O*NET
in Action: Nebraska
"Comprehensive Support for Career
Development"
Nebraska Career Information System
(NCIS)
Summary
The Nebraska Career Information System,
the State's comprehensive career information delivery system (CIDS), now
has O*NET® in it. The mission of the Nebraska CIDS is to facilitate
the career development of children, adolescents, and adults. It accomplishes
this goal by providing information and tools needed for developing career
awareness, doing career exploration, and making career decisions and plans.
In addition, the Nebraska CIDS develops curriculum; provides training for
educators, counselors, and agency staff; and collaborates with policy makers
at the local, state, and national levels.
How is O*NET being used
The O*NET database is a primary source
for developing occupation descriptions for the NCIS computer-based systems
and printed resources. The O*NET information was converted into a more
user-friendly format and into a reading level that is more appropriate
for a CIDS target population. For example, the O*NET job description for
dental hygienists-"Perform dental prophylactic treatments and instruct
groups and individuals in the care of teeth and mouth." - was rewritten
to be more understandable: "Dental hygienists clean teeth and help people
prevent tooth decay and gum disease."
The descriptions were developed in
a nationwide effort among states and CIDS developers using the same national
software in their systems. First, they developed a guide and structure
for database tools to be used in writing the occupation descriptions. The
resulting descriptions were reviewed against data sources to validate accuracy
of content. Finally, a single editor reviewed all the descriptions for
clarity, grammar, and reading level. In addition, the coding for Occupational
Sort and Skills, two career assessment sorts available in the computer-based
system, was converted to the O*NET classification. O*NET data could then
be used to link occupations to worker traits for the Occupational Sort
and to skills for the Skills sort.
Who is your target population?
The general target population for
the occupation descriptions includes students from middle school through
postsecondary school and adults at workforce development sites, rehabilitation
agencies, correctional facilities, and counseling agencies. The target
population for the Nebraska CIDS includes children, adolescents, and adults
and the educators, counselors, and agency staff who work with these individuals.
What kinds of results is O*NET
helping you to achieve?
The O*NET database provides more
current, reliable, and detailed information about occupations. The outcome
is that the occupational information is more useful for counselors, educators,
and agency staff as they work with teens and adults and for individuals
as they make career plans and decisions.
What are the related program initiatives?
In addition to using O*NET as a data
source, Nebraska CIDS staff consult with State agencies on their use of
O*NET information in their roles as analysts and counselors. They also
do presentations at conferences and workshops on using O*NET data and O*NET
OnLine.
Nebraska CIDS programs and activities
do much more than focus on occupational information.
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Teens and adults can access more information:
Industries
Self-Employment
Job Search
Military Employment
Keeping a Job
Postsecondary Schools in Nebraska
Postsecondary School in the United
States
Programs of Study
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Apprenticeships
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They can sort information through the
National School Sort and Financial Aid Sort.
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They can learn how their interests,
preferences, and skills link to occupations through Occupation Sort, Skills
and IDEAS.
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Educators and counselors can integrate
career education into their classrooms and workshops by using Career Education
Activities.
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Educators, counselors, and agency staff
can improve their work with students and clients by attending staff development
workshops.
Is your product, program or service
available for others to use?
The Nebraska CIDS is based on National
CIS, one of several proprietary career information delivery systems available
nationwide. Some of these national proprietary systems have been adopted
and customized for a state or local area. The adopting state or area usually
enhances and updates the system with state, regional and/or local information,
tailors it to the target audience, and then makes the system available
to schools, libraries, One-Stop Career Centers, and/or other facilities
serving youth and adults. Some states have developed their own systems.
Some now make part or all of their system available over the Internet.
Today statewide CIDS serve millions
of individuals across the United States. Many of the major developers are
in the process of integrating O*NET into their systems or have already
done so. For specific information about the Nebraska system, see the contacts
below. To identify the statewide CIDS for your state or to obtain general
information about CIDS and standards for their development and content,
visit the Association of Computer-Based Systems for Career Information
(ACSCI) website at: http://www.acsci.org.
What other strategies make your
product, program or service successful?
The success of the Nebraska CIDS
systems, programs, and services are based on several important strategies.
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The comprehensive systems integrate
information with career assessments, sorts, and career planning and education.
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The components and component integration
are built on a foundation of national, state, and local standards, expectations,
and needs.
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The occupation, industries, education
and training, and scholarship information is localized.
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The computer-based systems are available
for Mac and PC platforms and on the Internet.
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Nebraska CIDS seeks input from constituencies
in Nebraska and responds to that input.
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Nebraska CIDS staff members are recognized
for their integrity in adhering to standards for gathering, interpreting,
and reporting information and for updating content.
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Nebraska CIDS staff provides support
for users including technical assistance, response to requests for information,
and providing specialized training.
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Nebraska CIDS supports the activities
of the State counseling and career development associations and staff are
members and leaders in those associations.
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Nebraska CIDS does not collect data
on any individual user.
Contact
Dr. LeeAnn Roth, Director
Nebraska Career Information System
PO Box 880552
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln NE 68588-0552
ncis2@unl.edu
http://ncis.unl.edu
O*NET in Action stories illustrate
how the O*NET database is used at the state or local level. References
to particular products, programs or systems are not intended as an endorsement
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
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