A case of career consultancy in STEM for youths

Abstract

Career consultancy is an important but often downplayed aspect in technology-enhanced learning systems designed for youths although there is much learning in the career decision-making process. This case study focuses on identifying career consultancy services for STEM that can be useful and relevant to them. It involves participatory design for the school of the future in conjunction with workplace learning with a small group of adolescents. The paper provides an overview of existing online career consultancy services in STEM focusing on their unique characteristics, reports the findings of a group interview with participant STEM students about career consultancy, and presents future recommendations derived from the students themselves. The final student product involves a low-fidelity prototype of the envisioned career consultancy system. The case study can potentially inform practice on the topic of career consultancy in STEM education among youngsters.