PLEDGE: The promise of gamified online guidance tools to support career management skills

Europe continues to be impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and its long-term societal changes. The partnership was inspired to action by the results of an international survey “Career guidance policy and practice in the pandemic” (Cedefop; European Commission; ETF; ICCDPP; ILO; OECD; UNESCO (2020) which discussed the use of online services for guidance. Digital tools and the adaptable services (online, hybrid) is a necessary part of guidance services moving forward In June of 2020 Cedefop made a release which highlighted the risk to gains against Early School Leaving made around Europe. The Cedefop’s ambassadors for tackling early leaving from education and training called for further support to address the needs of learners at risk and ensure their equal access to quality distance learning. Students face challenges, disorientation or misguidance. Elements that contribute are: globalization, technology and its evolution, rapid changes in many business sectors, crisis, etc. The Pledge project provides a gamified online model of academic & career guidance for young people to support as they transition to other stages of education and pathways and assessment and activities to develop Career Management Skills.

The main objective of the Pledge project was to develop an online school guidance programme with foundation but also attractive to users, encouraging them in the decision-making process. Pledge works from the idea of empowering students to make decisions. It is about offering guidance services for students to improve skills related to Career Management as well as to accompany them in transitions throughout their lives - life-long and life-wide skills necessary to navigate their educational and professional pathways, thus reducing Early Leaving or risk of Early Leaving. The Pledge project and the developed tools aimed to - Offer and allow easy and equal access to online gamified counseling activities, having a structured format for students, schools and families. - To promote through the Pledge guidance programme and assessment tool that students develop and acquire Career Management Skills. - Help all students improve skills and competencies for transitions. Learn to make decisions and manage transitions throughout life. - Promote guidance through tools like I Love Pledge and Your Pledge that accompany the student in the construction of the life and professional project– as a continuous process- not a single moment in time.

To Develop the I Love Pledge online, gamified guidance programme, the partners developed an engaging storyline of six fictional young people in order to present and develop the skills within the six areas of Career Management Skills that was used as a framework. For each area the Pledge project created between two and four digital game- activities as well as supporting material and extension- offline actives. The I Love Pledge Programme development included the active participation of students in its design, translation and adaption to the four contexts as well as pilot testing of the programme with 160 students. The Your Pledge Career Management Skills Assessment Methodology and Tool was developed by partners with review in focus groups (24 participants) which makes the student an active participant in the portfolio evaluation process. Your Pledge was then technically implemented, translated and adapted for each context, pilot tested along with I love Pledge and recommendations incorporated. Results of the Pledge project were presented in conferences with teachers, guidance practitioners and other stakeholders in each context, among other dissemination activities.

At the conclusion of the Pledge Project the concrete and other results are: - An online school guidance programme, that is gamified and supports students 14-18 years old in the development of Career Management Skills through 6 interactive modules with 15 supporting documents and extension activities for students, teachers, familes, guidance pracititioners. - A student oriented Career Management Skills Assessment tool that includes a pre- and post- guidance intervention methodology and utilitzes portfolio assessment for students to reflect and evaluate their development of Career Management Skills; - 160 students and guidance practitioners who participated in the Pilot Action of the Pledge Programmeand CMS Assessment Tool; - More than 150 participants in the multiplier events of the project; and a total of 200 education professionals participating in the project activities to develop the Pledge project results and resources.