The Use of On-line Collaborative Learning to Facilitate Learning, Development and Professional Identify Transformation of Careers and Employment Practitioners

This paper draws upon work from a European research project, EmployID, in order to provide an overarching view of how to use on-line collaborative learning to facilitate learning, development and professional identify transformation of careers and employment practitioners. The methodology comprised participatory design, so that learning support could be developed that met the particular needs of the practitioners. IT applications were developed to support practitioners with on-line reflection, coaching and the use of labour market information (LMI) in their practice. In the UK Public Employment Service (DWP) two blended learning programmes were developed to support identity transformation for employer advisers and work coaches, while subsequently a MOOC was developed to support the continuing professional development of careers and employment practitioners more generally. Employer engagement and coaching staff took forward the development and adaptation of an EMI on-line tool demonstrated in the learning programmes. The learning and development staff used the ideas and skills developed in the blended learning programmes to feed into DWP's on-line learning support. The International MOOC was successful in facilitating a dialogue about the implications of the changing world of work for the professional identities of careers and employment practitioners in Europe.