REACH+ Career and College Preparation Programme

Abstract

The REACH+ Career and College Preparation Programme was developed to provide a structured, managed career guidance programme that encourages an evidence-based approach to guidance planning in post primary schools. It lives within the Irish Careers Portal website (https://careersportal.ie/) and uses all of the tools and resources on the website. Students register to the programme with a licence code and Guidance Counsellors have access to a complete suite of resources to help run the programme and view the work their students have done. It supports whole school guidance planning and the delivery of both individual and group guidance. It encourages self-directed learning and the development of career management skills among students. The programme is underpinned by the following framework.

Understanding Myself – using a suite of career self-assessments tools

Exploring Career Pathways – researching opportunities in the world of work and the world education

Managing My Career – developing career management skills

REACH+ culminates in the development of a Student Digital Career Portfolio, built over the 3 years of senior cycle (ages 15/16 – 18/19).

For an overview of the REACH+ programme, visit: https://cc.careersportal.ie/mce/plugins/filemanager/files/Claire/GM4-Resource-REACH.pdf or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUP_zQGV5kw.

Resource overview

Website: REACH+

REACH+ provides over 60 engaging and interactive online work activities for students with associated lesson plans, related videos, quizzes, and PowerPoint presentations for the Guidance Counsellor. The programme is delivered across five key areas:

(1) Career Planning & Research – developing career learning and awareness within a strengths-based approach to career planning.

(2) Self-Assessment – a suite of career self-assessment exercises to encourage a rich understanding of self and others e.g., career interests, multiple intelligence, career values, personality, and career skills.

(3) Study Performance – tools to help students achieve their potential by recognising individual learning styles, improving their study technique, and setting realistic and achievable exam targets.

(4) World of Education – exercises and tools designed to enhance the students’ ability to understand, find, select, and evaluate further education and training options.

(5) World of Work – students learn about the world of work and evaluate the 33 most prominent employment sectors. Over 1,000 careers/occupations are profiled, and information is available on daily tasks and activities, entry and progression pathways, skills required, labour market information and access to live jobs. Work Experience is integrated including finding a placement, completing a work experience diary, and evaluating career skills developed.

All the activities provided through the programme are recorded and require student interaction and personal reflection.

Description of technology

The REACH+ programme is integrated within CareersPortal.ie which is Ireland’s national career guidance resource containing careers information, tools, and resources for people of all ages. The programme uses an e-learning platform and/or a student workbook to enable students to build a comprehensive career portfolio. This blended (online and workbooks) approach ensures that even those students who do not have access to adequate internet and devices to benefit from the programme and promotes a wider range of learning methodologies. Customised algorithms are used to match the results of a user’s self-assessments to careers and courses.

The programme can be delivered in the following ways:

Completely online. This allows the programme to be delivered either in the school computer room, in a classroom setting using the white board or undertaken as homework assignments by the students. Student work can be monitored by the Guidance Counsellor/Teacher. All communication with the students including sharing files etc. can be carried through the online platform. Reports can be generated from each activity, and these can be viewed or printed as evidence of the career learning and associated work undertaken throughout senior cycle.

Using the workbook. This consists of a suite of pen and paper exercises which mirrors the online programme. Workbook exercises can be supported by a range of resources (PowerPoints, Quizzes, Videos etc.) delivered from the e-learning platform via the classroom whiteboard. The completed workbook can function as a standalone career portfolio for the student.

As a blended programme. This represents optimal use of the programme as it facilitates a broader range of methodologies and encourages the development of digital career literacy skills.

Central to the technology used is the integration and matching of student self-assessments to courses, occupations, and career sector information on careersportal.ie. The e-learning platform facilitates direct communication with students, providing feedback on their learning, sharing, and uploading files, managing student appointments, and printing and saving student reports. The REACH+ programme provides a community of practice that enables the direct sharing of guidance resources amongst Guidance Counsellors/Teachers through the platform across Ireland.

How the resource makes career guidance more effective, efficient and/or equitable for students

REACH+ facilitates the effective communication between guidance practitioners, the wider school community and other key stakeholders including parents and students from 1st year (age 12) to 6th year (age 18). This communication is made possible through the bespoke school Guidance Counselling Website which is an integral part of the programme and links directly to the main school website. This service allows the Guidance Counsellor to communicate directly with all year groups, parents, and the wider school community from the comfort of their own desk. Key notices and events can be posted here on the School Notice Board and articles and files can be shared. Examples of this service in action can be seen in many schools across the country such as – Blessington Community College | Guidance & Counselling Website (careersportal.ie) and Gort Community School | Guidance & Counselling Website (careersportal.ie).

The availability of a workbook option allows the programme to be accessible to all students regardless of internet access. The online version integrates advanced accessibility tools which address a range of language and learning support needs to support all abilities.

Consistent feedback has shown that the REACH+ programme saves Guidance Counsellors/Teachers an enormous amount of time. Guidance Counsellors can view the work of both class groups and individual students directly. They can post notices, share files, or set work or assignments directly from their administration page for year groups, classes, or individual students. From within this Administration Area, a student’s progress over a range of topics can be easily monitored and tracked. One to one guidance appointments can be organised, assignments can be marked, and notices and events can be saved directly into a student’s own Career File. Different reports can be viewed (and printed as required), illustrating whether work has been completed by individual students over the school year or over the 3-year programme. Lesson plans are linked to learning outcomes, statements of learning, career development theory and guidance practice. Activities encourage individual, paired and group engagement, topic feedback and personal learning reflections are also encouraged and documented. The REACH+ programme culminates in a comprehensive student career portfolio. This documents a student’s personal development, research, and their future career plans.

The programme has been designed by and for Guidance Counsellors. Its development is supported by a REACH+ Advisory Group which is made up of Guidance Counsellors working in different school settings and delivering career guidance through both English and Irish, in private schools, community and voluntary schools and in socially disadvantaged schools. This ensures that each development and enhancement to the programme meets the current needs of guidance practice on the ground.

Challenges or potential barriers to use

REACH+ is not a free programme and there is a small cost associated with it. This can be a barrier for some schools or students. Computer time and internet access in some schools may be a problem to accessing the programme in a blended way.

REACH+ is funded on a licence per student basis. This is typically paid for by the students or by schools internal funding or through access to available grants. This is a low-cost programme priced between €18 - €24 per student and covers 3 years from TY (Transition Year, age 15) through to 6th year (age 18). Both the Department of Education and the EU have provided grants which schools can apply for, and this can be used to support the digital package.

Guidance Counsellor/Teachers level of ICT digital literacy competency and confidence can be a barrier to utilising the programme to its full potential. Some Guidance Counsellors report a lack of time in delivering the programme due to other teaching and counselling commitments.

Support for users

Extensive training for guidance professionals is provided both online, in person and through phone and WhatsApp support lines. Many tutorial videos and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are also available to support the programme which are all accessible when the Guidance Counsellor or student logs in to REACH+. General information on the programme and examples of tutorial videos include:

About the REACH+ Programme

Using the CourseFinder in Reach

How to use the Accessibility Tools in REACH+

Setting up REACH+ Career Guidance Website

As an established programme, well known by the guidance counselling community, it is recommended that Guidance Counsellors discuss effective use of the programme with their peers and attend one of the many training sessions available throughout the year. REACH+ works best when introduced as early as possible, is embedded in the whole school guidance plan, and is customised for students.

Additional details

 

Has the resource been…	Yes or No?	Description	Link
…informed by research?	Yes	REACH+ receives ongoing public funding from government departments and agencies. It also receives funding from private organisations.
…funded by government?	No	Cedefop: Public Service Excellence in Business Award.	http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/toolkits/resources-guidance/handbook-transferability/case-studies/careersportalie/
…recognised by peers?	No
…evaluated?	No

This resource is government supported.

Disclaimer: This content is provided by the submitting organisation.