Future Quest Island Explorations
Project Description:
Technology: Future Quest Island-Explorations (FQI-E) will be an online curriculum focusing on college & career readiness using the evidenced-based Possible Selves framework to support improved self-concept, social and emotional competence, and early college and career awareness for upper elementary students with disability in grades 3-5.
The Future Quest Island-Explorations curriculum expands on previous work to address each of the aforementioned areas of need. Project has spent the last five years creating and testing a curriculum, Future Quest Island (FQI) that includes a corresponding digital Teacher Toolkit (dTT). The curriculum, built upon the principles of universal design for learning (UDL), targets middle school youth with disabilities and is presented to students as a web-based adventure (www.futurequestisland.org).
Findings from FY 2012 work demonstrated benefits for middle school educators and students. Educators indicated that FQI changed how they supported students in exploring college and career options, and pre/post scores demonstrated significant increases in students plans to: graduate high school and attend college after high school. This 2018 project, Future Quest IslandExplorations (FQI-E), will develop and test an updated version of the previous FQI curriculum using the same UDL and gaming features, and aligning it with Possible Selves theory, infusing exploration and illustration of future possible selves into the game-based environment
The evidence-based Possible Selves framework addresses individuals perceived future self-concept and guides students in thinking about the future with an emphasis on nurturing academic and personal motivation. It includes components of self-concept that have to do with what I can be, what I would like to be, and what I am afraid of becoming (Ruvolo & Markus, 1992). Through a structured process, students describe their hoped-for, expected, and feared possible selves and use the information to create a visual representation of their Possible Self.
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Other - Assistive Technology
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Another State, Single-County, Mulit-County, State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
