Key points:
Oregon Middle Schoolers Get a Head Start on Career Planning with AI-Powered Tool
Oregon middle-schoolers can now get a head start on picking a career path, thanks to a new tool powered by artificial intelligence and developed by a University of Oregon journalism professor.
Background
Ed Madison, a media professor and researcher at the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication, created Sassy, an online career coach that’s been officially adopted by the state of Oregon. Sassy is the organization’s first career-connecting tool, providing students guidance on brainstorming career and trade pathways; writing emails, cover letters, and resumes; and preparing for interviews.
How it works
Sassy was developed in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, Southern Oregon Education Service District, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Play Labs. The tool is trained on a range of career-readiness documents and resources generated by the state Department of Education. It stays up to date via real-time industry and institution reports on Oregon’s job market and educational opportunities. And it doesn’t require or ask for personal data and has guardrails built in to provide age-appropriate content.
Impact
Sassy is designed to provide guidance counselors with some relief, as the ratio of students to counselors is very high. By using the chatbot, students can do some preliminary work and come into the guidance session with that in hand, making the session more valuable. The tool also gives students a safe, conversational space to comfortably ask any questions about future careers.
Feedback
Zach Knapp, a teacher in career and technical education at Vale Middle School in Eastern Oregon, and his students were some of the first to try Sassy earlier this year. He said he saw how the platform provided a safe, conversational space for his students to comfortably ask any questions about future careers.
Conclusion
Sassy is a groundbreaking tool that provides middle school students with a head start on career planning. With its AI-powered guidance and age-appropriate content, Sassy is designed to empower students to take control of their future. By providing students with a safe and conversational space to explore their career options, Sassy is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of Oregon’s young people.
FAQs
Q: What is Sassy?
A: Sassy is an online career coach powered by artificial intelligence that provides students with guidance on brainstorming career and trade pathways, writing emails, cover letters, and resumes, and preparing for interviews.
Q: Who developed Sassy?
A: Sassy was developed by Ed Madison, a media professor and researcher at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, Southern Oregon Education Service District, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Play Labs.
Q: How does Sassy work?
A: Sassy is trained on a range of career-readiness documents and resources generated by the state Department of Education and stays up to date via real-time industry and institution reports on Oregon’s job market and educational opportunities. It doesn’t require or ask for personal data and has guardrails built in to provide age-appropriate content.
Q: What is the impact of Sassy?
A: Sassy is designed to provide guidance counselors with some relief, as the ratio of students to counselors is very high. By using the chatbot, students can do some preliminary work and come into the guidance session with that in hand, making the session more valuable. The tool also gives students a safe, conversational space to comfortably ask any questions about future careers.
