Page 4 - Guidance Education 11-12 (2006)

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Introduction
This document replaces The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Guidance and Career Education, 2000 and the sections of The Ontario Curriculum: Guidance and Career Education, Open Courses (Draft), Grades 10 and 12, 2004 that pertain to Grade 12. Beginning in September 2006, all Grade 11 and 12 guidance and career education courses will be based on expectations outlined in the present document.
Secondary Schools for the Twenty-First Century
The goal of Ontario secondary schools is to support high-quality learning while giving indi- vidual students the opportunity to choose programs that suit their skills and interests.The updated Ontario curriculum, in combination with a broader range of learning options outside traditional classroom instruction, will enable students to better customize their high school education and improve their prospects for success in school and in life.
The Place of Guidance and Career Education in the Curriculum
The guidance and career education program plays a central role in secondary school by provid- ing students with the tools they need for success in school, in the workplace, and in their daily lives. In particular, the curriculum focuses on skill development that will help students better manage their time, resources, and dealings with other people to improve their opportunities for success both in school and in their future lives. Courses in guidance and career education actively involve students in research, inquiry, problem-solving, and decision-making processes related to planning for postsecondary education, training, or work.The guidance and career education program is designed to recognize the diverse abilities, strengths, and aspirations of all students, providing them with knowledge and skills that will be benefit them throughout their lives.
The goals of the guidance and career education curriculum are to enable students to:
• understandconceptsrelatedtolifelonglearning,interpersonalrelationships,andcareer planning;
• developlearningskills,socialskills,asenseofsocialresponsibility,andtheabilitytoformulate and pursue educational and career goals;
• apply this learning to their lives and work in the school and the community.
These goals are organized into three areas of knowledge and skills: student development, interper- sonal development, and career development, as outlined in Choices Into Action: Guidance and Career Education Program Policy for Ontario Elementary and Secondary Schools, 1999.
The guidance and career education program aims to help students become more confident, more motivated, and more effective learners. Students learn how to identify and assess their own competencies, characteristics, and aspirations.They explore a broad range of options related to learning, work, and community involvement through a variety of school and experi- ential learning opportunities. Students develop learning and employability skills and strategies