Winter 2011 Edition
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Winter 2011 / Issue 36 Launch of Module 1 Supporting Career inside National from a CFE Professional Needs for this issue Forum on perspective Development Adults in Guidance Across these New (2011 - 2012) Europe Times learning from experience General Director’s Note Behind the Scenes at the launch of the National Forum on Contents Guidance 3 5 Primary Post Primary Higher Education Play Therapy Action Module 1 Have Your APEL and Masterchef - A Proven Research – from a CFE Say Ireland Support Why Bother? Perspective 8 13 16 18 21 Adult Non Formal Euroguidance Career Needs Future Skills Career Management Skills Supporting for Adults in Needs and the Youthreach Model Professional these New Development Times across Europe 24 26 30 32 General Book Review Website Review ESRC Seminar on Just another Games and ReachOut.com Professional Academia day Activities for Identity Formation Exploring Feelings in Guidance with Children 35 37 40 42 Supplement Mobility for All Contact Details 1st Floor, 42/43 Prussia Street, Dublin 7 Tel: +353 1 869 0715/6 Fax: +353 1 882 3817 Email: [email protected] www.ncge.ie 2 NCGE NEWS Winter 2011 General Director’s Note Welcome to the Winter 2011 / Issue 36 of NCGE News Online. As guidance professionals, we support our students/clients to reflect on their learning – what they have learned, how they have learned, what plans they have for learning and what they will do with that learning, As guidance professionals we too engage in reflective practice; what have I learned from working with my student/client/group, how can I better help them the next time and what learning could I engage in to support my practice further. This reflective practice, whether as an individual or programmes they took part in. Guidance counsellors as part of a group remains specific to us and our engaged in guidance in higher education, post- direct clients. That is until we choose to share the primary schools, colleges of further education, learning. Documenting our experiences, engaging adult education or in the labour market system have in action research or participating in facilitated developed models of guidance for the target groups group discussions, surveys, interviews, workshops they work with. Some have shared with us how or focus groups enriches our practice in guidance participation in mobility projects such as Academia, counselling because we can learn from one another. Grundtvig and Comenius have helped them to exchange information, collaborate and establish Throughout this issue of NCGE news, we hear links to guidance networks. In addition to their first-hand from guidance counsellors about their professional development, we hear of the personal experiences of professional development, the impact these study visits can have. methodology used, the resources relied upon or the 3 NCGE NEWS Winter 2011 General Director’s Note continued Closer to home, NCGE designed and delivered the Whole School Guidance Programme specifically Part of the NCGE remit is to promote the for the Colleges of Further Education sector in implementation of best practice in guidance and conjunction with CDVEC. One participant shares her counselling in both formal and non-formal settings experiences and learning from the programme. In the in accordance with national priorities and to advise article for Primary Education, we highlight the ‘Nana’ on policy and strategies for the promotion of a model of play therapy, developed in the USA which continuum of guidance in the context of lifelong reflects a whole school approach to student support. learning. While there is no formal guidance provision in primary schools in Ireland, support teachers work closely Through analysis and reflection of our own work, with classroom teachers to support those children we seek to improve and develop the resources who, for a wide range of reasons, are struggling with available for guidance professionals. In this issue we the school environment. showcase the re-developed NCGE Whole School Guidance Planning Virtual Learning Environment As Peter Hyde concludes in his article on action and actively share and seek your feedback for the research, ‘by engaging in action research and by re-development of our NCGE Guidance Counsellor sharing it guidance counsellors are giving a voice not handbook. only to their profession and expertise but also to their students and schools.’ If we take the idea of giving As guidance professionals, we support our clients to a voice to the profession, the launch of the National reflect and make decisions and plans based on their Forum on Guidance provides an opportunity for learning. However, as guidance professionals, we dialogue and the chance to develop and establish support each other by sharing our experiences and networks of guidance professionals. The more our own learning. As always, we in NCGE welcome sharing of information and resources, across the your comments on this edition of NCGE News online education and labour market sectors, the clearer and how we can further support you in your work. and louder this voice becomes, at local, national and European level. Is mise le meas Jennifer McKenzie Director 4 NCGE NEWS Winter 2011 General Behind the Scenes at the launch of the National Forum on Guidance Barra O Briain - Chair of Management Committee, Lene Juul - Youth Guidance Centre of Copenhagen, Minister Ciarán Cannon, Jennifer McKenzie - NCGE, Prof Tony Watts OBE - University of Derby Minister Ciarán Cannon TD, Keynote speaker Professor Minister for Training and Skills. Tony Watts OBE Jennifer McKenzie, NCGE Following the work of the National Guidance Forum (2004 -2006), the final report Guidance for Life: An Integrated Framework for Lifelong Guidance in Ireland published in 2007 provided a nationally agreed definition of guidance, a lifelong guidance framework, quality guidelines and a competency framework for guidance practitioners. The EU Council resolution on better integration of lifelong guidance into lifelong learning strategies (Council of the European Union, 2008b) recommended that Member States should encourage co- ordination and co-operation among the various national, regional and local stakeholders. Currently, in Ireland guidance is available and Forum on Guidance (2011-2012). Set up to provide delivered in various educational and labour market a forum for dialogue, exchanging information and settings. Models of guidance counselling and exploring possibilities for co-operation and co- practice have developed in each of these sectors ordination, the National Forum on Guidance is to reflect the needs of the client/students. With supported by the Department of Education and Skills reference to the relevant recommendations of and co-ordinated and hosted by NCGE. The event the National Guidance Forum report of 2007, was attended by invited guidance professionals and recommendations of the EU Council resolutions stakeholder groups including representatives from and to support collaboration across the guidance DES, FAS, NAPD, AHECS, AEGI, IGC, HEA, IVEA, sphere, NCGE proposed the establishment of the LES, Linkage Programme, private practice, schools, new National Forum on Guidance (2011 - 2012). colleges and universities in attendance. Other groups working with and around guidance will be asked to On the 17th of October, Minister of State for Training attend and present to the Forum at future meetings. and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, launched the National 5 NCGE NEWS Winter 2011 General Behind the Scenes - National Forum on Guidance continued In the opening presentation, Jennifer McKenzie, Following presentations, invited guests began the director of NCGE explained how this is an exciting work of the Forum, engaging in facilitated group time for guidance development and detailed the discussions on areas of ICT in guidance, quality importance of working together, the central role of assurance, co-ordination and co-operation and NCGE as ELGPN representative for Ireland, and the discussing a vision for the future of the Forum. With relevance of the ELGPN work to the national context. the next meeting of the Forum scheduled for April 2012, the group agreed that a smaller subgroup of Invited Speaker Ms Lene Juul from Denmark showed representatives would meet to discuss the outcome examples of guidance within the Danish system and of the first meeting and work with NCGE to develop how their services are legislated to work together. the agreed agenda and next steps. Keynote speaker Professor Tony Watts detailed the policies behind the development of National Guidance Fora throughout the EU Member States. He Additional Information noted that the term lifelong guidance was due largely To view the terms of reference of the to the Irish influence and the importance of making National Forum on Guidance and lifelong guidance as seamless as possible from the presentations, press release and photos citizen’s viewpoint. Professor Watts highlighted that from the first meeting please go guidance is available in various forms across the to http://www.ncge.ie/national_ sectors and serves not just as the private good but forum%20on%20guidance.html CLICK to also the public good LINK In his speech to the gathered guidance professionals, NCGE will use this webpage to upload Minister Cannon noted the particular value of the information and forthcoming activities of new Forum, saying that it ‘will set a new agenda for the National Forum on Guidance. sharing practice, promoting quality and enhancing Guidance for Life: An Integrated co-ordination.’