Designing and Implementing Career Development Programs and Services

Designing and Implementing Career Development Programs and Services Chapter 9

Reasons for Program Planning • Not possible to provide career planning services to all students on one-to-one basis; other approaches are needed. • Using a systematic development process improves the quality.

Counselor Roles in Program Planning • Advocacy - convincing other of the importance of career planning services • Coordination - working closely with other stakeholders: department heads, teachers, employers, etc. • Participation - helping to deliver services • Design and development - designing services by following the program planning process

Step 1: Define the target population. • Determine whom your program will serve. • Identify their characteristics -- such as gender, racial-ethnic mix, socioeconomic class, reading level.

Step 2: Determine the needs of the target population. • Look at data that may already exist. • Use a questionnaire or focus groups. • Use knowledgeable consultants who can identify typical developmental needs. • Review the needs of the environment.

Step 3: Write measurable objectives. • An objective is a clear statement of a desired outcome, often including how to determine whether the outcome is achieved. • Writing objectives – forces counselors to specify what they want to accomplish. – lays the basis for content and evaluation.

Format for Writing Objectives • By the end of this (curriculum, workshop, unit), participants will be able to –( ). – Remember that each of these endings must be measurable.

Step 4: Determine how to deliver the services. • Offer special career planning courses or units within existing curriculum • Offer workshops • Use career planning software • Develop or use websites • Provide self-help materials

Step 5: Determine the content of the program. • Content flows from the objectives -- since it is the content that will produce the desired outcomes. • Break content into units, then determine – time needed – whether curriculum or other resources can be acquired, or need to be developed

Step 6: Determine the cost of the program. • • Staff time Software, if any Equipment Materials Duplication costs Facilities Etc.

Step 7: Begin to promote the services. • Consider using an advisory group that can help with promotion. • Communicate clearly and often to supervisors so that there will be adequate administrative support. • Promote to those who will receive the services and potentially their parents. • Consider starting with a pilot test.

Step 8: Deliver the full-blown program. • This step will be easy if the first seven steps have been completed.

Step 9: Evaluate the program. • Reasons to evaluate – Did program produce the outcomes stated in the objectives? – How can the program be improved the next time it is delivered? – What information should be provided to supervisors and other stakeholders?

Methods of Evaluation • • Questionnaire Exit interview Pre-post questionnaire or test Follow-up study

Step 10: Revise the program. • No program is ever perfect at first delivery. • Be sure to gather information from others involved in the program soon after its completion. • Make notes about changes you want to make next time. • Revise the program at next delivery.