One Class, Many Directions: Exploration in the Classroom

1. One Class, Many Directions: Exploration in the Classroom Tiffany Fritz Academic Advisor and ALS 114 Coordinator Oregon State University

2. A little bit of context… • Academic Learning Services (ALS) 114: Career Decision Making is a 2-credit, graded elective class that provides structure to students’ academic and career exploration to help them make well-informed decisions regarding their futures. • Restricted to students with less than 90 quarter credits (first and second year students) • ALS 114 meets twice a week – one hour is lecture based and a second hour is small group discussion with activities to help students explore individual career paths.

3. A little bit of context • The class has been housed in University Exploratory Studies Program (UESP) since 1995 • Coordinated and taught by an advisor within UESP with the help of campus professionals, graduate teaching assistants, and interns • I took over the class fall of 2008 – shift in perspective/philosophy

4. Why restrict enrollment? • To get first and second year students thinking about academic options and career development early in their academic careers • Heavily geared towards self-assessment and exploration • Exposes them to resources early in their academic careers

5. Who enrolls in the course? • University Exploratory Studies Program students and students in declared majors • Students who have identified a major, but are unsure what they would like to do with it • Students that have identified a career field, but are unsure how to get there • Students that are unsure about both their academic and career options • Students that have been advised to take the class by their advisors, but aren’t quite sure why they are in the class… 

6. ALS 114 Learning Outcomes • At the conclusion of the course students will: • Know how the career/life decision-making model can be used to make exciting career choices. • Have identified career-related values, interests and personality and use this information to consider college majors and careers. • Know how and where to gather information in the present and future, about college majors, careers, and the job market.

7. ALS 114 Learning Outcomes • At the conclusion of the course students will: • Know how to effectively explore occupational possibilities and obtain the information for informed decision-making. • Have developed effective written and oral communication skills for the world of work.

8. ALS 114 Enrollment Data 2011-2012 • Fall 2011 • Total enrollment: 85 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 74% • Winter 2012 • Total enrollment: 85 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 69% • Spring 2012 • Total enrollment: 87 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 61%

9. ALS 114 Enrollment Data 2012-2013 • Fall 2012 • Total enrollment: 75 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 72% • Winter 2013 • Total enrollment: 87 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 71% • Spring 2013 • Total enrollment: 74 students • Percentage of the class coded as UESP: 62%

10. Philosophy: Career Decision making Model Assess yourself Explore academic & career options Decide and act

11. Career Decision Making Continuum

12. Self Assessment – Career Components

13. Self Assessment • Skills Inventory • Hard skills versus soft skills • Transferable skills • Values Identification and Ranking • Strong Interest Inventory • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

14. Exploring Academic and Career Options • Online Resources • Oregon State University website • Sigi³ • Occupational Outlook Handbook • Career Services website • College Presentations • Informational Interviews • Roadtrip Nation • Career Services/Career Fair • Experiential and Service Learning

15. Decide and Act • Goal Setting (SMART Goals) • Specific • Measurable • Attainable/Action-Oriented • Realistic/Relevant • Time-Oriented • Money Matters • Active Reflection • Identification of transferable skills • Engaging in the decision making process

16. ALS 114 Assignments Overview

17. Feedback and Evaluations • "This course has taught me a good number of things about myself. A lot of the activities helped me learn more about myself and I think that is great. My interests have become a lot clearer to me now so I can move forward with the process of making a career decision." (winter 2012)

18. Feedback and Evaluations • “I really liked taking the MBTI and SII, to see which jobs fit my type of values and characteristics. I also like learning more about my values. Beaver job net was also a handy tool available for us to use. I had no idea about it before and now I will look into careers using this.” (winter 2013)

19. Feedback and Evaluations • "Thank you so much for helping me through my decision making. I feel confident that I have the correct tools if I ever change my mind again. I'm so grateful to have had the experiences I had in your class. Thank you so much!" (fall 2012)

20. ALS 114 Instruction • Professional Advisors • Career Services Counselors • Graduate Teaching Assistants • Graduate Interns • Counseling and Psychological Services Interns • Teaching Faculty

21. ALS 114 Instruction…is it sustainable? • Things to consider: • How often is it offered? • What is the structure of the class? Discussion? Lecture? • Who do you have teaching the class? • What office/department/college is supporting the course?

22. Questions? What are you doing on your campus?