One purpose of this module is to encourage you to take a critical and theoretically-informed approach to reviewing the many career-related learning resources available to the public both freely and commercially. We will discuss this area further during the workshop. The activity below makes up the formative assignment and should be undertaken between 30/11/14 and 31/1/15.

You are invited you to review at least one C-RL resource. A list of possible resources is provided below but you may chose any resource you like. Bearing in mind that the resources have been selected for the purposes of critique, please consider the following three questions:

1. Is it possible to detect a particular career development or learning theory underpinning this resource?
2. What could a user learn from this resource?
3. Would you use the resource in connection with a C-RL programme and if so how?

1/ Adults / corporate

We have selected the websites of two recruitment agencies and one careers service, namely: Reed; Michael Page; and the National Careers Service.

• Reed: http://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/topics/what-job-can-i-do
• Michael Page: http://www.michaelpage.com/content/36-let-us-help-you-make-the-right-career-move.html#.UoqdAygiGQI
• National Career Service: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/Pages/changecareer.aspx

2/ Higher education

We have selected three contrasting media resources: an Employability Podcast; a Graduate Success Project; and a Career Module Guide.

• Employability Prezi https://prezi.com/afz98rk8-6c0/the-rhetoric-of-employability/
  In this prezi, Raphael Hallet discusses roles and transitions at university and work with a particular focus on the rhetoric of employability.
• Graduate Success Project http://www.graduate-success.org.uk/
  The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) commissioned Martin Pennington to produce the ‘Graduate Success’ website. It includes video stories of graduates talking about the transition to work. It also includes some further video clips about career choice: http://www.graduate-success.org.uk/categories/Career%20choice%20and%20planning/videos/27
• Career Module Guide http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/ccms/New_Directions_in_Career_Studies_English_and_Media_Degrees_booklet.pdf
  This booklet contains ideas for career-related learning modules that explore career and identity in relation to English and media degrees.

3/ Schools

We have selected three curriculum resources related to the following stages: Key Stage 2; Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

• Primary Key Stage 2 http://we-aspire.co.uk/services.html#activities
  Publicity material for a 6 week course called ‘Aspire’, designed to teach career-related learning to pupils in Year 6.
• Secondary Key Stage 3 http://www.coa.co.uk/home/schools
  Probe offers services to pupils in Years 8 and 9 preparing for GCSE choices, this service is commercially produced by Cambridge Occupational Assessment (COA).
• Secondary Key Stage 4 http://www.coa.co.uk/programmes-and-aptitude-tests/preview
  For Years 10 and 11, COA also provide programmes and aptitude tests. COA offers occupational information and other resources in ‘My Careers Room’ http://www.coa.co.uk/programmes-and-aptitude-tests/mycareersroom

4/ Your own choice

Select any C-RL resource of your choice.

Posting to the forum: formative exercise
Once you have reviewed a resource, please post at least one comment on it and comment on at least one other posting in the thread. Posts can be as short or as long as you want. The activity is designed to be fairly informal.