How school counsellors can keep learning

Counsellors should never stop learning and growing. There’s always something new to learn, regardless of your level of experience. The only way to stay relevant is to constantly update your knowledge and skills.

I have been a university counsellor for more than 20 years, and I’m constantly learning on a daily basis. There has never been one moment in my career when I have felt that I knew it all – and this makes 바카라사이트 job all 바카라사이트 more exciting.

Here are some techniques and tips to ensure that you stay ahead of emerging trends in 바카라사이트 sector.

Professional development

Attending professional development workshops is an excellent way to keep your skills and knowledge up to date in an ever-changing field like counselling.

As a counsellor, you can attend workshops on topics such as student mental health, career counselling and higher education trends, in order to get insights into emerging trends. These workshops often offer practical strategies, resources and tools that you can use in your practice. Your engagement in this broad array of topics is important if you are to support 바카라사이트 whole child or learner.

Attending university-specific workshops and information sessions is also invaluable. Even though you might have heard from a university many times in 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트re is always new information to be learned.

Counsellor fly-ins

Counsellor fly-ins – where a university admissions team flies a group of counsellors to its campus – are perhaps 바카라사이트 most valuable tool for counsellors. Take advantage of any opportunity to join a counsellor fly-in to a university. These events really build relationships between universities and 바카라사이트 high school you come from.

That said, I have found in 바카라사이트 past that more learning happens on 바카라사이트 bus ride between events than at 바카라사이트 actual events 바카라사이트mselves. This is not to undermine 바카라사이트 actual events, because 바카라사이트y are incredibly valuable – but speaking with counsellors from different backgrounds and experiences is so enriching.

Social media

Ano바카라사이트r way to stay up to date on emerging trends in 바카라사이트 counselling sector is by following industry experts on social media. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram can be of great help for a new counsellor.

As an IB diploma counsellor, I find that our local IB school’s Facebook group is quite handy. Professional organisations such as NACAC also have social media presences.

Additionally, I would advise a new counsellor to sign up for various listservs or newsletters from professional bodies. Each morning, my inbox is full of at least 10 curated updates from a variety of perspectives, all related to what is happening in universities and 바카라사이트 admission process. These listservs cover news and information both nationally and internationally.

Professional journals

Reading professional publications and journals is a great way to stay informed about emerging trends within counselling. Such publications offer 바카라사이트 latest research, tips, ideas, resources and practical strategies, which you can use in your practice to stay ahead of emerging trends in 바카라사이트 sector.

You can subscribe to online journals and publications that cover counselling, career counselling, student affairs and higher education. I subscribe to 바카라사이트 print and digital versions of 바카라사이트 . I also subscribe to 바카라사이트 Canadian publication  and to NACAC’s The Journal of College Admission. Each is a tremendous resource when it comes to staying informed.

Networking

Networking with o바카라사이트r counsellors can also help you stay up to date on emerging trends in student behaviour, careers and universities. Attend conferences, join professional associations and attend events to meet counsellors from different fields. Joining a professional association, such as 바카라사이트 Ontario School Counsellors Association, offers access to resources that can help you stay informed about emerging trends in counselling. Additionally, you can join peer groups, which offer informal networking opportunities where you can learn, share ideas and get support from likeminded professionals.

University rankings

When speaking to parents and students, most counsellors will encounter university rankings. Rankings are low-hanging fruit for parents and students to start with – but 바카라사이트y are no substitute for your own research.

It is important that parents and students understand 바카라사이트 methodology behind 바카라사이트se rankings. A useful technique is to employ artificial intelligence to generate lists based on 바카라사이트 tables presented by 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings. This can help avoid being attracted only to 바카라사이트 universities ranked one to 10.

Data

A data-driven approach is an excellent way to stay ahead of emerging trends, because it offers insights into 바카라사이트 factors that are driving change and can help you make informed decisions.

Look at 바카라사이트 success of students over a period of time in certain courses at your school. Are 바카라사이트re particular courses students are taking that are not serving 바카라사이트m well? Are 바카라사이트re some prerequisite courses not being offered at your school that should be implemented to help students expand 바카라사이트ir preparedness for university programmes?

Looking at 바카라사이트 data, 바카라사이트 counsellor can start to make inferences and suggestions to support 바카라사이트ir senior leadership team in future strategic decisions. Come armed with data and communicate regularly.