This is a self-paced, asynchronous course. Assessment is defined broadly as the use of any formal or informal technique or instrument to collect information about a student. Assessments are valuable tools used by Career Navigators in the career exploration process to facilitate students’ reflection and self-discovery. It is important that Career Navigators have a strong understanding of available assessments, the limitations and benefits of each, and know how to accurately interpret results. Assessments incorporated into career navigation should produce valid and reliable results. These assessment results help students identify their interests, skills and work values and gain new information about themselves. Results can be used to guide discussions, ask questions, explore priorities, and discuss life circumstances with students. Synthesized assessment results provide clarity and direction that can guide goal setting and educational or vocational choices.

This course will provide an overview of how Career Navigators can use assessments to provide important self-exploration opportunities for students. We will explore various assessments including:

• Educational/academic assessments
• Skills assessments
• Occupational-specific skills assessments
• Interest inventories
• Work values assessments

Trainees will have an opportunity to personally take various assessments, reflect on their own results and relate those results to their chosen career pathway. The course focuses on how to incorporate comprehensive and synthesized assessment results into career navigation to boost student career satisfaction and success. This course is aligned with the Assessment Competency in the Career Navigator Core Competency framework.

Target Audience:

Adult Education Career Navigators and professionals who will be providing career and academic coaching services to adult education students.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this professional development offering, trainees should be able to: Describe purpose of assessments including:

o   Educational assessments

o   Skills assessments

o   Occupational-specific skills assessments

o   Interest inventories

o   Work values assessments

·       Analyze the benefits and challenges of using assessments in career coaching.

·       Identify potential assessment resources to use with students.

·       Take career assessments.

·       Discuss personal assessment results.

·       Synthesize personal assessment results to reflect on your career pathway.

·       Interpret assessment results.

·       Synthesize assessment results to guide questions and career coaching.

·       Discuss benefits and limitations of career assessments.

·       Demonstrate interpreting and synthesizing assessment results.

·       Describe appropriate strategies to share assessment results with students. 

Duration:

3 hours (asynchronous instruction)

After meeting the requirements of this course, participants may be eligible to receive 3 hours of Continuing Education (SCECH) Credits that will fulfill the state licensure requirement for either teachers or counselors.

NOTE: After enrolling in this course, click here for easy access to the Keywe login screen, where you can login and access this course.