Content area
Abstract
Purpose and Method of Study
The purpose of this mixed-method case study program evaluation was to assess the effectiveness of a middle-level career exploration program to determine whether any program adjustments should be implemented for overall student success. From a population of 152 core classroom teachers, 55 teachers responded to a survey regarding their personal experiences as an educator facilitating career exploration with their students. The participants represented five middle school sites in Broken Arrow Public School District. Using the survey responses, interview questions were created for school counselors and school administrators. These interviews were conducted and recorded using the ZOOM platform.
Findings and Conclusions
Six distinct themes emerged from data analysis, which provided a comprehensive understanding of the middle school exploration program. The six themes included (1) Collaboration between teachers and counselors is essential to the program’s implementation, (2) Commitment to continuous improvement of the career exploration program to enhance its effectiveness is necessary for future use of the program, (3) Early awareness is crucial to guiding students toward an informed career decision, (4) Intentional implementation involves incorporating it into specific core subjects and ensuring that teachers possess a positive attitude towards its execution, (5) Student engagement is key to fostering student interest and active participation, and (6) Teacher training and mindset significantly influence the effectiveness of the program. These six themes highlighted the strengths and areas for improvement within the career exploration program. Overall, the program was recognized as having a positive impact on student confidence and early exposure of career paths. However, resource effectiveness and student engagement were viewed as a concern to address. In addition, professional development for teachers and improved collaboration between counselors and teachers were deemed essential for program enhancement.
