Using Technology to Support Career Counseling and Planning Chapter 7

Definition of Computer-Assisted Career Guidance System A group of activities, delivered by computer, designed to assist with one or more steps of the career planning process

Early Systems - 1960s Super (with IBM) - Education and Career Exploration System (ECES) Tiedeman (Harvard) - Information System for Vocational Decisions (ISVD) Katz (ETS) - System for Interactive Guidance Information (SIGI)

Early Systems - 1960s Impelleteri (Penn State) - Computer Occupational Information System (COIS) Harris (Willowbrook High School) - Computerized Vocational Information System (CVIS)

Characteristics of Early Systems Offered a prescribed sequence of activities Based on career development theory Stored an ongoing user record Taught a decision-making process Supported by external funding Operated on large mainframe computers

Career Information Systems - 1970s McKinlay (Univ. of Oregon) developed the Career Information System (CIS). System focused on quality databases and search strategies. Occupational and educational information was customized by state. A federal agency, NOICC, encouraged development through funding.

Best Computer Capabilities Administering and interpreting assessment Searching large databases Linking (crosswalking) files Providing standard service to all users Monitoring the progress of the user Delivering instruction Linking internal resources to others on web

Reasons for Combining Computer and Counselor Students/clients mask other problems under the rubric of career concerns. Some individuals do not profit from use of technology because of learning or personality style. Research indicates that the most effective intervention is a combination of technology and counselor support.

Counselor Responsibilities Determine readiness of the client to use a computer system effectively Expand on the interpretation of assessment Assist individuals to identify values that guide decision making Provide motivation and emotional support Suggest creative alternatives

Advantages of Internet Delivery of Career Information and Interventions Provides access from many places, 24/7. Can serve very large and dispersed audience. Databases can be updated frequently from one central source. Linkages to other websites can be incorporated. Counselor support can be provided online.

Disadvantages of Internet Career Planning Services Access and operation may be slow. Use of audio and video may not be feasible because of bandwidth and other technical concerns. The Internet is not a secure environment.

Types of Computer-Assisted Systems Assessment - sole purpose of administering and interpreting assessment instrument(s) Career information system - includes several databases and search strategies through them Career planning system - in addition to above, provides assessment and a career planning process and stores a user record

Selection of a Computer-Assisted Career Guidance System Theoretical base, if any Use of assessment (online or entering scores) Quality and comprehensiveness of databases Ease of searches Comprehensiveness of system content

Selection of a Computer-Based Career Guidance System continued User friendliness and appeal Multimedia capabilities Linkage to websites Quality and service of vendor

Counselor Competencies Needed Detailed knowledge of the system or site Capability to diagnose the user’s needs and capability to profit from use of technology Capability to motivate user to invest time Capability to assist user to turn data into information Capability to move user beyond information to an action plan

Counselor-Computer Models One-to-one counseling + computer-based system or website(s) Group guidance + computer-based system or website(s) Group counseling + computer-based system or website(s) Cybercounseling + use of assigned websites

Issues Related to Cybercounseling Environment - lack of face-to-face contact Problems - need to discern which can be dealt with in this mode Clients - need to discern who can profit from service in this mode

Issues Related to Cybercounseling, continued Security - need to protect confidentiality Counselor training - need to identify competencies and train for them Supportive services - need to discern when to refer