Tara OrchardCo-ordinator, Career ConsultingCareer Development CentreWilfrid Laurier University

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Approach to Career Consulting

► Application to our 5 Stages of Career Development

► Emerging Theory and Pedagogy

► Future Challenges in Career Consulting

Brief Overview

Career Learning Path

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High SchoolStudent

Job

University/College

Apprentice/Trades

Theory of A leads to B leads to C and so on

Decisions Based on► Life experiences► Natural endowment► Opportunity

Rely on ‘Experts’ for information and guidance

Learning Theory

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• Developmental - Lifespan and Cognitive (Theorists: Super, Kohlberg, Perry)

• Experiential Learning and Social Learning Theory (Kolb, Bandura, Krumboltz)

1. Opportunity for gathering and assessing information was often limited 2. Reliance on ‘Experts’ to provide information

One Directional or Dimensional Learning based on access to information and opportunity

Emerging Learning Theory

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Social. Knowledge as emergent property of interactions between networks of learners.

Situated. Learning occurs within context. Need educational activities mirroring actual situations

Reflective. Require opportunity to reflect on, defend and share to become part of available repertoire’

Multi-faceted. Learning incorporates a range of theory, engagement and active construction.

4 components 3 processes

Connectivism Siemens, 2008

Learning Theory for a Digital Age - knowledge and cognition are distributed across networks of people and technology. Learning is the process of connecting, growing and navigating those networks.

Neural level – new stimuli, input and experiences shape the physical development of the brain

Conceptual level - Novice learners form conceptual connections similar to experts

External - Understanding is an emergent element related to the shape and structure of the learner’s personal information and social networks.

Pedagogy

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Student Engagement Conference McGraw-Hill Publishing Annual Conference

Growing Up Digital (Don Tapscott)(Wikinomics)

Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

Career Professional Role in a new landscape

Changing Career Process Delivery

Career Theory

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Learning Theory of Career Counselling (LTCC) Mitchell and Krumboltz 1996

Planned Happenstance Theory – Krumboltz &Levin, 2004

Theory as a way of explaining the origin of career choice and a Guide for career practitioners

Career indecision as sensible and desirableBenefit from preparing for unplanned events

Constructivist Theory of Career

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Derived from Existential theory and more a philosophical framework within which career counselling can be done. Based on the concepts of “constructivism”

Construct meaning/reality of the world through experiences

‘Construct’ self/world through interpretations/actions andperceptions useful/misleading

Individuals differ in their construction of events

Evolving under constant revision –’new constructs’ or new ‘stories’

Fulfillment requires critical reflection of assumptions that account daily decisions/actions

Career Learning Path

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High School Learner

University/College

Apprentice/Trades

On-line Learning

Virtual Training

Volunteer

Part-time Jobs

On-Going Career

Planning

Access to more information and learning opportunities

Ability to Access changing information quickly

Student Engagement

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Internet: Encyclopedia vs. Interactive Community

Career Professional: Purveyor of Content?

Pedagogy

Changing Career Process Delivery

Applied to Our Career Consulting

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A. Effective Career Planning is a dynamic and ongoing process of gathering, assessing and re-assessing accurate information about 1. Yourself 2. Your options 3. Your opportunities

B. Then making decisions, plans, changing courses, making new decisions and navigating a lifelong career

C. Involves the ability to learn and apply knowledge and experiences within a career planning context

Career Planning Process

2. CAREER AWARENESS

3. CAREER IMMERSION

4. REFLECTION

5. PLANNING

1. SELF AWARENESS

5 Steps in Career Planning

Learn More First

Career Philosophy

Knowledge of Self and Options

Approach to Our Career Training

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Provide a wide range of career development resources, activities and experiences

Utilize multiple learning styles, multiple intelligences and consider individual experiences/ personalities within the career consulting process

Engage the career learner in the career development process

Our Career Consulting Tools

Self and Career Awareness Exploration

Individual or Group Activities

► Encouraging Interactive Career Narrative and Career Journaling, Blog or Wiki. Autobiographical or biographical; a Diary - Building a career ‘story’ or anthology using the polyphonic voice - Focusing on Personal Stories

►Career Planning Workshops - CP101/102

► Self-assessment tools (individually/groups) For example – Type (MBTI/TYPEFOCUS), Interests, EQ

► Individual Appointments and Debriefs

Informed Access to Information

Traditional Resources

Online -Our ‘My Major’

The N.O.C and The Job Futures

Vault Online Career Library and Career Cruising

Blogging - careerchatter Blog

Twitter Follow us at Laurier Careerchatter

Linkedin – Laurier Career Centre Linkedin Group

Social Media Resources

The Career Professional role involves

1. Provide a framework for career development and encourage students to navigate the career development process with forethought

2. Facilitate critical analysis of ‘self’ and ‘options’ (including ‘blind spots’)

3. Responsibility to identify, gather and filter accurate and timely resources and information

4. Provide opportunity for feedback and consultation

Professional Challenges

►Rapidly changing global career options

► Effective use of technology

► Changing demographics of students

►Rapidly changing career requirements

► Student engagement

►Ever expanding volume of career information

► Effective use of Career Assessment Tools

► Access to effective unbiased Academic Advising

Career Centre Vision Statement

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Our Vision

Each student is engaged in the career development process as an integral part of the Laurier experience

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