Comparing the impact of career websites and other career support

Cathy Howieson and Sheila SempleUniversity of Edinburgh

The impact of career websites?

Increased role of career websites in career information and guidance (CIAG) but lack of evidence on their impact

Evidence that ‘traditional’ CIAG can help develop pupils’ career management skills - predictors of positive post school transitions

Can career websites also help young people develop these skills?

Our perspective: positive about role of websites but need to know more about their use and impact

Context of the research

Current research builds on study in 2009 for Careers Scotland

Development of MyWoW – central to new service delivery model

2012-13 is transitional year but MyWoW is the universal offer to pupils so necessary to study it

Opportunity to gather base line data

• 1039 4th year pupils in 14 secondary schools across Scotland (4 LAs)

• pupils surveyed in Oct/Nov 2012 and again in Feb/March 2013

• group work with pupils and interviews with school staff in 3 core schools ; careers advisers did not participate

• key informant interviews

The study (1)

The study (2)

The surveys: - pupils’ use of websites (MyWoW & PlanitPlus)- their other CIAG experiences & inputs- individual and family background information- assessment of their career management skills

identify any changes in their career management skills (CMS) between the two surveys

assess the impact of MyWoW on S4 pupils’ CMS compared with other CIAG inputs

• NB % actually using my MyWoW not simply being registered for it

Pupils use a variety of sources of CIAG

Use of MyWoW

Use was alongside provision – only 10% of MyWoW did not access other provision

Wide variation by school (30%- 79%); not explained by school characteristics

Higher level of use: - early leavers - if thought school developing their decision-making skills

Lower level of use: if uncertain about their career ideas No significant difference by attainment

Some pupils are missing out

Just under a fifth of pupils (17%) had no CIAG apart from family discussions:

school attended (0% - 29%) lower attainment if thought their school was not helping them to develop decision-making skills.

Views of pupils and staff

Pupils who had used MyWoW were positive about it

“My world of work website is a good website to use when you are considering to find out your strengths and weaknesses. It helps you to become more confident with how to apply for jobs and college courses.” S4 pupil

School staff also valued it:- comprehensive information- broaden and clarify pupils’ career ideas- resource for guidance work

Digital natives ?

For both staff and pupils issues about accessing information and using it effectively:

“They need led by the hand… they like Google but are only capable of getting general information out of it.” (Deputy Headteacher)

Misplaced assumptions about ‘digital natives’ and the ‘Google generation’

Personal contact

Websites valued - but as one part of provision – and personal contact with careers adviser also wanted:

“The careers adviser could tell you straight and give you options that suited you, not just a lot of information like what you’d get from a website.’” (S4 pupil)

“On a website you only support yourself, if you’d someone supporting you, you might get more interested in your career and you might go and use a website then.” (S4 pupil)

But considerable uncertainty about careers adviser’s role and access arrangements; increased since 2009?

What impacts on pupils’ career management skills (CMS)? Examined five CMS:

1. awareness of strengths, weaknesses and values;2. opportunity awareness;3. career planning readiness;4. support and advice awareness;5. application skills and knowledge.

Change in pupils’ score in the time between the two surveys – what made the difference?

Statistical analysis – impact of MyWoW controlling for a range of factors

Factors that made a difference to pupils’ career management skills

Use of MyWoW 1 CMS

Use of Planit Plus 1 CMS

Drop-in session with careers adviser 3 CMS

Discussion with teacher 4 CMS

Used leaflets and books in careers library all 5 CMS

Discussion with family 3 CMS

Career focus 2 CMS

Attainment 3 CMS

Score on CMS at 1st survey all 5 CMS

Discussion

Pupils (and teachers) valued websites but also wanted personal contact - and this contact had a positive impact – how can this be achieved?

How can websites be best used alongside other provision?

Positive impact of school careers libraries yet ideas about ‘digital natives’. What can be learnt from this re the design of effective services?

How can the targeting of services be adjusted to take account of pupils’ career (un)certainty as well as social & educational criteria?

Underlines need for hard evidence on the impact of career websites and other provision

Further information

Cathy Howiesonc.howieson@ed.ac.uk

Sheila Semple s.semple@ed.ac.uk

Briefing and report will be available at:http://www.ces.ed.ac.uk