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Careers in Computing

Twelfth graders explore the wide world of computing careers — from software and app developers who build products to data scientists, security analysts, and engineers who work with data and systems — seeing where a CS path can lead.

Grade 12Careers55 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name computing careers.
  • ✓Tell builders from data/systems roles.
  • ✓Sort the careers.
  • ✓See CS paths.
Essential Question

Computing careers are everywhere and pay well — and there are many kinds! Which roles mainly BUILD software, and which work with DATA and systems?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Builds Software or Data & Systems?

Project this and sort each computing career into builds software or data & systems.

💻 Sort each career — builds software or data & systems?Try it
💻 Builds Software
🗃️ Data & Systems
Tap a career, then tap a bucket.
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Where CS Leads

6 min

Computing careers are everywhere — which build software, which work with data & systems?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show two CS careers.
  • Ask how they differ.
  • Set up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Brainstorm CS jobs.
  • Group them by type.
  • Note the skills.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Brainstorm.
  • Group.
  • Note it.
3

Use — Sort Them

16 min

Students use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Builds Software or Data & Systems?
  • Sort each one.
  • Discuss them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Discuss.
  • Explain.
4

Modify — Modify

13 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a career to explore.
  • List its skills.
  • Explain it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick it.
  • List them.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

9 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a career you like.
  • Say why.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say why.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (Level 3) and ISTE Standards.

CSTA
3A-IC-27

Explore computing careers.

CSTA
3B-IC-26

Connect skills to careers.

CSTA
2-CS-01

Understand computing roles.

ISTE
1

Empowered Learner.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Career picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A ___ works with ___.”
  • Use career examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with developer vs. analyst.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research a career.
  • Explain needed skills.
  • Start a portfolio.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 💼Career cards
  • 💻Builds Software or Data & Systems?
  • 📋A careers chart
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

careera job pathsoftware developerbuilds applicationsweb developerbuilds websitesdata scientistanalyzes datacybersecurity analystprotects systemscloud engineermanages online systemsdatabase administratormanages databasesportfolioa showcase of your work
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Is a web developer a builder or a data/systems role?
Builds software.
QUESTION 2
Is a cybersecurity analyst a builder or a data/systems role?
Data & systems.
QUESTION 3
Name a computing career.
Software developer, web developer, data scientist, or cybersecurity analyst.

Create: find your path.

Have students name one computing career they find interesting and one skill it needs. A printable careers sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Careers in ComputingFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Careers in ComputingQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Careers in ComputingPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: career, cloud engineer, cybersecurity analyst, data scientist, database administrator, portfolio, software developer, web developer
  1. a job path
  2. builds applications
  3. manages online systems
  4. manages databases
  5. analyzes data
  6. builds websites
  7. a showcase of your work
  8. protects systems

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Is a web developer a builder or a data/systems role?
  2. Is a cybersecurity analyst a builder or a data/systems role?
  3. Name a computing career.
Answer key — Part A: 1) career · 2) software developer · 3) cloud engineer · 4) database administrator · 5) data scientist · 6) web developer · 7) portfolio · 8) cybersecurity analyst
Part B: 1) Builds software. 2) Data & systems. 3) Software developer, web developer, data scientist, or cybersecurity analyst.