.
•What leadership skills did you use to find an internship and how did you use them?
•Who is your mentor? What is the organization you are working for? Where is it located? What will you be doing there? Be descriptive.

2. If you DON’T have an internship yet...

•Title your post: Intro Post: How I plan to get my WLE: Oct 26th
•Explain the type of internship you are looking for.
•Tell the story of what you have done so far to try to find one.
•Describe your next steps to identify a mentor as soon as possible. Be detailed.
•What leadership skills could you use to find an internship, and how?

An example post:

I got this internship by looking up graphic design businesses online. I then made lots of calls to companies and most of them turned me down. People are rude! But, in the end, I got an interview at MeFirst and they hired me! I think that communicating effectively helped me find this internship because I got an internship when I could finally explain myself clearly and people didn’t just want to hang up on me.

My mentor is a woman named Lady Mclady. She works as the president of a graphic design company that designs web site advertising. She is in charge of 15 other people at the office. She’s a really nice woman who I think will be a helpful mentor. Her company is called MeFirst and it’s located in downtown Hayward. I’ll be helping her design a website for one of their clients (we haven’t figure out yet which one) and I’ll be working with a woman named Janet to do research. I am excited by my design meeting with my mentor; she seemed to love my ideas. So it feels good that I will be able contribute something to the company. I just don’t know how much yet, but I am sure that will sort itself out.