1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Ančica Eđed, mag. paed., counsellor
Bucharest, Romania, November 2018

2. PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
Or "lifelong professional guidance" is an extremely important field of work since the earliest years of formal education:
a human spends most of his or her time working
the choice of profession is one of the most important decisions of each individual
various changes in the world of labor condition individual's change of profession

3. PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
The choice of first profession is based on:
knowledge of competences
information on education and training
information on the characteristics of the work
employment possibilities

4. PROJECT: MY SMART CHOICE
Duration: January 2015 – April 2016
Project coordinator: Croatian Employment Service, Požega District Office
Partners: Elementary school “Mladost” Jakšić (Požega- Slavonia County) and Elementary school Ivan Goran Kovačić, Gornje Bazje (Virovitica-Podravina County)
Associate coordinator: Croatian Employment Service, Virovitica District Office

5. THE GOAL AND THE AIM OF THE PROJECT
to empower teachers and expert associates in approaching professional orientation in practice
to create and implement a sustainable professional development program
to set up pilot centers for professional development in two elementary schools – a better choice of secondary school

6. TARGET GROUP
teachers and expert associates of the elementary schools participating in the project
counsellors for professional guidance of the Croatian Employment Service
leaders of the Centers for professional development
school principals

7. USERS
Future learners of the elementary schools which participate in the project
Parents
Employers
Learners of other elementary and secondary schools

8. ACTIVITIES - 1
Promotion of the project and the promotion of the Centers for professional development (CPD)
Initial conference
Determining the visual identity of the project and CPD
Final conference
Result: Ensured promotion and the visibility of the project and CPD

9. ACTIVITIES - 2
Establishment and equipping of the CPD in Primary School "Mladost" Jakšić and Primary School Ivan Goran Kovačić, Gornje Bazje
Employment of the CPD Directors
Establishment of the CPD and equipment purchasing
Result: Established and equipped CPDs which are conducting planned activities available to learners, parents, expert associates, and teachers

10. ACTIVITIES - 3
Education of teachers, expert associates, counsellors for professional guidance of the Croatian Employment Service, CPD directors, and school principals
Selection of education performer
Education of teacher’s professional guidance, expert associates, counsellors for professional guidance of the Croatian Employment Service, CPD leaders, and school principals
Field trip to the Czech Republic to a similar center
Result: Teachers and associates are empowered to work in a contemporary approach to professional leadership in practice

11. ACTIVITIES - 4
Creation and implementation of the professional development program
Creation of the professional development program
Implementation of the professional development program in Elementary school "Mladost" Jakšić and Elementary school Ivan Goran Kovačić, Gornje Bazje
Result: Created and implemented the sustainable program of professional development

12. SUSTAINABILITY OF PROJECT RESULTS
The effects of the project are long-term and will fully be visible in the next years
The first effects can be seen in the next 3-5 years - when learners who have been in the program for one to two years:
finish secondary school
sign up at the employment service
begin finding jobs

13. ACTIVITY FOR PARTICIPANTS
Task:
Write the essential contents of professional guidance which were implemented into the school curriculum – individually
Exchange answers - in pairs
Present the answers to other participants

14. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - STARTING POINT FOR THE MAKING OF CURRICULUM
Contemporary approach to the lifelong professional development:
a systematic support to the professional development of learners
integration of systematic support into the implementation of school curriculum since very beginning of the formal education
the realization of the school curriculum of the professional development along with expert associates also realize teachers
the curriculum for professional guidance is realized through the direct work with learners, through the teaching of individual school subjects, work of class teacher, and cooperation with parents and local community

15. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - THE PLANNING OF CURRICULUM
Starting point:
the purpose of education for professional development is the development of readiness for professional choice through strengthening learner's capacities for making high-quality life decisions related to the choice of education and occupation
Planned effects of the program:
change of beliefs, knowledges about themselves, and knowledges related to the world of labor
change of behaviors (the use of more effective learning strategies, skills for self-regulated learning, the improvement of working habits, the use of planning and problem solving skills)
making realistic decisions about the choice of occupation which will ensure the educational and career success in the future, and satisfaction in work

16. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CURRCULUM COMPONENTS
The curriculum contains:
learning outcomes, contents and the way of their realization for all subjects from first to eighth grade
learning outcomes and contents for seventh and eighth grade with suggestions of detailed elaboration of activities to achieve certain outcomes
program for parents with suggestions for carrying out specific activities

17. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM
For each learning outcome the following elements are ascribed:
teaching content/the topic through which the outcome is realized
learning activities - what learner is doing
the form of teaching/school work
methods/techniques of teaching – what teacher is doing
external associates (if planned)
monitoring/evaluation of learning outcomes - short description of procedures

18. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - LEARNING OUTCOMES AND CONTENTS OF MODULE FOR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE LEARNERS
Outcomes are sorted in four segments:
self-knowledge (self-perception with the orientation to one's own strong points)
knowledge about world of labor
education possibilities
decision about professional choice

19. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - PROGRAM FOR PARENTS
Goals:
to inform parents about important subjective and objective factors of professional development of their children
to inform parents about possibilities and conditions of education and employment, about characteristics of occupations, and possibilities of professional assistance of different institutions
to encourage the active role of parents in all activities pointed to professional development in elementary school

20. CURRICULUM FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – LEARNERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Presumptions for professional counselling:
description of type and degree of disability
the assessment of support - type, method, and the purpose of support
planning of activities with defined goals / outcomes, steps, and their duration
method of the outcome assessment
parents’ / caretaker’s consent and their involvement in the program

21. ACTIVITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS
In what ways are programs of professional guidance realized in your schools?
Individually
Compare in pairs
Present to others

22. EXAMPLES FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE CURRICULUM
The examples of preparation for learning outcomes realization
The examples of preparation and work material for the realization of learning outcomes for seventh and eighth grade
The examples of preparation of topic realization from the parents' program
Work program of the Center for Professional Development in Elementary school
Observations, experiences, thoughts and suggestions of teachers and expert associates

23. EXAMPLES FOR CURRICULUM REALIZATION
Learners' observations and thoughts
Parents' and local community representatives' observations and thoughts
The examples of recording basic data about conducted activities of professional guidance in school during school year