Class Chats connects Amazon professionals with students for live, interactive career talks. The programme exposes students to a breadth of careers in the tech sector (not just technical jobs!) through Amazon employees who share their personal career journeys. Amazon speakers video conference into classrooms to deliver a 15-minute career talk, followed by a 15-minute student Q&A session. The programme also includes a free Teacher Toolkit with lesson plans for pre-and-post learning.
Class Chats: Virtual career talks
Abstract
Resource overview
Website: Class Chats
Class Chats are designed to fit within one class period (30-45 minutes).
In the United States and United Kingdom:
Step 1 – Teachers book a Class Chats using the online scheduling tool. Class Chats are typically booked 1-3 weeks in advance. Teachers are recommended to provide their own video conferencing link, but have the option to ask the Amazon guest speaker to provide a link.
Step 2 – The day before the chat, teachers spend ~20 minutes to prepare students for the speaker using a lesson plan complete with slides and student handouts from the teacher toolkit (free download on the Class Chats webpage).
Step 3 – At the scheduled date and time, teachers join the video conference with their Amazon guest speaker.
Step 4 – After the Class Chat, teachers use the lesson plan to facilitate student reflection.
In India, Germany, and France, teachers schedule Class Chats through an NGO partner rather than directly with Amazon. Although the booking is done through an NGO, the speakers provided for the Class Chats are exclusively Amazon employees. Please visit the website for more information.
Description of technology
Class Chats takes the classroom guest speaker concept to a virtual experience so any classroom can meet with an Amazon professional for a career chat.
Technology required to host a Class Chat guest speaker:
Computer with internet connection
Video camera
Microphone
Speakers (so students can hear the guest speaker)
Projector or smartboard (so students can see the guest speaker and presentation)
A video conferencing system such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, WebEx, Skype, etc. (Amazon speakers can provide an Amazon Chime video conference link if preferred.)
How the resource makes career guidance more effective, efficient and/or equitable for students
Class Chats gives students access to professional role models where they can learn about in-demand careers in a meaningful, human-connected way. Class Chats are designed to share stories around the speakers’ school years, post-secondary education, career path, and obstacles overcome to ensure their success is perceived as relatable and attainable to any student. The Amazon speakers understand this is a programme intended to primarily support students in Title 1 schools. A Title 1 school is a U.S. school that receives additional educational support from the government because at least 40% of the students are identified as low-income.
Class Chats supports career readiness with:
Career exposure – students learn about careers in the technology industry (not just tech jobs!) they might not know of. Amazon speakers work in a breadth of careers, from computer science and robotics to business, marketing, real estate, finance, design, entertainment, sustainability and more.
Role models that challenge stereotypes - Students interact with diverse role models who challenge myths about who works in tech and what it is like to work in in a big tech company. Amazon guest speakers are diverse in age, race and ethnicity, gender identity, ability, and more.
Equitable access – Class Chats are free for schools. With a virtual-first design, students that aren’t in tech-hub cities have access to connect with professionals at Amazon.
Challenges or potential barriers to use
Classrooms must have the technology to support whole-class video conferencing – internet, computer, projector or smartboard, camera, microphone, and speakers.
Class Chats is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and India. It is not available in other countries at the time of this case study.
The resource is free of charge.
Support for users
Most teachers are able to schedule and host Class Chats without any help. Some classroom teachers may need support to set up the classroom technology for video conferencing to ensure students and the Amazon guest speaker can interact via video and audio.
The experience is most successful when teachers use the provided ~20 minute lesson plan to prepare students in advance of the Class Chat.
Additional details
This resource has been endorsed by Canton High School, in Canton, Texas in the United States.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by the submitting organisation.
