Career Counseling 6232

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID: 6232 Career Counseling
 CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract: This open textbook is being utilized in a counseling course for graduate students by Jennifer Carhart at California State University San Bernardino. The open textbook provides downloadable chapters of the book and ebook central has ability to access the book in other devices, such as, tablets and phones. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was provide an online textbook and minimize cost for students. Most student access the open textbook in online format. 

Course Title and Number:  6232 Career Counseling

Brief Description of course highlights:  This course provides an overview of career counseling, career education and application of career counseling and guidance to schools, educationally related agencies and special settings

Student population: Graduate-level and primarily from San Bernardino area.

Learning or student outcomes: 
Knowledge

• Knowledge of the application and rationale of curricula standards and frameworks to academic and career development
• Knowledge and practice of guidance curricula and skills in using classroom guidance techniques
• Knowledge of career theories, assessment instruments, career clusters, information, resources, and counseling techniques
• Use of technology in career counseling services
• To identify appropriate comprehensive career assessment, counseling and guidance education theories
• To develop an understanding of career choice theories and technology 
• To develop knowledge of the roles, function, and accountability of career counseling and guidance education
• Ethics and standards of practice relating to career counseling relationships, assessment, technology, and access
• Potential influences and conflicts of differing culture value systems
• Skill in assisting pupils to develop appropriate academic and career plans
• Knowledge of California High School graduation and college admissions requirements

Skills

• To develop competencies in career counseling and educational practices including classroom lessons, assessment, career education, and the development of academic and career plans
• To identify and initiate ethical, equitable, and appropriate career development programs
• To evaluate career counseling and education skills, programs, and outcomes

Dispositions

• To promote dispositional acceptance of and respect for individual differences by encouraging the utilization of appropriate career counseling assessments, skills, access, and academic and career plans
• To cultivate an appreciation for client’s autonomy while at the same time, advocating for the pupil’s most appropriate and attainable highest achievement

Key challenges faced and how resolved: A couple of students prefer the hardcopy of the book. I adjusted the reading assignments for students to prepare or download the chapters if they needed a physical version. The download has a limitation of the quantity of pages and might impact not having access to the entire chapter or pages for the student.

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title:  Career and college readiness counseling in the p-12 schools (3rd ed). New York, NY: Springer.  ISBN 13: 978-0826186737; ISBN 10: 0826186734. EBook Proquest (2017)

Brief Description:  Though relatively recent, the book predates the COVID era and incorporates pertinent career counseling elements.  Moreover, the online portal provides flexibility by allowing access to various electronic devices like tablets. However, I recommend using something other than a phone for optimal reading experience. The book's adaptability to digital platforms and instructor-friendly resources enhances its practicality and accessibility in educational settings

Please provide a link to the resource  https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csusb/detail.action?docID=4813510

Authors:  Curry, J.R., & Milsom, A. D.

Student access:  Ebook Central (available for mobile access)

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  In contrast to the previous textbook, priced at nearly $100 and offered limited online resources, the current edition stands out with valuable instructor resources. These resources allow me to download specific chapters and print only essential pages. This reduces paper usage in the classroom and eliminates the need for students to carry an extra book.
License: It is licensed through ebook Proquest. It allows limited downloadable pages after 164 pages.

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process

Provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost option.  My goal was to reduce cost but also provide students with a textbook that was newer even if its prior to covid.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course? From another faculty at another campus using this book.

Sharing Best Practices: In the recent years, I noticed more and more students are shifting from a hardcopy to digital. In the future, I hope to identify books that also are available in audio for students.  

Describe any challenges you experienced, and lessons learned. Challenging to know if the students have issues when accessing the book.  

Jennifer Carhart 
I am Assistant Professor for the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling at California State University San Bernardino. I teach Career Counseling, Introduction to Research and Evaluation, Socio-Cultural Counseling and Systems Consultation.

Please provide a link to your university page. 
https://www.csusb.edu/profile/jennifer.carhart

Please describe the courses you teach.
COUN 6221 - Introduction to Research and Evaluation
COUN 6229 - Socio-Cultural Counseling
COUN 6232 - Career Counseling
COUN 6233 - Practice Based Placement

COUN 6225 - Systems Consultation

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.
My primary goal is to ensure access to educational resources for all students. I am deliberate in identifying cost-effective materials, striving to minimize student financial burdens. This involves exploring textbooks and course materials that are not only affordable but also readily accessible. Furthermore, I am committed to catering to diverse learning styles within my classroom. In pursuit of this, I actively seek out textbooks that are available online and offer additional features such as audio versions, accessible PDFs, or dedicated readers. Recognizing the varied ways students absorb information, I aim to create an inclusive learning environment where everyone can engage with the course content that aligns with their individual preferences and needs. My teaching philosophy is geared towards accessibility and inclusivity, and I aspire to foster an environment where students can thrive academically, irrespective of their financial constraints or learning preferences.