By Pat Adams

Electronic Tools and Techniques: A New Course

The Electronics Tools and Techniques course is a partnership between Conestoga College and Contact Point. Pat Adams, a recent graduate, has contributed a summary.

This course is on the cutting edge and a must for anyone looking for professional development in the field of career counselling/development. Using all of today’s technology to its fullest extent and being able to find information quickly is a must in providing high quality cost efficient service. After taking this intensive interactive course practitioners will know about all about cybercounselling, and standards and ethics of online counselling. Topics covered include: online résumé posting, e-networking, researching occupational and industry information as well as ethical and marketing strategies for e-career counselling. Students are asked to complete weekly assignments which include: a combination of reading assignments, exploring and reviewing Internet sites and then replying on the bulletin board where we are encouraged to engage in an interactive discussion about our findings.

I no longer rely on an extensive library or resource centre to give me the resources I need. Everything is in my virtual library from business directories to lists of associations’ magazine articles, the latest in academia etc. I can easily customize my search to more readily meet my clients’ needs. I am also able to suggest new ways of e-networking by having clients try listservs and chat lines to establish contacts. I use the Internet to find relevant and well researched articles quickly and easily enabling me to have access to teaching tools that previously were not at my disposal. For anyone who has clients who are unable to have face-to-face counselling because of mobility or transportation problems they now have the opportunity to have quality career counselling services via the Internet.

This was the first online course I have ever taken and I must say I found the self–discipline to be a challenge. I did however; find the freedom and the convenience of online instruction to be exhilarating and powerful. Picture this; I worked all day and came home to take my final exam. I got comfortable and closed the door. I had complete privacy. While I was taking my exam my daughter brought in pizza and I had dinner while I was taking the test. I enjoyed every delicious minute of it. Where else can you relax and eat pizza while you are taking your finals?

Pat Adams works for the Multicultural Interagency Group of Peel as clerical support for JSW (Job Search Workshop) facilitators whose clientele are new immigrants. She uses the Internet everyday to provide facilitators with outreach and promotion. She is also an Honours Graduate of the Career and Work Counselling program at George Brown College.