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EdITS Career Technology Education (CTE) Newsletter

 

What's New from EdITS

COPSystem Online Beta-Testing

We are ready to begin a new round of beta-testing for the web-based Career Occupational Preference System -
The COPSystem Online.
 
Your participation will help us improve test administration by significantly decreasing the time required to assess individual examinees while preserving the validity and integrity of your results....Read More.

 

Career Guidance Solutions

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COPSystem Career Measurement

The COPSystem Career Measurement Package includes all of the materials you need to administer, score and interpret the COPS Interest Inventory, CAPS ability battery and the COPES work values survey.

Interpretation of results is organized around groupings of occupational clusters which represent the world of work.

Learn More About Support Materials -
Career Guidance Made Easy!

Wall Charts and Pocket Charts  help identify the right occupation for your client.
The Career Briefs Kit provides specific job information in an easy and accessible format for all ages.
The Job Handbook is a useful resource for young adults who want a fun guide to help them prepare for the world of work.

IRIS machine scoring system

Career Pathways: A National Approach

The concept of career pathways or career clusters is a major trend in school districts across the country. Interest assessments have a long history of basing results on clusters of occupations. The COPSystem Interest Inventory is one such assessment that measures occupational interest in terms of psychologically meaningful clusters of occupational activities.

(Continued from previous)

The occupations that make up each of the career clusters are similar in terms of type of activities  performed in each occupation which is one of the advantages of using a career assessment tool such as the COPS. Rather than looking at a list of occupations that are related simply by salary or level of responsibility or job title; scores on the COPS relate an individual to such aspects as type of activity performed in an occupation as well as level of responsibility and amount of training required for an occupation.

While the COPSystem Career Clusters have some unique characteristics, there are similarities between the COPSystem and many other systems of occupational groupings. This concept of career clustering is being implemented in various statewide educational systems through a method often called Career Pathways, where students are guided to select a career pathway (somewhat similar to a college major) in high school and their curriculum is based on the cluster or pathway selected by the student.

In a recent Internet search by state, it was found that of the 50 states only six do not yet have a career pathway system implemented. However, most of those six have a system they are considering or are
most likely going to use. The National Standards, which are made up of 16 clusters and are reported
through the U.S. Department of Education as the States Career Clusters, can be viewed online.  

The following table lists the most common systems of career clusters as related to the COPSystem Career Clusters. Of the 44 states that do implement pathways, 19 use the U.S. Department of Education National Standards: Kentucky uses 14 clusters; Oklahoma uses 12; Maryland and North Carolina use 10; Georgia uses 9; California, Connecticut, and Delaware use 8; Maine and Tennessee use 7; 13 states use 6 clusters; and Washington and Alabama use 5.

 

COPSystem Career Clusters

National Clusters (16)

National Clusters (6)

National Clusters (8)

SCIENCE

Information Technology, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, Health Science

Natural Resources

Engineering Tech.; Health Careers

TECHNOLOGY

Information Technology, Architecture & Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources; Transportation, Distribution, Logistics

Industrial Engineering Tech.

Industrial Tech.; Home Economics

OUTDOOR

Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Agricultural

BUSINESS

Business Management & Administration, Finance

Business Management & Technology

Business, Retail Sales

CLERICAL

Government & Public Admin.,  Marketing Sales & Service

Business Management & Technology

Business, Retail Sales

COMMUNICATION

Arts; Audio-Video Technology & Communication; Law, Public Safety, Security

Arts & Communication

Arts, Media, & Entertainment

ARTS

Arts; Audio-Video, Technology & Communication

Arts & Communication

Arts, Media, & Entertainment

SERVICE

Education & Training; Law, Public Safety, Security; Hospitality & Tourism; Human Services; Health Sciences

Health Sciences; Human Services

Health Careers; Public & Human Services