The purpose of the life-mapping activity is to learn about the reasoning and thought processes underpinning the decisions that have impacted working students in order to better understand the social, organizational and institutional policies and practices that have a bearing on students’ current work and study experiences.

In pairs, students are asked to draw a map of the events and circumstances that have led to their current situation. The map begins at the last year of high school until the present. During the course of the study, participants may update life-maps to track ongoing work-study decisions and the reasoning behind them.

This activity may be useful for students’ cv and/or e-portfolio.