Towards mapping competencies through learning analytics: real-time competency assessment for career direction through interactive simulation

Abstract

The selection of career paths and making of academic choices is a difficult and often confusing task for young people. The impact on their lives, however, is enormous as it can determine entire future career possibilities. In India, a general remedy to this stress is that instead of choosing a field of study tailored to individual preferences and strengths, topics are chosen that align with the choices of the students’ families or their friends. This can have the effect of entrenching patterns of intergenerational inequity. The aim of this research is to give students greater access to the knowledge capital which will help them make better choices. This is achieved by engaging students in the career planning process, in order to convey information in a likeable and credible way. The COMPCAT (Competency and Career Assessment Tool) game engine combines the use of learning analytics and real time, interactive computer simulations designed to gain insights into the students’ engagement in the making of these complex decisions. This paper presents the conceptual architecture of the game and demonstrates its role in enhancing the learning effectiveness of the students.     

Gender differences in high-school learning experiences,motivation, self-efficacy,and career aspirations among Taiwanese STEM college students

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to answer the following two questions: (1) Do significant differences exist in high-school learning experience, interests, self-efficacy, and career aspirations between male and female science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students? (2) Can high-school learning experiences, interests, and self-efficacy significantly predict career aspirations, and do differences exist between male and female STEM students? This study highlighted the gender gap between male and female university students who had already chosen STEM majors with similar academic ability. A total of 407 first-year students were surveyed at a 4-year research university in Taiwan. For the data analysis, a t-test and multiple regression analysis were used, and the findings indicated that male STEM students had greater family support than their female counterparts. The variable of task value could significantly predict STEM career aspirations for both male and female students, whereas the variable of STEM course self-efficacy could only significantly predict that of male students. In conclusion, the findings highlighted that the motivation of task value was a vital factor for predicting STEM career aspirations, whereas the factor of family support was the main gap between male and female STEM students in terms of their high-school learning experiences.     

Career choices and characteristics of criminal justice undergraduates

Four hundred undergraduate criminal justice students from twelve colleges and universities in seven states participated in an anonymous, written survey designed to determine career choices and expectations as well as other demographic information. Approximately half of the students surveyed indicated that they were pursuing a career in law enforcement. Almost one-third indicated that they had no career plans. We found that reasons for studying criminal justice vary by race and gender, as do career goals.     

The effect of inquiry-based learning experiences on adolescents’ science-related career aspiration in the Finnish context

ABSTRACT

Much research has been conducted to investigate the effects of inquiry-based learning on students’ attitude towards science and future involvement in the science field, but few of them conducted in-depth studies including young learners’ socio-cognitive background to explore mechanisms which explain how inquiry experiences influence on career choices. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate in what ways and to what extent the inquiry learning experiences in school science affect students’ future career orientation in the context of socio-cognitive mechanisms based on socio-cognitive career theory(SCCT). For the purpose, Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 data were used focusing on science literacy, and the sample of Finnish 15-year-old students (N?=?5782) was analysed by structural equation modelling with the hypothesised Inquiry-SCCT model. The results of the study showed that inquiry learning experiences were indicated as a positive predictor for the students’ career aspiration, and most of its effects were mediated by outcome expectations. Indeed, although self-efficacy and interest in learning science indicated positive correlations with future aspiration, outcome expectation presented the highest correlation with the science-related career. Gender differences were found in the model, but girls indicated higher outcome expectation and career aspiration than boys in Finland.     

Enhancing Career Development Through the Career Success Club

The career development of students, demonstrated by students performing appropriate career developmental tasks, is important to institutions of higher education because career developed students are more likely to have career objectives, persist in their academic goals, gain career-related work experience, find employment in their chosen fields, and graduate. The purpose of this study was to determine if the career development of students by class level had been enhanced by participation in a career management plan specifically prepared for undergraduates. The intervention of a career management plan (i.e., the Career Success Club) was successful, especially for seniors and middles, in enhancing the career development of undergraduates. Career management plans may help students that are academically undecided to become more connected to their majors by focusing more on academic and career matters.     

Influence of gender in choosing a career amongst engineering fields: a survey study from Turkey

The aim of this study is to understand the motivating factors behind students’ choices in their decision-making process and also get an insight on their perception of different engineering branches. A survey was prepared and the results were evaluated amongst 1163 answers. Two major influences on student's decision in their professional choices are shown to be career services and family members. Generally, students have claimed to choose a profession based on ‘finding a job’ and ‘being happy’. Some engineering branches such as Genetic and Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Industrial Engineering, are shown to be distinctly preferred by female students, whereas mechanical, civil and electronic engineering are favourites for male students. The survey results were also compared with the distribution of male and female students in various engineering departments. This study clearly shows that certain engineering branches are perceived as more appropriate for women and are thus favoured by female students, while those perceived as more appropriate for men are favoured by male students.     

Gender study on the relationships between science interest and future career perspectives

Gender disparities in STEM fields have been under extensive study, the focus of which has been on future career aspirations. However, the primary phases in gender differences are still ambiguous when examined from this perspective, possibly due to the fact that most of the studies have targeted samples of upper secondary school or college students. As such, in this study we examined the transient period to lower secondary school; our aim was to discover to what extent relationships between factors of students’ science interest and career perspectives differ between male and female. Based on previous studies and analyses, we selected three future career perspective variables – outcome, personal time, and innovation orientations – and three defining features of interest – personal value, enjoyment, and cognitive aspect. The sample was conducted in Finland and comprised of 401 grade 7 students aged 13, using a multi-group structural equation modelling. This study found that during the transient period there were clear gender differences regarding interest and preferences of science subjects, as well as their relationship towards future career perspectives. To be specific, biology was preferred by females, and males preferred physics and chemistry. With regard to future career perspectives, female students’ science interest was positively correlated with personal time- and innovation-oriented career perspectives; an outcome-oriented career expectation was negatively related to their interest. Interpretation and implication that might possibly arise from the results were also discussed.     

Making a good career choice: A decision-analytical intervention to enhance proactive decision-making and career choice self-efficacy in high school students

At the end of high school, teenagers must deal with the first life-changing decision of determining what to do after graduation. For these decisions, adolescents need to be able to make good choices. However, most schools have not yet implemented decision trainings into their curricula. A new intervention called “KLUGentscheiden!” was developed to train complex decision-making in high school students to close this gap. The intervention targets three key components of good decision-making: envisioning one's objectives, identifying relevant alternatives, and comparing the identified alternatives by a weighted evaluation. We assumed that successfully training those decision-analytical steps should enhance self-perceived proactive decision-making skills. In addition, the training should also enhance self-assessed career choice self-efficacy. The intervention was evaluated in a pseudorandomized control study including 193 high school students. Compared to a control group, the intervention group significantly increased proactive decision-making skills and career choice self-efficacy. Although different long-term evaluations are still pending, the KLUGentscheiden! intervention provides an important tool to train complex decision-making in high-school students. It also has the potential to apply to other career choices of young individuals, such as choosing majors, a final thesis, a job, or a field of work.     

Career Choices, Job Selection Criteria, and Leadership Preferences in a Transitional Nation: The Case of Turkey

This study explored the factors that influenced Turkish university students' career choices, job selection criteria, and leadership preferences. Participated in this study were 1,213 senior and junior management students from 17 universities across 6 regions of Turkey. Data collection was accomplished through a self-administered four-part questionnaire. Findings revealed that for the entire sample, having power and authority, peaceful work environment, opportunity for career advancement, and pay were the most motivating factors in job selection, whereas close supervision and guidance, praise from supervisor, feedback on performance, and sense of belonging were the least motivating ones. Charismatic leadership was found to be the most preferred style followed by participative, paternalistic, and bureaucratic styles. Finally, career choices were mostly affected by intrinsic factors (i.e., self aspirations), whereas interpersonal factors (i.e., significant others' expectations) were least influential. Findings were discussed in light of dynamic and changing cultural characteristics of the Turkish society.     

大学贫困生生涯发展自信与就业指导

对198名贫困大学生生涯发展自信的调查发现,性别和贫困等级对生涯发展自信有显著的交互作用,贫困生的生涯发展自信有随着年级提高逐渐降低的趋势,身体健康水平对生涯发展自信有显著影响。高校可以从个性化、全程化、整合化和专业化等方面加强对贫困大学生的就业指导。     

Career choice status among undergraduates and the influence of career management competencies and perceived employability

This study examines the influence of career management competencies and perceived employability on career choice status (CCS) among undergraduates. Making informed and appropriate career choices is positively linked with well-being, work performance and academic and career success. Early career decision-making is now critical if students wish to succeed in highly competitive graduate labour markets. This study gathered quantitative data from 370 Business undergraduates in an Australian and UK university. Findings suggest that students have largely made career decisions and are reasonably satisfied with their choices. CCS varied with age, stage of study, perceived employability and student capabilities in career self-management. Findings highlight the need for universities to not only equip students with the necessary skills to enter their chosen career but also – in collaboration with industry – develop strategies to engage students in the different aspects of career self-management earlier on in their studies.     

The Profession of College Career Services Delivery: What College Counselors Should Know About Career Centers

College career centers provide a valuable resource to students faced with choosing a major, learning about different career fields, and securing internships and jobs. Career centers must provide an increasingly sophisticated array of one-on-one and virtual services in order to meet the needs of students and recruiters. Collaborations between the career services office and other departments, including the college counseling center, are necessary to address students' needs in a holistic manner. The author describes the organizational structure of college career centers and services typically offered, discusses psychological correlates of career development and the integration of personal and career counseling, and provides suggestions for how counseling center and other college professionals can collaborate with their career services office.     

Development of e-career guidance programme for secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State

This study developed and field tested an electronic career guidance package for secondary schools, the e-Career Guidance System. The study was an educational research and development study and thus utilised the instrumentation research design. The formative evaluation of the developed programme was carried out using the pretest–posttest control-group quasi-experimental methodology. The researchers used the Students Career Awareness Questionnaire in collecting data for the experiment. The questionnaire was standardised, with a reliability index of .87. Sixty senior secondary two (SS 2) students were selected for the quasi-experiment using the purposive sampling technique. Thirty students were randomly assigned to the control group and the other thirty to the intervention group. The pretest and posttest data collected were analysed and used in testing the four null hypotheses in the study using analysis of covariance statistics. The results obtained showed that the e-Career Guidance System developed in this study produced a significant difference in the vocational self-awareness and career awareness of the sample in the experimental group in contrast to the sample in the control group. It was further observed from the analysis that gender did not interfere with the gains from the e-Career Guidance System. Based on these outcomes, the researchers concluded that the developed e-Career Guidance System has validity and could be used in the career guidance of male and female secondary school students in Akwa Ibom State and beyond.     

人力资源管理选修课的教改实践与思考

基于目前高校毕业生就业指导的现状,主要介绍了一项关于人力资源管理课程教学改革的实践。改革的内容主要包括安排一定的课时加强学生的自我认识,鼓励学生提出自己的职业生涯规划和组织学生参加模拟招聘会。近两年的教学实践表明上述课程改革对构建完善的就业指导体系有一定帮助。最后,对课程体系的建设提出了自己的意见和建议。     

中国大陆地区小学生涯教育现状分析与对策建议

从小对学生进行有意识的生涯教育,对学生更好地认识自我、发展自我有重要的启蒙、引导作用.中国大陆地区在小学阶段实施生涯教育,还处于初级探索阶段,小学生涯教育存在对实施意义认识不清、未形成体系、缺乏专业师资队伍等问题,小学生涯教育应转变观念、建立系统的生涯教育体系、加强师资队伍建设.     

免费师范生职业生涯规划现状分析及建议

免费师范生作为一个特殊的群体,其职业方向已经基本确定,为了了解其职业生涯规划的现状,采用随机遭遇和结构性访谈法,选取西南大学34名免费师范生为被试,对其职业生涯规划进行访谈研究。研究结果表明：（1）免费师范生对职业生涯规划还比较模糊,职业方向不稳定,绝大多数人没有明确的职业目标。（2）免费师范生对教师职业的态度不一致,其职业期望更注重兴趣、爱好。（3）免费师范生为实现职业愿望而做的职业准备是多方面的,以知识、教学技能为主。（4）免费师范生目前学习、生活状况存在消极现象。（5）免费师范生的职业理想、职业准备与性别有显著性差异,其他职业生涯规划情况与性别、年级、学科类型、父母亲职业无显著性差异。     

Factors related to a college student's career optimism and their perception of career services

A student's expectation for a positive outcome for their future career development is referred to as career optimism. Career Services, a common university department, utilizes the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to understand how students form career interests and make educational and vocational choices. Then Career Services can assist students in finding a career that matches their interests. We hypothesize that students' perception of the assistance provided by the Career Services department when the SCCT is applied, impacts the student's career optimism. In addition, we hypothesize, and results support, that different factors, such as a student's chosen major, impact student perception of Career Services and career optimism.     

Gendered transitions,career identities and possible selves: the case of engineering graduates

This article, drawing upon the Paired Peers project, a longitudinal qualitative study (n = 90), examines how seven UK engineering graduates, four women and three men, construct their career identities during the transitionary period from university to work. It explores how gender and the occupational cultures that reside within the sector, and the wider sociocultural context, affect women’s careers identities, choices and trajectories. The longitudinal design, characteristics of the cohort and the theoretical framework of possible selves contribute to the originality of this empirical research. In this paper, we show how female graduates gradually adapted their occupational aspirations and career identities to fit with socio-cultural expectations and how they struggled to construct viable ‘engineering’ selves in the vital career identity development phase of their first years of employment when most female STEM graduates change careers.     

大学生性别角色与职业成熟度的相关研究

以赣南师范学院、武汉科技大学、太原科技大学的466名大学生为被试对象,采用新编大学生性别角色量表和大学生职业成熟度量表进行问卷调查,结果发现：大学生性别角色类型分布双性化占34．9％：未分化占32．0％;女性化占17．3％;男性化占15．9％;大学生男性特质与职业成熟度呈显著相关．女性特质与职业成熟度之间也存在显著相关;不同性别角色类型在职业成熟度上的得分存在显著差异,未分化个体的职业成熟度显著低于其他三种性别角色类型,其他类型两两之间无显著差异。     

旅游实践教学与学生职业取向调查研究

基于在校生对旅游实践教学现状和职业取向的问卷结果及毕业生职业去向的实证材料,探讨了旅游实践教学与学生职业取向的关系。结果表明:旅游实践教学的方向设计、条件建设及过程管理等都能影响学生的职业取向,并对其职业去向产生深远影响。在现实基础上,旅游实践教学应加快建设专业实验室、实践基地、实训师资队伍及改进实践教学方法和完善实践教学环节管理等,引导学生职业取向回复正轨。