1. Using blended learning to engage students: embedding employability awareness and career development skills learning in the curriculum Career Development Services Anita Norcott Employability Learning Specialist anorcott@cardiffmet.ac.uk

2. Overview Your Career e-Module: the generic learning resource Blended learning modules: 4 case studies Impact and evaluation: evidence of student engagement

3. Your Career e-Module content – 13 e-lessons : Planning your career Job Search Work Experience Skills and self- assessment CVs and covering letters Application forms Interview skills Assessment centres Self-employment

5. PDP and Employability Work Experience Education Personal Life Career Development Skills Personal Awareness Reflection Development © Cardiff Metropolitan University Career Development Services

6. Cardiff Met’s definition of employability : “an individual’s capability and confidence to enter and manage a career path* which fulfils both their potential and their aspirations, whilst enabling them to contribute fully and effectively to the economy and society.” *“Career path” in this context is a lifelong and uniquely individual process which could include paid and voluntary work, self-employment, periods of learning, self-reflection and other self-development opportunities.

7. Case study 1: Cardiff School of Sport PDP & Employability Modules

8. CSS blended learning model Collaborative module development team Briefings on e-lessons and activities at beginning of each term Generic e-lessons customised for Sport sector Individual and group meetings with personal tutors Access to Career Advisers

9. Module aims – year one Develop students’ awareness of employability and understanding of the personal, social, academic, reflective and professional skills required at HE level 4 (5) Devise an accurate evidence base for recording employability development

10. Year One - Term 1 e-lessons & tasks E-lessons: 01: Information skills 02: Academic style – academic English 03: Referencing – Harvard system 04: Learning styles questionnaires 05: Reflective and summary writing Activities/tasks: Attend briefing and tutorials 3 day outdoor residential early first term Complete Brecon self-assessment and action plan Undertake the academic skills e-test Load outputs into e-portfolios

11. Year One - Term 2 e-lessons & tasks E-lessons: 06: Your career interests and motivations 07: Your career personality factors 08: Your transferable skills 09: Your career-specific skills 10: Year two options Activities/tasks: Attend briefing and tutorials Load reflective summary sheets into e-portfolios Begin to build employability logs Continue reflective log Year two options choices

12. Learning outcomes of term 2 e-lessons : Increase your understanding of yourself and which career paths might suit you. Identify the skills and competencies employers generally regard as essential, and those which are necessary for your preferred career path(s). Evaluate which options choices for Year 2 will be most appropriate to your personal and career development.

13. Employability Logs Transferable skills*:Career-specific (examples) CommunicationCustomer service Team workingBusiness sector awareness Planning and organisingCoaching Interpersonal Self-management I.T. Problem-solving Numeracy Other? * descriptors in Logs *Source: CBI and Universities UK (2009) Future Fit: Preparing Graduates for the world of work

14. Learning outcomes: year two Further develop and reflect on action plans for personal and professional development Demonstrate an understanding of employer requirements of communication/presentation skills Evaluate and reflect on the benefits of work experience Demonstrate improvement in self-management and independent learning strategies to address study at HE level 5

15. Presentation (80%) - 10 mins maximum 6 slides: 1: Identification of possible professional career/pathway 2: Where I am know – skills, qualifications, knowledge and (work)experience 3: Further evidence to demonstrate strengths / skills etc 4: What development do I need to plan? 5: How will I go about this? 6: Summary development plan Year two assessment

16. Activities for year two E-lessons and outputs: 1. Learning reflection questionnaire 2. Work experience 3. CV writing 4. Researching your career path 5. Preparing for your presentation 6. Year three options Up-date employability and reflective logs 3-4 personal tutor meetings in groups Deliver and reflect on presentations

17. Case study two: departmental approach Year two Professional Employability module One term – 10 credits Humanities and Educational Studies programmes Blended approach x 4 e-lessons: Planning your career, skills & self assessment, CVs and interview skills

18. Poster presentation assessment Career specific skills: Strengths Development areas Action plan Transferable skills and attributes: Strengths Development Areas Action plan Reflective summary Key preparation points for Interviews Your unique selling points

19. Case study 3: programme approach Year two Professional Employability module Environmental Health programme Assessed CVs and application forms for ‘real’ roles and presentations x 4 e-lessons: Planning your career, skills & self assessment, CVs and application forms

21. New Year New Start for recent graduates 5 weekly structured learning units Framework for Cardiff Met and external learning resources Mainly on-line with e-portfolios and discussion group Blended element offered: workshops and Career Adviser support Certificated

22. Measuring impact – how? Achievement of module learning outcomes and assessment criteria Feedback from students and staff Analysis of outputs from e-lessons Feedback from Career Advisers Feedback from Programme Directors Usage stats – ‘hits’

23. 2011-12 stats 1240 students engaged with embedded e-lessons (+ 34% on previous year - 925) Approx 34 hours of embedded e-learning delivered (+112% on previous year - 16 hours) 19,830 ‘hits’ on embedded e-lessons 32,330 ‘ hits’ on the Your Career generic e-lessons

24. Summary - benefits of a blended approach for engaging students Enables learners to self-manage their learning at times/places of their choosing Supports development of range of employability skills and awareness Delivers more learning support than traditional workshop programme Improved module choices - learners research career path market requirements early Fits with Cardiff Met’s Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy