Ohio stresses high tech careers

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland  announced the launch of the What’s Next? Ohio Career Sim, an interactive website designed to encourage students to explore different careers in high-growth industries right here in Ohio.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s creators and entrepreneurs,” Strickland said. “By encouraging our young people to match their interests with potential career paths, we’re helping them discover growing industries right here in Ohio while also preparing them for a purposeful and productive future.”

The Ohio Career Sim is an online simulation, enabling middle and high school students to explore and “try-on” careers in STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math — and the educational pathways that will lead them there.

Created in collaboration with Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology, the interactive tool is designed to spark students’ aspirations and career preparation by aligning their passions and curiosity with high-growth industries and professions in Ohio.

“Interactive tools, like Career Sim, offer students a unique way to explore their interests and get advice on what careers might be a good fit for them,” said Deborah Delisle, superintendent of public instruction. “Students sometimes find it difficult to relate what they like to do for fun with jobs that might interest them in the future. Tying this all together, and including suggestions about what classes to take in high school and college, are important to keeping students engaged in their education.”

The initiative supports Governor Strickland’s goal to develop a 21st century workforce to tackle careers in STEM. The governor’s new state education plan modernizes Ohio classrooms and strengthens the teaching profession to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in high-growth industries.

“In order to put more Ohioans to work and promote lasting economic growth, Ohio needs to better prepare our students for the new kinds of jobs our economy is creating,” Strickland said.

The Ohio Career Sim website launch will coincide with Thursday’s STEM regional conference in Northwest Ohio, part of Ohio’s Statewide STEM Conference Series to continue the conversation about STEM education.

Also, on May 10, Governor Strickland recognized National Lab Day, part of President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign. National Lab Day highlights Ohio’s multiple STEM education programs and the successful economic development program, the Ohio Third Frontier, which is creating jobs in high-growth industries that rely on STEM skills such as advanced energy and biomedicine.

The Ohio Career Sim provides information on scholarship opportunities, the University System of Ohio, and career choices, and can be found on OhioMeansJobs.com. The Ohio Career Sim link will also be featured for a time on the websites for the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Governor’s Office.