1. Using Technology to Support Career Counseling and Planning
Chapter 7

2. 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

3. Early Systems s
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)

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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