After being in the works for over a year, the Cobra Pathfinder — Parkland’s interactive career services unit — is finally ready to hit the road running.
From training pilots, surgical technologists, industrial technologists and much more, Parkland college offers a wide variety of unique programs to accommodate every student. However, the core problem lies in the fact that students applying to Parkland are unaware of a lot of the opportunities available, and do not want to risk going into a field that they have never heard of before. To help alleviate this problem, Parkland’s community engagement department brainstormed ways to bring career educational experiences to prospective college students in the community, ultimately birthing the Pathfinder.
Schools in the District 505 community will be provided the ability to request the Pathfinder for a visit, bringing a field-trip like experience to their own space. There, students will have the opportunity to explore the Pathfinder and learn more about Parkland and programs they might be interested in.
Inside the Pathfinder
The Pathfinder can hold six carts at a time, with each cart hosting a unique experience. Stations consist of self-paced hands-on experiences such as a surgical tool simulation. Each station also contains a presentation, guiding students through each step of the process. Students would be able to try around three stations per session, getting exposed to different experiences and finding what interests them.
Career Room
In addition to the Pathfinder, the career exploration room was made to be used in conjunction with the Pathfinder. For schools hooked by their first Pathfinder experience, or schools who simply need a bigger area to accommodate their students, the career exploration room was designed to fulfill those needs. The room can fit a higher number of complex stations, including a flight simulator where students can become pilots for a day. Parkland also plans to host workshops for all types of career disciplines in the room.
Active and Future Efforts
The Pathfinder officially made its first visit at the Urbana Tiger Academy. However, there are still a few factors holding the Pathfinder from its full potential. The mobile unit still needs a full-time driver, necessary to make consistent visits to the community. In addition, the development of many new stations are underway, with a plan to encompass a wider variety of programs at Parkland.
Likewise, the career room plans for additional updates. The community education department is hopeful about the development of a wet room, in order to facilitate various science and art projects designed to get kids even more hands on.
To find out more about the Pathfinder and Community Engagement, visit their website http://parkland.edu/pce or email them at pce@parkland.edu.