Big Dreams, Little Steps: Helping Students Explore Future Careers

Time: 60 mins,

Updated: October 22 2026,

Presenter: Susanna McConnell

Teacher Version

Objective Standards Description

Objective

Teachers will be able to:

Recognize the importance of teaching cost-benefit analysis as a foundational decision-making skill, and be able to explain how it helps students evaluate choices, weigh trade-offs, and make informed academic and career decisions.
Analyze the role of a skills-based economy and describe how transferable skills prepare students for future careers.

Standards

State Standards

Concepts

Career Choices, Employment, Personal Finance

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Description

This session will begin with an overview of the importance of building specific human-centered skills in the age of AI, supported by key articles and survey findings. It will then move into a series of engaging, classroom-ready activities, including an exploration of college and career pathways, a group decision-making exercise focused on post-college choices, and a final scenario in which students evaluate trade-offs between remote and in-office work opportunities at different salary levels.

Teachers should attend to gain access to field-tested, ready-to-use activities that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. The session will also support educators in helping students develop stronger decision-making skills as they navigate future college and career choices.