New Courses for Professional Development

New Courses for Professional Development

Conestoga College and Contact Point are jointly launching in 2003 four New Advanced Online Courses for Career Development Practitioners. These courses will include online content, online individual and group exchange, plus a teleconferencing component.

Students working in the field of career development will be able take these courses through continuing education for credit or audit. One credit can be used in the Career Development Practitioner Program at Conestoga College if a student is accepted to the Program after completing a course.

• Students who are enrolled in the Career Development Practitioner Program at Conestoga College will select one of the courses as an elective.

These course have been developed with funding from The Counselling Foundation of Canada

For Further information contact: tschmidt@conestogac.on.ca Tel: (519) 748-5220 x 3635

Women and Career Building

This course provides students with an overview of the history of women and work. How both societal influences and individual choice impact the world of work for women are explored. The emphasis is on intervention at both macro and micro levels. The influence of life-span development and career salience influence on career planning will be reviewed. Topics covered are: women and non-traditional employment, women and technology, women in transition, women in dual career families, women and self-employment, women and spirituality, work-life balance, and women as mentors and coaches. Models of practice are presented and critiqued. e.g. Job Finding Clubs, pre-employment programs, transition programs like Women into Trades and Technology (WITT) and youth focused programs. The course outlines a model using the concepts of career planning, career intelligence and career building.

This course begins March 3, 2003

Electronic Tools and Techniques in the Field of Career Development

With the rapid proliferation of computer-based, and in particular internet-based, career development resources over the past several years, it has been difficult for practitioners to stay current on the spectrum of what is available to them. This course will take students through every stage of the career development process – including self-assessment, occupational research, résumé development, job search strategies, and interview skills – and will outline the wealth of internet and computer-based resources that are now readily available to the practitioner. The course will also include special sections on cybercounselling, advanced internet search strategies, and techniques on how to use information-rich but difficult-to-navigate sites such as Strategis. The focus of the course will be on Canadian resources, but will include international sites and software where appropriate. Career development practitioners in all sectors of the field who want to gain a better understanding of the availability and applicability of electronic resources, and/or who want to teach their clients how to access and use these resources, will find this course to be particularly beneficial

This course begins March 3, 2003

New Canadians and the World of Work

To provide context, this course begins with a brief history of refugee and immigrant-serving organizations and practices. Immigration policy and its tie to Canadian economic policy and the need for human resources are explored. The three streams of new Canadians, refugees, economic immigrants and family are introduced and how each group integrates into the world of work is outlined. Students will be introduced to how work/employment fits into the settlement/integration continuum and to the general characteristics of the process that in the long term allow newcomers to be full participants in all dimensions of society. A community development approach to providing services is explored involving initial settlement concerns, language instruction, specific employment services and long-term integration issues. The role of career counselling services and best practices are outlined. These best practices include advocacy, networking, coaching, cultural orientation, community building, consciousness raising strategies, and language referral training. Students will also be introduced to practical applications that take into account the complex, multifaceted and the interrelated nature of employment and integration into a new culture. Through real-play or role-play students will have an opportunity to practice some of the techniques.

This course begins September 2003

Youth and Career Awareness

Between the ages of 15 and 25 youth experience numerous physical, emotional, and social developments, while also entering the work world for the first time. Youth may enter the career development process for assistance with short term issues such as finding a part-time job or deciding on a suitable post secondary program; however, career development practitioners also have the opportunity to engage youth in long-term career planning that will provide a solid foundation for their entire work-life.

This course will investigate the following issues facing youth: basic developmental changes; career exploration and decision making; educational planning; apprenticeship programs; challenges facing those without high school diplomas; and school to work adjustment. By looking at successful approaches, programs and models, students in this course will acquire skills and knowledge on how to engage youth in effective short and long term career development. Models that incorporate the concepts of career resiliency, emotional intelligence, educational planning, and mentoring and coaching will be highlighted.

This course will begin September 2003

More Programs…

E-Career Coach Certificate Program

Online e-career coaching is a new and emerging technique to use to empower your self-directed clients. Para-professionals and professionals will learn to use new tools and strategies, to work with virtual clients you may never meet face-to-face. In particular, the range of synchronous (real time) and asynchronous (delayed) communication techniques used for one-to-one coaching and small group interaction. Learn successful strategies to build an online community of clients to help each other find and retain work.

You can attend your online classes at any time of the day or night from the comfort of your home, office, or public library. Take one course for general interest or string several together to satisfy the requirements for the E-career Coach Certificate Program.

There are six required courses, two optional courses and one applied project. You must start with the first required course: Explore Communication Tools. Courses are modularized and you can start on the first Monday of every month.

For registration contact: Barbara Ottley
bottley@capcollege.bc.ca
http://www.capcollege.bc.ca/continuinged/online

For more information contact: Frances Long
flong@knowplace.ca
http://knowplace.ca

E-Moderator Certificate Program

Whether you plan to teach an online course, host online business meetings, stimulate discussions on a community listserv, want to launch a scholarly, professional, or non-academic discussion, this online program provides the guidance and practical expertise you need to be successful.

Practical skill development based in theoretical context is emphasized as you learn to use different communication tools, communicate effectively online and properly start, build and conclude your learning community.

Courses are entirely online and is offered by Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC in partnership with knowplace.ca. You can take one course for general interest or string several together to meet the requirements for the Certificate Program. Courses are modularized, and you can start on the first Monday of every month.

For registration contact: Barbara Ottley
bottley@capcollege.bc.ca
http://www.capcollege.bc.ca/continuinged/online

For more information contact: Frances Long
flong@knowplace.ca
http://knowplace.ca