Education

This article is going to discuss the importance and benefits of educational app development.

Today, educational app development is more important than ever. The biggest percentage of the global population today (83.37%) uses tablets and smartphones to primarily access the internet. So, it’s vital that educational content is available in a format that can be easily accessed on these devices.

By developing educational apps, content creators can ensure that their materials are accessible to a wider audience and can be used in various settings. Also, apps can provide a more interactive and engaging learning experience than traditional methods, such as textbooks or lectures. In addition, apps can make connecting with services like an essay writing service UK easy for students who need guidance or help completing their essays.

Benefits of Educational Apps for Students, Teachers, and Parents

There are many benefits of educational apps for students, teachers, and parents. For students, apps can provide a more convenient and portable way to access learning materials. They can also be used to supplement traditional methods of instruction, such as textbooks or lectures.

For teachers, apps can be a valuable tool for delivering course content and assessments. They can also be used to track student progress and provide feedback. In addition, apps can help teachers save time by automating tasks such as grading and attendance tracking.

For parents, apps can be a useful way to monitor their child’s progress in school. They can also be used to find educational resources and information about their child’s school. In addition, apps can help parents stay connected with their child’s teacher and classmates, hence importance of educational app development.

Also read:8 Surprising Ways Using Software Changed Our Education

Popular Educational Apps that can Help

There are a number of popular educational apps that can help students, teachers, and parents. Some of these apps include:

• Khan Academy: This app offers a comprehensive library of educational videos and resources. It is designed for use by learners of all ages and levels.
• Duolingo: This app offers a fun and effective way to learn a new language. It is suitable for beginners and advanced learners alike.
• Quizlet: This app helps users learn and remember new information. It is also suitable for learners of all ages and levels.
• Photomath: Just as it sounds, this app uses the camera on your phone to solve math problems. It is also designed for use learners of all ages and levels.

How to Choose the Right Educational App

With so many different educational apps available on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your child or students. This is because, even though these apps are helpful, you do not want to choose an app that really won’t add any value to your child or students’ growth. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right educational app:

• Consider your child or student’s learning style

Some apps are better suited for visual learners, while others are better for auditory or kinesthetic learners. For example, a visual learner might benefit from an app that features colorful graphics and clear instructions.

An auditory learner might prefer an app that includes music or sound effects. And a kinesthetic learner might prefer an app that allows them to move around and interact with the material. By choosing an app that fits your child or student’s learning style, you can help them get the most out of their education.

• Consider your child or student’s age and level

When you open an Appstore to download an educational app for your child or student, it is important to consider not just their age but also their level. This is because some apps are better suited for younger learners, while others are more appropriate for older learners.

For example, an app designed for elementary school students might not be appropriate for high school students. Similarly, an app designed for advanced learners might be too difficult for beginners. So, be sure to choose an app that is appropriate for your child or student’s age and level.

• Read reviews

Before you purchase an educational app, be sure to read some reviews. The reviews can give you a good idea of what other parents and educators think about the app.

In addition, they can help you identify any potential concerns. For example, if an app is advertised as appropriate for children of all ages, but several reviewers say it is too difficult for younger children, you may want to look for a different option. Reading reviews can also help you get a sense of an app’s overall quality and whether it is likely to provide your child with a positive learning experience.

Also read: E-Learning: 5 Benefits of online learning

Final Thoughts

Educational apps can be a great way to help students, teachers, and parents. These apps offer several benefits, including the ability to customize the learning experience, automate tasks, and stay connected with classmates and teachers.

When choosing an educational app, it is important to consider your child or student’s age, level, and learning style. This way, you can select an app that is appropriate for their needs and likely to provide a positive learning experience.

This article will discuss how to effectively use subtitles in employee training online courses. 

Back in 2014, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued FedEx Ground for discrimination against disability. The lawsuit said FedEx could not accommodate ASL interpretation and closed captioned training videos during orientation of their new hires. What does that tell you?

Subtitling and captioning training course videos is not only a good practice but is mandated by law in the US to facilitate eLearning for all. The better the quality of your subtitles is, the more accessible your content would be to your employees.

Benefits of subtitling

Training and development are essential to an organization’s process to help their employees upskill and be ‘job trained.’ In fact, 94% of the global workforce admitted they’d stay longer if their company invested in their career.

However, training has now become much more accessible, thanks to the hybrid or remote work culture. Online training courses have been the holy grail for remote teams to learn and upskill despite being located miles apart from their teams. Naturally, the employer must ensure that these courses are of top quality and help their employees advance on their career ladder. Subtitling or captioning is a good way to ensure that.

Subtitling doesn’t only help people with hearing disabilities but also everyone in your company. Here are some benefits of using subtitles  in Employee Training Online Courses.

Helps you deliver content effectively

Often, despite putting in your best efforts, the final video you produce may lack the audio quality you intended. There might also be times when everyone doesn’t clearly understand the trainer’s strong accent. These factors could hamper your employees’ learning process, which can, in turn, hamper their productivity. Subtitling ensures that the content isn’t lost between the transition and that your employees get the desired result out of the training material. 

Helps your employees accelerate learning

With online learning, your employees are likely to learn five times more material than traditional classroom learning. How? The best thing about online learning is that users can access course content anywhere, anytime—in a coffee shop or a crowded bus station. 

Subtitling can be a time saver in such cases. It helps learners to quickly grasp a concept without needing to listen intently to the trainer and still get 100% out of a course. With subtitles, learning never pauses and frees up more time to invest in upskilling, thereby increasing module viewership and ROI.

Helps a diverse set of learners

Subtitling lets you help audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing, non native English speakers, and students with special needs. As you can provide subtitles in multiple languages, it becomes easier for anyone to access your training videos without anything hampering their progress.  

Helps retain learners’ attention

While online learning allows one to access multiple courses and quickly upskill oneself, it can be very distracting to learn in a non professional setup. Especially when your employees are working from home, they find it even more challenging to concentrate. 

Subtitling helps retain their attention for a longer period. Let’s say they’re watching a tutorial and hear a difficult word they didn’t understand. They might go backward and listen to that part again. Perhaps they exit the video or try to look up that word and see if the pronunciation makes sense. Somewhere in between, they decide to scroll on social media for five minutes. But when they have subtitles to their rescue, they will know the word, and it’ll be easier for them to continue learning without any distractions. Moreover, it helps them retain the information better when they read words while consuming the information. 

Also read: Training and development | How to set up an efficient employee training program?

How to use subtitles in employee training courses

There are two ways to add subtitles to your employee training videos. You can either manually type in the transcription of the video or get the transcription automatically generated with the help of a tool. 

The first process can be too time consuming and will only increase your production time. However, the second approach will fast track your production process and make your learning and development initiative a great success! Here are some steps you can follow to produce high quality subtitle enabled course videos for your employees. 

Use caption and subtitle services

Investing in a caption and subtitle service would be your best decision—in terms of productivity and ROI— if you’ve multiple employee training programs or courses in the pipeline. Because it’ll help you save time and workload on handling hours of video content and manually transcribing word to word.

Think about the amount of content you can produce in less time! Use an automatic service provider that allows you to directly import videos from Zoom or Vimeo and transcribe and subtitle on the go! Additionally, you should be able to edit your subtitles as and when necessary and translate the text into multiple languages. Choose a vendor that can simplify your workflow and help you create subtitles regardless of the difficulty of your content.

Let the presenter know in advance

We often see a video running ahead of the words, and even if the two manage to catch up, the speed of the trainer disrupts the alignment. As a result, it hampers the learning experience of your employees. 

You must remember that subtitling is not only a post production process but it should be taken into account from the beginning itself. You must ensure that the presenter is well versed with your company’s subtitling process and the speed at which you like them to appear on the screen. The presenter must take ample pauses between the video and ties to dial down their accent. 

Proofread the subtitles 

A video course filled with too many subtitle errors can be off putting for employees and, as a result, pulls them out of the learning experience. Often, a misspelled or wrongly positioned word may completely change the meaning of a sentence, leaving the learner confused. 

• Look for grammatical errors
• Make sure you’re not using two similar sounding words
• Make sure there’s a proper pause between sentences and commas and full stops are used correctly

Most importantly, remember that no subtitling service can be 100% accurate. So, be ready to put in a minimal (yet crucial) human effort to ensure that your subtitles are error free and ready to go!

Format the subtitles to enhance readability

It is crucial to adjust the text to ensure that viewers can read everything in time. If it improves the quality of the subtitle and video altogether, modify the wording as much as possible to maintain clarity and the intended meaning. The idea is to make the subtitles less overwhelming for readers so they grasp everything the video explains.

• Edit redundant, superfluous, or filler words
• Change sentence structure to give it more clarity
• Merge sentences if needed
• Shorten sentences by replacing them with alternatives
• Stick to a maximum of 2 lines at a time on screen
• Ensure time sync between audio and subtitle
• Leave a gap between when the presenter is speaking and not speaking
• Give at least 2 seconds for learners to read one line of text (you can reduce or increase this later upon testing)

Transcribe the raw videos as well

Wait, how does that help? Won’t it delay the production process?

Well, you have a good reason to do that. It often helps if your editors know which video sections cover what topic—manually watching the entire course video might take hours for them to find out that section and edit or extract it. However, when you transcribe the entire raw footage and create subtitles for it, you can easily look up the keyword in the subtitles. This way, the editing team will get familiar with the course content and extract the best parts of the footage to maximize the learning experience.

Use timestamps in the transcripts

Choose a subtitling service that also provides timestamps from your raw footage. These timestamps help editors pick up a section from a video and quickly cut and edit it, streamlining the video production process. This means editors won’t have to consistently switch between viewing and editing modes and work more productively. 

In a nutshell

Creating quality course videos takes much more than just the content and filming; subtitling and captioning are often overlooked! 

Luckily, many tools available today can help you create top quality video courses for your employees and provide them with the best learning experience. Make sure you follow everything you learned here and choose the right tools to produce the best videos for your employees. 

Teaching online can be a stepping stone to a successful career. This article walks through the reasons why online teaching sets you up for a successful career.

Technology has changed how many industries work – teaching being one of them. There is less use of paperwork. The teacher does not have to worry about extra costs like travelling, location and therefore sets you up for a successful online career. Not only that, online teaching makes both teachers and students independent.

Students opt for e-learning because it promotes flexibility and comfort. If there are pre-recorded lectures, the student can watch these videos even in the middle of the night. More schools, colleges, and organizations are shifting to the internet. That said, the demand for online teachers continues to rise.

How can a teacher be eligible for online teaching?

If the teacher has the experience and knows technology, she can start right away which sets up the right path for success. But, for those who are just beginning, there are many top-rated online teaching certification courses. These are helpful to educate the teacher on the A to Z of conducting a successful session online.

Also, the online teaching certification programs are conducted by experts in the field. Learning from them instils confidence in the teacher. It also adds up to her credibility and hence would give a fresh start for an online teaching career.

How does online teaching benefit the teacher’s career?

Building connection helps you build a successful online teaching career. The typical classrooms still exist, but nowadays, education is accessible over the internet. It can be in the form of YouTube tutorials, webinars and websites, and even zoom calls.

Through e-learning, the teacher can connect to the student beyond the classroom. Say, if the student comes up with doubt or feedback, he can communicate it over the chat. The teacher can also send important notes, videos, ideas, and links to the students to access at any hour. If the teacher needs to give an important reminder to her students at the last moment, that’s possible too.

Thus, online teaching improves the connection between the teacher and the student.

Like students, online teaching enables connection between the parents too. The parents gain transparency over the teaching process. If the teacher’s working method satisfies them, it creates trust and reliability. They will be more likely to recommend and invest in that specific teacher which would enhance the success of teachers in their online careers.

Also read: Teaching Philosophy | Complete guide to teaching philosophies

1. Increases awareness of the student’s needs

Understanding the needs of her students better, the teacher can list down areas she needs to skill up. Then, she can work on those areas. This improves her teaching quality. In the long run, this influences her demand in the industry and can take her career to heights for online platforms hence setting up her successful career.  

The teacher can conduct online tests and quizzes to examine her students. She can also adjust to her student’s pace of learning and can guide the student beyond lecture hours.

The teacher can adapt to a specific student’s learning pace. For example, creating customized schedules, lesson plans, and more.

2. Incorporate Technology for growth

The teacher becomes used to different teaching platforms. This increases her knowledge base and can make a valuable point in her resume and can become a good reason to have a successful online career.

3.  Increases skill set

As goes unsaid, online teaching saves time for the teacher. For example, the commute time between the school and her home. The teacher can use this time to upgrade her skills, create worksheets, learn new concepts, etc.

The more skills the teacher learns, the better opportunities she can avail herself of.

4.  Increases global reach

Teaching on online platforms helps develop a dedicated community for the teachers. The main advantage here is that the community members can be anyone around the world.

There are also platforms that connect different teachers globally on a single platform. Teachers can communicate with each other, and discuss ideas, teaching methods, experiences, etc.

Having such global connectivity can open gateways to new career opportunities. For example, teachers can refer to each other if the need arises.

5. Helps to stay in demand

As per the reports in 2019, 52% of USA graduates found online teaching better than the classroom. Further 99% of students from the USA enrolled in online courses. The numbers say it all – Online teaching is a gateway to future growth.

Online teaching uses the modern approach. The teachers have access to tools and technologies to deliver their lessons. So, if the teacher wants to switch to another platform, she can use her technological skills and get through it.

Many online platforms enable regular training sessions for their teachers. This is a must-have if the teacher wants to stay updated and make progress in her career.

Also read: 21 Best Online Teaching Tools | For Better Virtual Teaching

6. Track progress online

Using online platforms, teachers can maintain the students’ database which is one of the reasons for choosing an online platform so that they can also access it at any point. This will help her reflect and analyze her journey so far, and make changes if necessary.

7.  Build a career upon a specific niche

Through online teaching, teachers can target specific subjects. These would be the ones that are in demand but not covered in the syllabus. For example, students might keep an interest in learning to draw in detail. But their school syllabus covers only the basics. If possessed with that specific skill, the teacher can make use of this opportunity. She can launch her setup online and target such students in need.

8.  Builds credibility

Online teaching helps in building credibility and visibility among parents and kids alike. This proves to make an impact on her career.

While teaching online, the teacher doesn’t have to bother about the classroom capacity. She can teach one to thousands to millions of students at a time, depending on the platform she chooses.

Consider someone using pre-recorded lectures as a mode of teaching. As many students can access her content at the same time, without putting any pressure on the teacher.

9.  Promotes Independence

Another advantage is the teacher is not confined to a single subject. If the teacher has expertise in many subjects, she might as well take many classes. It won’t affect her status or create any ambiguity or limitations. Rather, such a teacher will be versatile and can apply to different opportunities at once. This will keep her passion alive, while she continues doing her job – teaching.

Online teaching helps establish the work-life balance too. Also, for those who are looking for part-time opportunities, online teaching is a good idea. Teachers can pursue many courses, online teaching certifications, and career options along with online teaching.

Online teaching remains the best choice for work-from-home opportunities. Through online teaching, teachers can either conduct one-to-one sessions or group sessions. Online teaching allows skilled individuals to earn some extra income.

Also read: Teaching strategies | Best strategies for regular & virtual classrooms

Conclusion

Online teaching is an advantage for all tutors and educators who wish to go with the trend. Their demand in the teaching industry will never stop, come what may. It’s a gateway towards freedom and career growth for those who are invested in this noble profession.

We all know that revision is vital to success in exams. But it does not have to be a gruelling process. Here are five studying tips for GCSE science that can help you get a good grade.

There is no doubt that GCSE exams are more difficult now than they were years ago. This means that a lot of students struggle when it comes to getting good grades. In particular, science proves to be a subject that is tricky and there is so much to learn. Do you feel that you need to do a lot of studying for your GCSE science exam?

1. Consider a Tutor

Often, revision is more difficult if you do not understand the topics in the first place. Perhaps you did not find your teacher easy to understand in class and this means that certain subjects are confusing. Maybe you have tried to read about elements of science and you just cannot remember the answers. Either way, know that there is a way to change this.

In particular, a lot of students benefit from hiring a GCSE science tutor. You can enjoy a one-to-one teaching lesson and concentrate on the elements that you find most difficult. A personalised learning schedule can be created that makes sure you are ready for the big exam. You can visit Teachtutti and take a look at the experienced tutors in your area. Alternatively, you can choose to learn online and this can save time when it comes to studying.

Also read: Microlearning 101: What is it and how to use it?

2. Know Your Weaknesses

Perhaps you perform well at biology, but chemistry is your weak spot. Maybe certain topics you find difficult to understand and this lets your grades down in the end. Either way, the most important thing is that you know what your weaknesses are. Everyone has them since GCSEs can be difficult. This is not something that you should feel down about.

Then, you can work towards getting better at these topics and this is going to allow you to achieve the best grades possible in your exams. Thus, take the time to understand what your weaknesses are. This is going to be your starting point when it comes to revision.

3. Study With a Friend

We’ve all experienced getting easily distracted while studying. But, something that can help is revising with a friend. You can both spend a few hours studying the areas of science that are difficult and talk through the topics. Simply speaking about a topic out loud can help gain a better understanding of what it is about. Your friend may also be able to word it in a way that helps you too.

Therefore, grab a friend and revise together. Not only can a friend make you study and help you get into the zone, but you can also use this as a teaching moment. Set up a regular study schedule for before exams.

Also read: Best Pomodoro App | All About Pomodoro technique & how to use it

4. Use Practice Papers

Of course, you want to spend a lot of time reading and revising your science subjects. This is going to help you understand important concepts and wrap your head around everything. But, you also have to practice for the exams. GCSEs are when things start to get serious for students. So, you want to make sure that you are confident with the exam format and applying your knowledge to relevant questions. The best way to do this is through papers.

Our next studying tip for GCSE Science exam is to practice papers online. This allows you to see the questions that have been popular over the years and identify certain topics that come up a lot. While there is no guarantee they will be in your exam, you can understand what to expect on the day in terms of format and possible topics.

5. Create Flashcards

Flashcards can be a great way to learn and test yourself ahead of an exam. You can revise different topics and make sure that you find out the correct answer. But, you can also learn a lot from creating your own flashcards. You can revise all of the science tops and make your own questions. Then, you can test yourself later on. The whole process is going to be beneficial for your learning.

Also read: Educational goals | How to set your academic goals?

When you are creating flashcards, make sure that you take the key points from what you are studying. In particular, you should make sure that you also cover topics that you find difficult so that you can keep going over the questions later.

Every college today has created an online learning department. They serve students who want to enroll in programs without the need to be in a physical classroom. In the last two years, the number of students enrolled in e-learning has nearly doubled.

Experts in the education field suggest e-learning will overtake face-face learning in the future. Although there are a few disadvantages the experts point out, the benefits of e-learning experiences outweigh the disadvantages. Here are the benefits of online learning. 

1. Online learning allows enhanced flexibility

Flexibility is a major factor contributing to the increased popularity of e-learning. In the traditional learning environment, students have no choice but to be in the classroom when they are needed. In an e-learning environment, students decide the time for their lessons. They use essay writing services if they have an assignment they need to complete in time.

E-learning has helped students engage in other commitments like a career and still earn a degree. They choose their learning time depending on their schedules or the time they feel they learn best. They don’t get pressured to complete a lesson within a certain time. They learn at their pace, which helps them perform better. 

In a traditional classroom, teachers handle a large number of students at any given time. Due to this, they rush through the lesson and give assignments. If a student fails to understand the concept, they cannot do the assignment well.

Also read: Introduction to the world of e-learning and e-learning methods

2. Ability to enroll in any course

Traditional learning has many limitations. For example, if only one student registers for a specific course, the college can discontinue offering the course. They cannot agree to pay for a facility and lecturer to teach only one student. 

E-learning eliminates this challenge. The school doesn’t need to build facilities or rent. The student uses their home as a place for learning. E-learning does not limit enrolment in any course. Even when only one student enrolls in a course, they will still be able to complete it and get their degree. 

The student doesn’t get limitations on how deep or wide they can research on their course. They can use the information available online to get all the information they need about the course. If they have an assignment they need to complete, they can explore deeper or seek assignment help to let an expert writer complete it on their behalf. 

3. Learn from anywhere, any time

The traditional classroom has many disadvantages because they are geographically fixed in one place. Whenever a student wants to learn, they have to commute to that place and be in a classroom. They cannot attend the classroom at the time they want. Students follow the school timetable in the learning process.

E-learning eliminates this limitation and provides students with the advantage to learn from anywhere. They not only learn from anywhere but also anytime they wish. A student in a remote classroom can start their lessons at midnight, midday, or in the evening. The next day, they may decide to take their lessons at 7 am, 11 am, or 5 pm. 

Students who love to travel a lot prefer remote courses. They cannot be limited by boundaries whenever they want to learn. If they travel 1000 miles away from the university, they can still sit under a shade and take their lessons.

Also read: How to set your academic goals? | Education goals examples

4. You get a better choice of programs

Different universities offer different types of programs. A student has to choose a program from the list of various courses offered by the university. If the list does not offer your choice of course, your only option is to choose a different university. Sometimes a student might be required to travel abroad to enroll in the program if it is not offered locally. 

Remote learning offers students a better choice of programs. They can access the websites of universities around the world and compare their programs. One university could be offering a better-quality course compared to another. There might not be any difference in terms of quality, but prices may differ significantly. 

It doesn’t matter where the university is located in the world. As long as they offer the program, the student can choose and begin their lessons. They have the advantage of choosing the best course at the best price. 

5. e-learning is affordable and efficient

e-learning is offered at significantly reduced costs. In a traditional learning style, there are a lot of extra costs a student incurs. Daily, they have to commute to college and back home. They require meals while in college and a place to live. The college must provide classrooms for students, laboratories, a playing field, an administration block, and learning materials. These are some of the elements that add cost to traditional learning. 

E-learning doesn’t require all these costs. Teachers prepare the courses and send them to students. E-learning is more efficient compared to traditional learning. There are multiple ways of delivering courses for remote learning. They can be delivered as videos, PDFs, podcasts, etc. These are document formats that can be open on any type of device, which makes remote learning very efficient.

Also read: How to master self directed learning?

Conclusion

Remote learning is gaining popularity fast across the world. Experts say this approach to learning will be the norm in the future. It offers students multiple benefits. The cost of learning is significantly reduced in remote learning. Students can take their lessons at their pace anytime, anywhere. It is an efficient method that delivers learning content in multiple formats.

Want to understand what is career development theory? Let’s deep-dive into the 9 most popular career development theories, take a look at their classifications, and more.

Career development theory

Career development theory examines different methods for professional growth, improving career trajectory, and job satisfaction. Different theories will help you find your career values, strengths, weaknesses, and desired career paths. All career development theories stress the importance of having a positive emotional relationship with work and cultivating professional ambitions. 

What is career development?

Let us start with what is career development? Career development theory is the study of career paths, success, and behavior. The theories help to explain why an individual is suited for a particular career and advises on methods to advance their careers. Career counselors use a combination of different sociological theories of development to find a style and meet their client’s needs. Career development theory has four core areas of study –

• Differential psychology
• Personality
• sociology
• Developmental psychology.

Also read: Why career counseling is important & 15 types of career coaches

What are career developmental theories?

Career development theories emerged in the late 1890s. When placement first started operating, they tried to match their client’s skillset with job requirements. Career counseling techniques have since evolved to cover personality, learning, and development. These theories attempt to explain why people choose particular jobs. If counselors understand different social norms and environmental and cultural factors, they will be able to better career advice. 

Classification of career development theories

The following career development theories discussed in this section are considered the most influential theories for career choices and development. Psychologists used these theories to describe career education, career counseling techniques, and career counseling interventions.

1. Trait theories

Our aptitudes, interests, and personality influence career choice. Trait-based theories help match people to their work environment. To use this career development theory, you need to observe and participate in the operating environment to determine if it is the right fit for you. Most people prefer working with something concrete rather than abstract theories. 

2. Learning and Cognitive Theories

Learning and cognitive theories stress self-learning. When you have the right skills, knowledge, and self-belief, you tend to have a higher impact and greater success rate. The social learning theories seek to explain how academic and career interests develop, how people make educational and career choices, and how to attain career and educational success.

3. Developmental psychology theories

According to developmental psychological theories, people can adapt in stages to changing roles in their lives. Adult career counseling uses these theories to help clients self–analyze. Career development is not static and is continuously evolving. According to career theorist David Super’s career development theory, there are five stages in career development – growth, exploratory, establishment, maintenance, and decline. 

4. Situational theories of development

You can apply career development theories to identify your interests and aspirations. There are various self-guided assessment tools available online. Situational theories of development help you define an action plan for reaching your career goals. Career counselors help their clients with tips, tools, techniques, and resources to identify the best career. When you enjoy your work, job performance and satisfaction are higher.

Also read: Career affirmations | What are career affirmations and 25 famous examples!

9 Popular career counseling theories

There are several career counseling theories and models available. No single theory can describe the vast field of career development. In this section, we introduce you to different theories and their core ideas. 

Career development theories can be classified into three broad categories –

• Theory of process
• Theory of content
• Theory of content and process.

1. Donald Super’s Developmental Self-Concept Theory 

Donald Super’s Developmental Self-Concept Theory was built around the idea is that you change. The self-concept theory emphasized time and experiences shape the way a person perceives their career and goals. From the developmental perspective, there are different tasks in each stage. The career life cycle has five stages. 

• The growth stage is from birth and continues till 14. A person develops a sense of self and attitude towards work.
• The exploration stage is from age 15 to 24. The exploration stage is also called the trying-out stage in the career life cycle. A person tries out classes and hobbies. Tentative career choices and skill development take place in this stage.
• The establishment stage is from age 25 to 44. Super’s lifespan considers this entry-level stage. People build and stabilize skills through experience.
• The maintenance stage is from age 45 to 64. In this stage of the life-stage theory, people are continuously making adjustments to improve their position.
• The decline stage starts at 65. People start preparing for retirement and reduce the amount of work they do. 

2. Eli Ginzberg’s theory of career development 

Eli Ginzberg once said “Enlarge the opportunity and the person will expand to fill it.” Eli Ginzberg’s theory of career development vocational choices is based on the premise that occupational choice is a reversible process and compromise is an essential aspect of every choice. Ginzberg’s vocational choice theory describes the process of career development in choices in 3 stages –

• Fantasy age (0-10) – Children in this age bracket engage in play, stimulating different jobs and careers.
• Tentative age (11-17) – Children recognize the various intricacies in different job roles. Children in this stage have interest, capacity, values, and changeover.
• Realistic age (17-early20s)- the young person plans for and set up alternative career parts or backups. There are three sub-categories – exploration stage, crystallization, and specification.  

Ginzberg’s theory of choices concludes the process of career choice is limited to adolescence and adulthood stage. People can change their careers for multiple reasons. People change their profession after retirement.

Also read: Career change at 30 | Find how to switch a tiring career as you hit your 30s!

3. John Krumboltz theory of career development

John Krumboltz was a famous career theorist who formed the John Krumboltz theory of career development or Planned Happenstance Learning Theory. He famously said, “Learning occurs when people receive positive or negative reinforcement”. The theory recognized that career planning did not necessarily happen as a teenager or as a series of decisions at different stages of life, but was ongoing was influenced by unplanned or unpredictable events. He stated that indecision was both desirable and sensible because it allowed us to benefit from unplanned events. 

The theory addressed the need to people to adapt to rapidly changing labor markets. Managing life transitions is an essential career skill. It helps us understand how we can deal with the limited degree of control in our careers. Counselors can help the client approach changing conditions and events positively. They help clients by developing five skills for different vocational development stages –

• Curiosity 
• Persistence
• Flexibility
• Optimism
• Risk-Taking

4. John Holland Theory of Vocational Types

John Holland Theory of Vocational Types believes that personality types play a vital role in career development. John Holland famously said, “Career choice is an expression of personality”. According to Holland’s personality type theory, we can link work satisfaction to personality and job environment. RIASEC Test is an acronym for Holland personality types. The six personality types and work environments are-  

• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional.

John Holland created the Holland Hexagon model to show the relationship between personality types and environment. 

According to Holland’s model, we are more satisfied and successful when they choose environments similar to their personality type. Holland’s code takes problem-solving and a cognitive approach to career planning.

Also read: Career Gaps | 10 Best ways to explain gaps in your resume effectively!

5. Anne Roe’s career development theory

 “Nothing in science has any value if not communicated”. Anne Roe’s career development theory or Duty oriented theory states that a person chooses their career based on interactions with their parents. Their biology, sociology, and psychology are limiting factors in their career choices. As per Roe’s career theory, a child’s interactions with their parents will make them pursue person-oriented jobs or non-person-oriented jobs.

Person-oriented jobs have a high degree of people interaction, while non-person-oriented jobs are more independent. Roe created career maturity inventory by classifying careers that were non-person or person-oriented –

• Service
• Business Contact
• Organization 
• Technology
• Outdoor
• Science
• General Science
• Arts and entertainment

Each career category had six levels based on the skills required for the job-

• Independent responsibility
• Less independence
• Moderate responsibility
• Training required
• Special training
• Follow basic instructions

6. Frank Parson’s Theory of Vocational Development 

Frank Parson is called the father of vocational guidance counseling. He said, “In the wise choice of a vocation there are three broad factors:

1. a clear understanding of yourself, your aptitudes, abilities, interests, ambitions, resources, limitations, and knowledge of their causes;
2. a knowledge of the requirements, conditions of success, advantages and disadvantages, compensation, opportunities, and prospects in different lines of work;
3. true reasoning on the relations of these two groups of facts”.

Parson theory or Trait and factor theory career counseling try to match the ideal career with your skills, value, and personality. The Parson Employment model meant better career fit would lead to higher job satisfaction and success. Frank Parson’s theory of vocational development introduced a systematic approach to career matching. 

The use of psychometric tools and personality tests like the Interest-Kuder test, Aptitude-Differential Aptitude Tests, and General Aptitude Test Battery increased after the introduction of Frank Parson’s theory. Counselors still use the frank person theory career advising.

Also read: How to set your academic goals? | Education goals examples & types

7. Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory 

Albert Bandura developed Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory in the 1960s. He famously said, “People not only gain understanding through reflection, they evaluate and alter their thinking.” The central idea of Bandura’s theory is that our experiences affect our motives and behavior. Social cognitive theory categorized experience into –

• A person is influenced by self-efficacy.
• A person is influenced by seeing what others achieve and the action they take.
• A person is influenced by factors that they cannot control. 

Bandura’s social cognitive theory explains how an individual can frame their career development plan for success. If a person has a positive view of their abilities and has a positive network of mentors, they have a higher chance of success. Bandura model or Bandura’s Triadic Reciprocal Model of Casualty says your output is a mixture of –

• Personal characteristics
• Behavior and action they observe in others
• External factors.

8. Linda Gottfredson’s Theory of Circumscription and Compromise 

Gottfredson’s theory of circumscription and compromise tries to decode how career choices develop in the young. Gottfredson’s theory suggests children reject some careers because of the social messages they receive. Professional social counselors can guide elementary students to consider other choices by exposing kids to role models and minimizing the impact of societal pressures. 

The circumscription theory deals with the limitations that rule out unacceptable options based on perceived fit with developing self-concept. The proposed stages of circumscription are:-

• Orientation to size and power (age 3-5)
• Orientation to sex roles (age 6 -8)
• Orientation to social values (age 9 -13)
• Orientation to internal and unique self (age 14+)

After circumscription excluded options outside the perceived social and personal space, we need to move to compromise. People tend to sacrifice roles they see as more compatible and accessible with their perceived roles. They can be limited by knowledge, lack know-how, and required social connections.

Also read: How to improve student motivation? | Effective strategies

9. Mark Savickas career construction theory 

Mark Savicka’s said “I distinguish the career construction theory of vocational behavior in applied psychology from life designing as a discourse in the counseling profession. I use the term life design to denote the third major paradigm for career intervention, after vocational guidance and career education. Mark Savickas’s career construction theory explains how individuals choose their work.

The constructionist theory presents a model for understanding vocational behavior across the lifecycle and methods and materials that counselors can use to help clients make the right career choices. Savick’s career counseling theory emerged when people started looking for alternative forms of career guidance. 

Previously career counselors used tools like aptitude tests, statistical profiling, and other quantitative analysis, Savickas career counseling employed a more qualitative approach to counseling. By encouraging clients to see their careers as stories where the client is both the author and protagonist, the counselor encouraged their clients to see the next chapter in their stories. Career construction theory hopes to address the need of workers who may feel lost and confused as organizations are transformed. The theory emphasizes the interpretative and interpersonal processes.

Also read: How to set up an awe-inspiring educational consulting business in 5 steps?

Career counselling process

There are five distinct stages of counselling are as below.

• The first step in the career development process is the initiation stage. Both parties build a rapport with each other and are introduced to one another. The counselor gathers data at this stage. Typically the client fills questionnaires and forms in this stage. The initiation stage allows the counselor to understand the patient. 
• The awareness stage is one of the crucial steps of the counseling process. Both parties have established a connection and should be able to communicate comfortably. This stage can be called the analysis and awareness stage. Tests in this stage will assess social behavior, personality, and career interests. The counselor discusses the results of the tests with the job experience.
• Different career paths are explored. Critical career decisions are made at this stage. Careers unsuitable are ruled out. Counselling helps to determine the path which is right for you. 
• This stage prepares a plan of action. Phases of counselling lay the groundwork for the chosen route and success. The counselor will give or recommend resources at this stage. The best counselors have a backup plan.
• This is the implementation stage. You will be given goals with a deadline.