Vocational Assessment Centre
QCF Workbook
Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development
Unit 3
Career Guidance Theory
Laerner name: signature: date:
Assessor name: signature: date:
Introduction
Unit 3 – Career Guidance Theory
The purpose of this work book is to enable develop your critical understanding of career guidance theories, models for supporting clients and the role of research in informing and developing career guidance practice.
To complete the exercises, you will need to familiarise yourself with the following terminology
· Evaluate
· Critically Evaluate
· Analyse
· Critically Analyse
· Critique
The explanations of the above terminology can be found in the learner guide issued during your induction.
As a minimum you also need to have a good understanding and knowledge of the following theories/models to enable you to evaluate, analyze and critically evaluate and analyze the various theories and models.
Career Guidance Theories (traditional)
· Differential
· Developmental
· Structuralism
More Recent Theories
· Planned happenstance
· Community Interaction Theory
· Narrative Theory
Theories of Motivation
· Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) along with
· Frederick Herzberg (1923-) introduced the Neo-Human Relations School
Theories of how people learn
· The Behaviourist approach
· Cognitive approach
· Humanist approach
· Social Learning Theory
· Kolb’s Learning cycle
Learning Styles
· Honey & Mumford
· Visual, Auditory & Kinaesthetic
Transition Models
· Adam Hayes & Hopsons
· Nicholson & West
Models of Change management and Transition
· Kurt Lewin
· J Hyatt ADKAR
Read the handouts on career guidance theories and
further reading on the subject matter as indicated in the handout before attempting this assignment.
Section 1
Understand Career Guidance Theories:
1) Outline your understanding of the 3 main traditional theories of occupational choice and authors behind the research:
2) Differential
3) Developmental
4) Structuralism
5) What are the key features of the above approaches?
6) Which theory/theories do you think is/are the most relevant in the current climate? (give your reasons supported with examples of working with your clients).
7) Which theory/theories do you support the least and why?
8) Identify interviewing model(s) you feel work the best for you and your clients. Give reasons for your answer.
9) How do the above model(s) relate to theories of occupational choice?
SECTION 2
Career Choice and Decision making
1. What are the key features of different decision making styles.
2. From your experience of working with clients give at least 2 examples of how decisions are made?
3. What factors influence decisions that clients make? (Your response should include the way theories of occupational choice can be used to explain potential factors and or blocks to effective decision making.)
Section 3
Understand theories of motivation and, motivational interview techniques and their application in careers guidance.
1. Describe two theories of motivation
2. Identify the key features and the main points of each theory
3. What are the positives and the negatives of each theory?
4. Using motivational theories including intrinsic and extrinsic motivation) and from your own experience explain the different motivational techniques you use that are particularly relevant to your clients who are ambivalent about career planning?
5. From your experience which have been the most effective and why? Support you answer with at least two clients you have worked with.
Section 4(a)
Understanding the concepts and models to support clients in career learning, planning and development
Bill Law’s original ‘DOTS’ model (1977) suggests that to effectively career plan people need to move into the different stages of development in the order specified below.
· Self-awareness
· Opportunity awareness
· Decision-making
· Transition skills
The DOTS model has also been used for the development of career education programmes.
Discuss the usefulness of this model as a guidance tool. Support your answer with examples of specific clients you have worked with.
Bill Law later adapted his ‘DOTS’ model compare the two models and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two models.
http://www.hihohiho.com/memory/cafnewdots.pdf
Section 4(b)
Concepts and Models to Support Clients
What do you understand by the following terms?
· Supporting –
· Enabling –
· Empowerment –
1) Analyse the different ways you have used the above techniques with your clients?
2) Explain the transition model(s) you find best relate to your clients when they are making career changes. Support your answer with specific clients you have worked with.
3) Explain how Kurt Lewin’s Three Step change model is helpful or unhelpful in supporting clients at different stages of change?
4) Explain with examples how you have supported clients to take advantage of unplanned events? (your answer should make links to Krumboltz Chance Happenstance theory)
Section 5
How People Learn & Learning Experience
5) Outline two theories of how people learn?
6) Explain the different learning styles?
7) How have you used learning theories and learning styles to help your clients in career planning and developing your clients?
Section 6
Understand the Theories of Change Management in Career Guidance.
· Explain the theories of transition and change management you find most useful and least useful in the career guidance theories handbook.
· For each theory outline the Key features and the relationship between transition and change management.
· What are the positives and negatives of each theory? (your answer should relate to the clients you have worked with).
Section 7
Understand the role and purpose of research to inform career guidance theory and practice.
· To what extent has research benefit your practice and help you understand the theory behind what you do? (include examples of theories models and concepts as appropriate)
· How do you keep up to date with theories and practices? How has this enhanced or influenced your practice?
· Why is research an important part of your role?
· What difficulties do you experience in keeping up to date with new theories and feeding back examples of new or innovative ways of working with your clients? How are these overcome?
Section 8
References
· List the references you found most useful