ERIC Number: ED448334
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2000-Jan
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Choosing Science at 16: The Influence of Science Teachers and Career Advisers on Students' Decisions about Science Subjects and Science and Technology Careers. NICEC Briefing.
Munro, Mary; Elsom, David
The influences of United Kingdom (UK) science teachers and careers advisers on students' decisions about science subjects and science and technology (S&T) careers were examined through a survey completed by 155 (55% of the target sample) career advisers to year 11 pupils in 7 careers service companies and case studies of a sample of 6 diverse schools located throughout the UK. Follow-up interviews with managers in each company were also conducted. Science teachers appeared to have a major influence on pupils' motivation toward and employment in science. This influence was exerted in the following ways: experiences in sciences classrooms; extracurricular activities initiated by science departments; and information about the content of post-16 courses and strategies for coping with advanced studies. Most careers-related activities for pupils in years 9-11 concerned the processes of subject options and work experience choices. All the schools were encountering difficulties in securing work experience placements in science and engineering for year 10-11 pupils. Those schools that were successful in securing placements drew heavily on contacts with parents, governors, and ex-pupils. Twenty recommendations regarding improving students' awareness of S&T-related educational and career opportunities were offered to schools, local careers service companies, national policymakers, and school science departments. (MN)
Descriptors: Access to Information, Attitude Change, Career Awareness, Career Choice, Career Counseling, Career Education, Career Exploration, Case Studies, Change Strategies, Classroom Techniques, Course Selection (Students), Educational Attitudes, Educational Opportunities, Educational Policy, Employment Opportunities, Enrollment Influences, Enrollment Trends, Extracurricular Activities, Foreign Countries, Guidelines, Information Dissemination, Learning Activities, Marketing, National Surveys, Policy Formation, Postsecondary Education, Public Policy, School Counselors, Science Careers, Science Teachers, Secondary Education, Student Attitudes, Student Recruitment, Teacher Role, Technical Occupations, Work Experience Programs
National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling, Sheraton House, Castle Park, Cambridge CB3 0AX, England (SASE).
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: Department for Education and Employment, London (England).
Authoring Institution: Careers Research and Advisory Centre, Cambridge (England).; National Inst. for Careers Education and Counselling, Cambridge (England).
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A