CS: Careers in Technology
Exploring jobs, skills, and pathways in the tech industry
CS: Careers in Technology
Exploring jobs, skills, and pathways in the tech industry
CS - Grade 6-8
- 1
A software developer creates an app that helps students organize homework assignments. What are two tasks this developer might do during the project?
Think about what must happen before an app is ready for people to use.
A software developer might write code for the app and test it to make sure the features work correctly. The developer might also fix bugs or work with designers to improve how the app looks. - 2
Match each technology career to the best description: 1. Cybersecurity analyst, 2. Data scientist, 3. UX designer. Descriptions: A. Studies data to find patterns, B. Protects computer systems from attacks, C. Designs how a website or app feels to users.
The correct matches are 1-B, 2-A, and 3-C. A cybersecurity analyst protects systems, a data scientist studies data, and a UX designer improves the user experience. - 3
A school wants to build a new website. Name three technology careers that could help with the project and explain what each person would do.
Think about coding, design, and keeping information safe.
A web developer could build the website pages and features. A UX designer could make the site easy for students and families to use. A cybersecurity specialist could help protect the site from unsafe access. - 4
Look at a simple career web with the word Technology in the center and four branches labeled Build, Protect, Analyze, and Design. Write one career that fits each branch.
Build could be software developer, Protect could be cybersecurity analyst, Analyze could be data scientist, and Design could be UX designer. Each career connects to a different type of technology work. - 5
A game studio needs someone to create characters, someone to program game controls, and someone to test for problems. What are the three possible jobs, and how do they work together?
A video game is made by a team with different specialties.
A game artist could create characters, a game programmer could program the controls, and a quality assurance tester could test for problems. They work together by combining art, code, and testing to make the game fun and reliable. - 6
Why is communication important for people who work in technology careers? Give one example.
Communication is important because technology workers often work on teams and need to explain ideas clearly. For example, a programmer may need to explain a bug to a designer or project manager so the team can fix it. - 7
A data analyst studies survey results from 500 students about lunch choices. What might the analyst look for, and how could the school use the results?
Data can help people make better decisions.
The data analyst might look for patterns, such as which meals are most popular or which choices students avoid. The school could use the results to plan lunches that more students will enjoy. - 8
Study the chart of technology careers and main skills. Career: Software Developer, Main Skill: Coding. Career: Cybersecurity Analyst, Main Skill: Protecting systems. Career: UX Designer, Main Skill: Designing user-friendly products. Career: Data Scientist, Main Skill: Finding patterns in data. Which career would be the best fit for someone who enjoys improving how people use an app? Explain your answer.
A UX designer would be the best fit because UX designers focus on making apps and websites easier and more enjoyable for people to use. They think carefully about user needs and design choices. - 9
What is one difference between a hardware engineer and a software developer?
Hardware is something you can physically touch, while software runs on a device.
A hardware engineer works with physical computer parts and devices, while a software developer works with programs, apps, and code. Both jobs can work together to make technology function well. - 10
A company collects customer information for an online store. Which technology career helps protect that information, and why is that job important?
A cybersecurity analyst helps protect customer information. This job is important because private data, such as names, passwords, and payment information, must be kept safe from theft or misuse. - 11
Create a short career pathway for a middle school student who wants to become a robotics engineer. Include at least three steps.
A pathway can include classes, clubs, projects, and future training.
A student could start by joining a robotics club, then take math, science, and computer science classes, and later study engineering or robotics in college or a training program. Building small projects can also help the student practice important skills. - 12
Look at the team diagram for an app project. It shows a project manager in the center connected to a programmer, designer, tester, and cybersecurity specialist. What is the project manager's role on this team?
The project manager helps organize the team, set goals, track progress, and make sure people understand their tasks. This role helps the project stay on schedule and keeps the team working together. - 13
A quality assurance tester finds that a button in an app does not work on some tablets. What should the tester do next, and why?
Testers do more than notice problems. They explain problems so others can solve them.
The tester should record the problem clearly, including what device was used and what happened. This helps the developers understand and fix the bug more quickly. - 14
Technology careers often use problem-solving. Describe a problem a web developer might face and how the developer could solve it.
A web developer might find that a page loads too slowly. The developer could solve it by reducing large images, checking the code, or testing different ways to make the page faster. - 15
Choose one technology career from this worksheet that interests you. Explain what the person does, which skills are useful, and one reason the career might matter to society.
Use a career such as software developer, data scientist, UX designer, cybersecurity analyst, robotics engineer, or game programmer.
Answers will vary. A strong answer names a technology career, explains the main work of the job, describes useful skills such as coding, creativity, communication, or problem-solving, and explains how the career helps people or society.