Whats your Meaningful Work

A self-exploration of Values, Interests, Skills in relation to Audience, Action, Impact and Change
Rationale
In this lesson, students will identify and explore their values, interests, and skills and tie
them to the audience, action, impact and change they want to engage. Ultimately, the students
will be able to articulate their meaningful work.
Meaningful work, sometimes called a calling, has numerous benefits based on limited
research and a variety of empirical frameworks. Largescale surveys have shown that more than
40% of undergraduate students report having a calling to a particular career as mostly or totally
true of them (p. 626). For undecided or first-time-in-college students who are still discovering
this calling, this activity will help strategically guide their reflection process. The benefits of
pursuing a calling serves to protect service employees against burnout and decreased job
satisfaction (p. 626). Early identification of a calling can prevent students from entering into a
major and career field in which they may not be satisfied.
This lesson is adapted from a University of North Carolina Success Coachs lesson
(received via FYE listserv/blog post): https://thedreamdean.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/thepurposeful/

Objectives
As a result of participating in this lesson, students will be able to
Judge different readings/videos in relation to their own perceptions through the
reading discussion board post.
Identify their values, interests, and skills in the Meaningful Work assignment.
Articulate the relationship between their values, interests, and skills to creating
impact and change with a particular audience and action through the creation of a
Meaningful Work statement.
Materials
Teacher will need access to the online [Blackboard] course to upload the materials (seen
below and attached), post the discussion thread, and grade the student post(s).
Article) How to Know If Youre Working (and Living) With Purpose
http://www.inc.com/shelley-prevost/how-to-know-if-youre-working-with-purpose.html
(Article) 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose (thought-provoking,
but explicit language) https://markmanson.net/life-purpose
(Video) Sean Aiken: What Makes you Come Alive, 52 Weeks, 52 Jobs
http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxVancouver-Sean-Aiken-52-Wee
(Video) Scott Dinsmore: How to find work you love
https://www.ted.com/talks/scott_dinsmore_how_to_find_work_you_love
Students will need access to the online [Blackboard] coursematerials and discussion board.
They may want to print the materials to highlight and notate for their assignment.

Anticipatory Set
To prepare for engagement in this lesson, students will read the expectations for the
assignment, posted on the Discussion Board Thread.
Procedures
Time

Students will

Teacher will

Anticipatory Set:

Read the expectations for the

Supply the expectations for the
assignment on the Discussion Board assignment on the Discussion Board
Thread
Thread (listed under additional
details)
Reading/Videos
Read or watch two pre-selected
Supply the readings/videos in the
articles/videos regarding meaningful Course Library.
work.
Discussion Board Post What stood out most to you about
Grade and supply feedback to
students discussion board posts.
the article/video and why?
Whats your
Complete a worksheet assignment
Meaningful Work? [see attached].
assignment
Discussion Board Post Post your Final Statement and what
you found helpful or surprising about
the self-exploration process.

Supply the assignment materials in

the Course Library.

Closure: Responding to Respond to 2 peers posts utilizing

Discussion Board
their understanding of the readings
and their own Meaningful Work
reflection process.

Grade and supply feedback to

students discussion board posts.

Grade and supply feedback to

students discussion board posts.

Closure
Respond to 2 peers posts utilizing their understanding of the readings and their own
Meaningful Work reflection process.
Homework
Students are encouraged to reflect, re-examine, and revise their statement throughout
their time in college and professional lives.
Assessment
Students will demonstrate understanding of content through participation in discussion
boards; to receive full credit for the discussion boards the students must 1) demonstrate they
read/watched the material through specific references, 2) share their Meaningful Work
statement including all aspects from the assignment, and 3) respond to two peers discussion
boards with quality posts (do they demonstrate engagement with the material?).

Additional Details
Assignment attached separately; Readings/Videos listed under materials.
Teacher Post of Expectations for Discussion Board
For this weeks assignment, there are THREE parts. You should only create ONE discussion thread
which includes Part 1 and Part 2
Part 1:
Read/watch two of the posted articles/videos located in the Course Library: Week Three
Resources. After you have read/watched the resources, post in this discussion thread
responding to the following prompt: What stood out most to you about the article/video and
why?
Please name your Discussion Post based on the materials you read/watched. For full
credit on this part of the discussion post, you must demonstrate you have read/watched the
resources through a specific example.
Part 2:
Complete the Whats your Meaningful Work? assignment located in the Course Library:
Week Three Resources. Then, post your Final Statement and what you found helpful or
surprising about the self-exploration process.
For full credit on this part of the discussion post, you must demonstrate completion of
the assignment by including all aspects of the Final Statement from the assignment and provide
a specific example of what you found surprising about the process.
Part 3:
Respond to TWO other students posts. For full credit on this part of the discussion post,
you must engage with TWO students based on the readings or your experience with the process.
Try to go beyond good or I agree.

References
Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., & Eldridge, B. M. (2009). Calling and vocation in career counseling:
Recommendations for promoting meaningful work. Professional Psychology:
Research and Practice, 40(6), 625-632.