Phase 1 (b) – Summary

For the last four months, we have focused on collecting information from career educators, researchers and practitioners, from around the country, regarding their vision for a Canadian Career Development Textbook.  We have surveyed this group twice in order to get clear direction on the content and structure of the book.  Seventy-one of our career development colleagues responded to our first “Needs Assessment Survey”, giving us excellent insight into the topics and features they wanted to see included in the text.  From this feedback, a tentative outline for the textbook was created and our colleagues were asked once again for their reactions and suggestions.  The second survey generated 55 responses, 75% of which were satisfied with the outline proposed.  Many of those expressed their appreciation for the comprehensiveness of the topics covered by the text.  Through this survey, we have also received several suggestions for enhancing the content and flow of the book, which will be taken into consideration when the outline is finalized later this month.  

In addition to this, a list of individuals who have expressed interest in authoring chapters or sections of the textbook has been compiled. To date, that list has grown to over 40 people.  We are looking forward to making contact with this distinguished group and forming the writing team, as we now begin Phase 2 of the project.  

The goals for Phase 1 (b) of the project ( July 1, 2009 – October 31, 2009) were as follows:

       •   Develop an outline for the book based on the findings from the Needs Survey
       •   Develop general headings for each section, ensuring consistency
       •   Contact potential authors to ascertain interest
       •   Create a webpage for posting information and use Webex for conducting conferences with potential authors and section writers
       •   Survey instructors regarding the framework/ structure of the book

To date, the following deliverables have been completed:

       •   Completed the survey of career educators, researchers and practitioners on their needs in terms of a Canadian Career Development Textbook and analyzed the feedback.
               o   71 people participated in the survey
               o   Participants came from every Canadian province, as well as Nunavut
               o   Highlights of the results included:
                    o      The top 5 content areas for a Canadian Career Counselling textbook were identified as counselling skills, interventions, assessment and planning, ethics, and cultural contexts.  See figure #1.
                    o     Case studies, Canadian theories, discussion questions, assessment tools and profiles of innovative programs were rated as the top 5 most desirable features for the text.  See figure # 2.



Figure.1  Average Ratings of Textbook Topics



Figure. 2  Average Ratings of Textbook Features

       •   At the end of August, Blythe and Priya met in Victoria, BC to create a provisional outline for the book.  That outline was then disseminated to career educators, researchers and practitioners for feedback via the second survey (See Appendix A for the textbook’s tentative outline).

       •   A list of over 40 individuals who have expressed interest in authoring or co-authoring chapters in the Canadian Career Development Textbook has been compiled thus far.  

o   One individual from the francophone community has identified that he would like to author or co-author a portion of the textbook.

       •   The website supporting the Canadian Career Development Textbook project has been set up.  It can be found at www.careerproject.ca.

       •   A second survey of project stakeholders was conducted, in both English and French, in order to get feedback on the proposed structure of the textbook.  Highlights of the feedback include:

               o   55 people responded to the survey
               o   76% were satisfied with the topics covered in the text outline; many commended the comprehensiveness of the textbook
               o   92% were satisfied or very satisfied with the book’s organization and flow
               o   Several suggestions for enhancing the textbook were received


Follow up and next steps:  Phase 2 (a) – November 2009 to May 2010

       •   Contact interested writers
       •   Identify section leads
       •   Conduct regularly scheduled meetings with writers and section leads
       •   Write the preface, acknowledgements, contributors page & glossary
       •   Section leads obtain a solid draft from authors in their section
       •   Section leads create a detailed outline of the overview chapter for their section

 

Canadian Career Development Textbook (Title TBA)

Forward / Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Preface

Section 1.  The Professional Career Development Practitioner
Chapter One: History of vocational/career counselling in Canada
Chapter Two:  Professional identity
Chapter Three: Ethics/ professional behaviour

Section 2.  The Nuts and Bolts of Individual and Group Facilitation & Career Counselling Skills
Chapter Four:  Basic communication skills (intrapersonal skills)
Chapter Five: Basic communication skills (individual and group)

Section 3.  Intersections of Career Counselling and Career Development
Chapter Six: Traditional career development theories
Chapter Seven: Humanistic and post-modern career development theories

Section 4. Career Development Knowledge and Skills
Chapter Eight: Assessment
Chapter Nine: On-line resources and technology
Chapter Ten: Professional skills: evaluation and program design
Chapter Eleven: Work place knowledge and skills  
       •   Gender
       •   Bullying/harassment
       •   Work life balance
       •   Collective bargaining
       •   Mentoring

Section 5.  Career-Life Transitions
Each chapter will include:
       •   Canadian statistics
       •   Rural-urban issues
       •   Gender issues
       •   SES
       •   Poverty
       •   Specific interventions

Chapter Twelve: School based career counselling
Chapter Thirteen: Post-secondary career counselling
Chapter Fourteen: School to work transition
Chapter Fifteen: Changing economy -  job loss/ job retention

Section 6: Client Groups and Issues
Chapter Sixteen: Disabilities (visible and hidden)
Chapter Seventeen: Cultural contexts (general)
Chapter Eighteen: Indigenous peoples
Chapter Nineteen: New immigrants and refugees
Chapter Twenty: Marginalized/ disenfranchised population
       •   Victims of violence
       •   Sex trade workers
       •   Substance issues
       •   Involvement with the legal/justice system


Section 7: The Developing Career Practitioner and Emerging Trends
Chapter Twenty-One: Regional differences and needs in Canada
Chapter Twenty-Two: Future trends in the profession

Glossary
Appendix – Ethical Standards
Appendix – Resources
Index
References

Attached below are the detailed results for the various areas of the survey in PDF from: