New Idea Generator App will help students identify career preferences

Four years after launching an online suite of innovative career planning tools, Sheridan is launching a new app that will make it easier than ever for students to assess their interests and develop an education plan that is targeted to their career preferences. The Idea Generator App, now available through the iOS AppStore, is a fully functional mobile version of the Idea Generator with an easy ‘swipe’ interface for moving through survey questions, graphical results, and live links to Sheridan’s program database.

The IG App was developed by Mikkel Harris, a 3^rd year student in the Computer Systems Technology program (who has since graduated and now works for RBC as a Technical Systems Analyst), under the guidance of Neil Baldwin, a career counsellor who was behind the original Idea Generator. “I feel that the design of the application is something that will be familiar to students and is quite intuitive”, says Harris. “They should find it easy to use and very helpful in providing a starting off point for the programs they might find interesting at Sheridan.”

“The Idea Generator App is not a comprehensive assessment, but it does help you determine your career interest pattern and then suggest programs which relate to your interest themes,” says Baldwin. “Research shows that the better the match between you and your program, the higher likelihood of student success.”

In addition to the Idea Generator and IG App, Sheridan offers Career Quick Tips (guided access to useful online career planning resources) and a complete Career Planning Micro-Course for those looking to do more comprehensive career exploration.

“These technology tools are a valuable starting point for students who are unsure of which path to choose,” says Joe Henry, Associate Dean of Student Success. “They complement our in-person career counselling services, and help to ensure that students are self-aware and educated about the program choices they make.” 

According to a study of 4,000 Ontario postsecondary students by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, the top reason for dropping out of a college or university program was a “lack of clarity concerning education and career goals.” Sheridan’s IG App and related career planning tools aim to counter this trend by providing students with the tools to make informed choices at the start of their postsecondary experience.