Module 4

Culminating Task

Comparing and contrasting your possible Pathways

Complete the chart below by decoding the above infographic. You’ll have to
consider, compare, and contrast several of the advantages and disadvantages to an
educational pathway that requires college, one that requires university, and one in the
skilled trades:

Apprenticeship College University

Level of courses you E, C, M or U courses C or M or U dual M or U courses

have to take in
Math Skills level 1 credits
grades 11 and 12

Length of the 2 to 5 years 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years

training/program

Breakdown of 80% on job training 70% in classroom 30% Usually 100% in

 education (% in the 20% in classroom co-op classroom
classroom, % of on
the job training, etc)

Ratio between Student / mentor Students / faculty Student / faculty

students and faculty
ratio 1:1 ratio 40 : 1 ratio 85 : 1

The average cost $400 to $600 85% 4,500 Average tuition $7500 average
per year
tuition paid cost per year tuition cost per year

Type of Certificate of Diploma certificate Undergraduate

certification(s)
apprenticeship degree

certificate of
qualification

red seal

Percentage of 100% have jobs in 83% have jobs in 72% have jobs in
people who
related fields after related field after related field after
immediately find a
related job upon
graduating graduating graduating
completion
employed while
training

Average student $0 $25,000 $37,000

debt

After you have had the chance to complete the chart, answer identify 3 pros
(advantages) and 3 cons (disadvantages) of each of the 3 educational pathways
above:

Pathway 3 Pros 3 Cons

College There is a great chance you'll have a An average student graduates

job in a related field after with a significant amount of debt
graduating and that is beneficial
since you'll have a lot of knowledge It can be stressful to you to the
related to that field since you heavy workload
studied it in college.
Some college programs also
 The training/program length is also include courses that may not be
very decent (1-3 years); not to long that relevant to your goals you've
nor too short set out for your career

The average tuition cost per year

($4500) is also not a huge amount of
money If you have a job

University You get an undergraduate degree The tuition fees is extremely

once you complete university which expensive
is very valuable and can end up
getting you a decently high paying Considering the amount of years
job people typically dedicate to
universities (3-5 years) the
percentage of people who do not
The percentage of people who get have a job related to the field
a job in their related field after they studied in the university
graduating universities is also quite seems low to me (72%)
decent
Many students graduate with a
All the learning usually takes place in greatly huge amount of student
the classroom and that to me, debt
personally, is a great thing since I'm
an attentive person who learns the
best when things are explained in a
clear manner in a classroom
because that to me is the sort of
atmosphere and environment I feel
the most comfortable enough to ask
any questions that have in mind.

Apprentices You spend most of the time in job Apprenticeships are usually just
hip (skilled training and that's beneficial focused on one specific trade
trade) because you'll get used to the job and that sort of limits your ability in
when you do get it after getting your a way if it does not work out - you
certificate and less challenges will probably won't have many back
arise for you. up options to rely on
 Apprenticeships are mostly
You’ll probably earn while you learn. focused on just hands on training
and not really a lot on academic
You won't be in student debt at all knowledge and that limits you
from gaining more knowledge

It depends on the trade but you're

working conditions where you
train can be extremely physically
demanding

Now develop three criteria to help you evaluate each of the pathways. A criteria is a
standard for judgment - something you’ll use in this case to determine which pathway
would be the best fit for you. An example of a criteria to determine the best pathway
for you would be: A pathway where most of the learning and training is on-the-job.

Criteria 1: A pathway where a good amount of learning takes place in the classroom

Criteria 2: A pathway where I don't have to pay a lot of tuition fees.

Criteria 3: A pathway where I don't have to pay a lot of tuition fees and the chances of
me getting a job related to my field of study is very high.

Finally, consider your criteria and explain which pathway would be the best fit for you. If
you’d prefer to work immediately after graduating or follow the military pathway,
please explain in detail why. Your explanation should be in the format of a well-
structured paragraph that includes the following components:

1. A topic sentence that states which pathway is the best fit for you
2. An explanation of how this pathway meets your first criterion
3. An explanation of how this pathway meets your second criterion
4. An explanation of how this pathway meets your third criterion
5. A concluding sentence that restates your topic sentence
 College seems like the best option for me to pursue a career related to business. I like
learning in a structured environment where I’m comfortable to ask all the questions I
have in mind and the fact 70% of learning in colleges take place in a classroom in
colleges offers a strong emphasis on classroom instruction and that meets my first
criteria of a high percentage of learning taking place in the classroom. Also, the
average tuition costs of $4,500 per year is great for an affordable education. $4,500 is
not a great amount of money at all if I get myself a job and this fulfills my second
criteria. Lastly, considering that a college degree greatly enhances job prospects in the
business field with 83% of the people landing themselves a job related to their field after
graduating college fulfills my third criteria of increased job opportunities. College excels
in all these three areas and criterias I have set for myself Classroom learning,
affordability, and career preparation, so therefore, is the best choice for my future
business goals.

Success Criteria

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

Knowledge and Student demonstrates Student Student demonstrates Student demonstrates

understanding a thorough knowledge demonstrates a some knowledge and limited knowledge and
and understanding of knowledge and understanding of understanding of
pathways and understanding of pathways and pathways and
opportunities. pathways and opportunities. opportunities
opportunities.
Thinking Student uses planning Student uses Student uses planning Student uses planning
and processing skills to planning and and processing skills and processing skills to
develop an processing skills to to develop an develop an educational
educational pathway develop an educational pathway pathway plan with a
plan with a high degree educational plan with some limited degree of
of effectiveness. pathway plan with a effectiveness. effectiveness.
considerable degree
of effectiveness.

Communication Student expresses and Student expresses Student expresses Student expresses and
organizes their ideas and organizes their and organizes their organizes their ideas
and information with a ideas and ideas and information and information with a
high degree of information with a with some degree of limited degree of
effectiveness. degree of effectiveness. effectiveness.
effectiveness.

Application Student is able to Student is able to Student is able to Student is able to apply
apply knowledge of apply knowledge of apply knowledge of knowledge of different
different pathways to different pathways different pathways to pathways to develop a
develop a personal to develop a develop a personal personal pathway plan
pathway plan with a personal pathway pathway plan with with a limited degree
high degree of plan with a some degree of of effectiveness.
effectiveness. considerable degree effectiveness.
of effectiveness.