Educator Newsletter * September 2020
Thank you so much for participating in JA JobSpark 2020. We hope you and your students enjoyed the day and that each of you found it to be engaging, exciting and valuable. Your commitment to the curriculum and experience was incredible. Thank you for helping make the transition to virtual a smooth experience for your students! Stay tuned for more details to come for JA JobSpark 2021.
JA JobSpark 2020: Pivot to Virtual
More than 10,200 students virtually experienced over 300 activities, including pre-recorded videos, live sessions and resources for download. Industry Professionals form over 100 local businesses provided content for your students, encouraging them to consider all of the career pathways and jobs that are out there, the skills needed to have one of those jobs and perhaps helping to spark a new interest. We are still working on gathering data analytics from the event, but we know that we had nearly 70,000 views (clicks on activities) across all 8 clusters over the 2 days. Wow!

Stay tuned as we gather more data & analytics in the coming weeks. We can't wait to share more with you!
JA JobSpark Wrap-Up Video
Click HERE or on the video above to watch a JA JobSpark 2020 Wrap-Up video from our partners at Hirons.
Revisiting JA JobSpark 2020:
Students were able to navigate to each of the 8 clusters through the "Map" homepage.
Within each cluster, there was a "Live Agenda" for students to join live Zoom sessions with Industry Professionals. This was incredibly popular, and we look forward to how we can implement more sessions like this in the future. Students were able to ask thoughtful questions to our volunteers & receive answers right on the spot!
After clicking on a Company logo, Students were directed to a Company page highlighting the in-demand careers that were highlighted in the online materials.
Students were then able to access a library of pre-uploaded content (mostly pre-recorded videos) to learn about the careers that will be in demand when they graduate.
The Best Part? JA JobSpark Virtual Platform will remain online!
Students have the opportunity to log back in to the JA JobSpark Virtual Platform and view materials they may have missed during their session last week. We will also be adding the recordings of all sessions that were live during the 2-day event, and putting them in the appropriate cluster. ALSO! Be sure to check out the Additional Resources section for even MORE content!
Student Feedback
Virtual JA JobSpark: Snapshot of Live Experiences
Engineering Panel in Architecture, Engineering & Construction Cluster
Nick Birch demonstrates Computer Programming through Peanut Butter & Jelly Demonstration in the Technology Cluster
Larry Sernyk with Celebrate Science demonstrates the very popular Strawberry DNA Extraction experience in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Cluster
Don Steffy has a Q&A with students about Careers in the Performing Arts Industry in the Hospitality & Tourism Cluster
Indiana Donor Network - Donate Life Indiana, "Not All Superheroes Wear Capes" panel in the Health & Life Sciences Cluster
Build Your Brand Activity in the Business & Finance Cluster
The team at Ed Martin during "Careers in the Automotive Industry" panel in the Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Logistics Cluster
Don't Forget: Session 4 & Survey
All of our classroom teachers should now be implementing the 4th and final session of the curriculum in the classroom (located in the teacher guide and can also be found online in the educator section of www.jajobspark.org/curriculum). 

During this session, students will be reflecting on the JA JobSpark experience and creating a personal career goal. Your students are also asked to take the post-survey. This can be done by clicking directly on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JAJS_Student_Survey2020 !


We hope teachers continue to refer to the career assessments completed by the students in the first session as they consider the industries they enjoyed learning about through JA JobSpark. These assessments and their personal reflection from JA JobSpark will be helpful as they determine their courses for next year and the many pathways in which they may go in the future. Please continue to use the curriculum (Supplemental Resources can be also be found at www.jajobspark.org/curriculum) provided throughout the year as it has additional activities and enhanced learning opportunities that you might not have had a chance to get to prior to attending JA JobSpark.  
Thank you for helping your students ignite the spark!
Why JA? Because helping kids make the connection between what they learn in the classroom and future success is what we do.
For more information on JA JobSpark, please visit www.jajobspark.org
or contact Molly (Grooms) Baines at molly@jaindy.org.