Field Test Example for Schools: Tracking and Reflecting on Learning for Growth
This field test focuses on how TalentPass empowers students like Sam, who are naturally involved in diverse community activities, to take their interests seriously by tracking them. With guidance, Sam discovers how to leverage his love for organizing events and making music into a valuable portfolio, aligning with both personal and career goals.
Meet Sam:
Sam, a 17-year-old high school senior, lives with his mother and three younger siblings on the ground floor of a triple-decker house in Roxbury, Massachusetts. His mother works long hours as a postal worker, while his aunts and cousins live on the floor above them, and his grandparents stay on the top floor. Family gatherings, barbecues, and dance parties are a common part of life—events that Sam loves to host and organize.
Though Sam wasn’t too focused during middle school, he thrives when working on hands-on projects. At Madison Park Vocational High School, he is active in the AV club and follows a vocational track in marketing. Recently, he’s become passionate about music and event planning but hasn’t thought about pursuing these seriously—until a career advisor introduces him to TalentPass.
Dialogue:
Advisor: “You’re already doing so much—why not start tracking all of it? It can help shape your future career.”
Sam: “You mean, even the stuff I do with my family? Like the parties and barbecues?”
Advisor: “Absolutely. It all counts.”
Discovering His Achievements
Intrigued, Sam opens the TalentPass app and starts adding his experiences. He uploads photos of events he helped organize, playlists from parties he DJed, and audio recordings he mixed with friends. His career advisor shows him how to document these projects and create reflections to turn them into tangible achievements.
Dialogue:
Advisor: “This isn’t just fun—these are real skills employers value.”
Sam: “Wow, I never thought of it like that.”
Creating a Portfolio
Sam starts taking his music projects more seriously, using TalentPass to organize his work and set new goals. He plans to create a professional portfolio, logging each new mix and event as part of his growth. His advisor helps him align these projects with his vocational marketing path, teaching him how to market himself and his music effectively.
Dialogue:
Sam: “This makes me want to go all-in with music—and maybe even start my own events company someday.”
Submitting His First Application
Months later, Sam uploads his completed TalentPass portfolio and submits it along with his first application—an internship with a local events company. He feels proud knowing that his portfolio reflects both his passions and real-world skills.
Dialogue:
Sam (thinking to himself): “I’ve got this. I just need to keep building.”
Transforming Passions into Career Opportunities
Sam’s journey demonstrates the power of recognizing informal learning and turning personal interests into real-world opportunities. Through TalentPass, Sam has organized his achievements and tracked his growth, discovering that activities he once saw as “just for fun”—like hosting events and making music—hold significant value. With a well-documented portfolio, he is now more focused on his passions and better prepared to pursue internships and future career paths. By reflecting on his work and setting new goals, Sam has unlocked a sense of ambition, motivation, and direction.
Optional Add-Ons for Future Expansion with School Partners
Skill Endorsement from Teachers and Community Leaders
- Provide teachers, advisors, or community leaders the ability to endorse students’ skills on their TalentPass profile, adding credibility to their achievements.
Integrated Internship and Job Recommendations
- Use AI-powered career matching to suggest internships and job openings aligned with the student’s recorded achievements and personal goals.
Event and Project Collaboration Network
- Create a collaboration feature where students can connect with peers interested in similar activities (like music or event planning) to build joint portfolios.
Family Engagement Module
- Allow parents and guardians to monitor their child’s progress and achievements, offering encouragement and guidance along the way.
Real-Time Goal Tracking and Progress Alerts
- Provide notifications to students when they achieve milestones or fall behind on their goals, keeping them engaged and accountable.
