Spinndle for Career Planning

“Making the portfolio a living reflection of learning.”

— James Denby, Lecturer, NHL - STENDEN

Pathway Capstone

Choose Topic

Task Owner

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Determine topic ideas. Keep in mind transferable skills you want to develop, careers you might want to pursue, a topic you want to learn more about to be future-ready.

Conduct a “pre-mortem" as a feasibility test. Identify all of the ways your topic might not be achievable, all the reasons your project might fail. More eyes on this is helpful. Run your ideas by others (particularly mentors) and have them identify areas of concern. Ask: “Can this work? Can you come up with reasons it wouldn't? Why shouldn't I pursue this?”

Create Proposal

Task Owner

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Identify your goal(s). Turn your goal(s) into one overarching driving question or statement. Eg. “I want to understand the positive impact of social media for companies beyond marketing” or “Does social media have a positive impact for companies beyond marketing?” Turn your question or statement into a SMART goal.

Identify relevance. Explain why your goal relevant and meaningful to you. What do you hope to learn or accomplish? (gain knowledge? develop skills? get experience?).

Identify gaps in knowledge. What further research do you plan to do to deepen your understanding of this topic? What are the big questions you need to answer? How will you research, read, locate information, talk to experts, interview, attend info sessions/workshops/classes.

Determine final product. Who is the audience? Why this product and why this audience? What will this product help this intended audience to do? Eg. Pitch your product to local company. Suggestions for final products: design a product or service, conduct an experiment, plan an event, create art, write a speech.

Outline a "to-do" list. Be specific about the actions you will take: practice, attempt, shadow, volunteer, work experience, assemble, create, achieve, decide.

Establish a timeline for your To Do list. Create a timeline with deadlines for major tasks.

Identify challenges. What major challenges do you foresee? How are you stretching your learning? How are you challenging yourself?

Gather support. What supports will you put in place to address the challenges you've identified? These are people, programs, or resources who will assist you with the project. Describe the role or expertise you're looking for in a mentor or program and how you plan to acquire them.

Develop mentor meeting cadence. For your initial meeting with your potential mentor, be prepared to outline what you need from them and why they would be a good fit. Consider: what does this mentorship mean for them? Benefits? Opportunities? Suggest meeting cadence, feedback loops, general expectations. Confirm details of mentor-mentee relationship. Consider: draft a contract.

Do Research

Write Paper

Develop Final Product

Develop Portfolio

Prepare for Presentation

EXAMPLE

Pathways Capstone: This is a culmination and showcase of knowledge and skills gained. Investigate a potential career path and engage in research and experience. Present your growth and learning in a final portfolio and presentation.

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