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- The guidance room
- The Guidance Room Lene
The Guidance Room - Lene
Lene is in her final year of the general studies programme. This case illustrates how young people navigate uncertainty, expectations from others and important decisions about education and future direction.
About the Case
Lene is in her final year of the general studies programme. As the application deadline approaches, she feels increasingly uncertain about what to do next. She has long planned to study nursing together with her friends, but now finds herself questioning both her choice and whether she should stay or move somewhere new.
This case illustrates how young people navigate uncertainty, expectations from others and important decisions about education and future direction.
Suggested approach
1. Start with Episode 1
Identify the main challenges and key aspects of the situation.
- What stands out?
- What seems most important at this stage?
- What would you focus on as a career counselor or career guidance practitioner?
2. Watch Episode 2
Observe how the practitioner approaches the situation.
- What methods are used?
- How is the conversation structured?
- How does the practitioner respond to the guidance seeker?
3. Work with the reflection questions
Use the questions to deepen your analysis.
- What works well?
- What would you have done differently?
- What dilemmas or considerations arise?
Background: Career Guidance in Upper Secondary Education in Norway
Upper secondary education in Norway offers two main pathways: General Studies and Vocational Education and Training (VET). Students may transition between pathways, and VET students may take supplementary courses to qualify for higher education.
The Education Act (§16-1) requires that all students in upper secondary education have access to career guidance at school, including individual guidance on request. Counties must ensure that apprentices also receive guidance during training.
The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) has a public website in Norwegian for information about education and work at Utdanning.no, and offers digital career guidance at Karriereveiledning.no, which is free and available to the entire population.
Episode 1: Meet Lene
Meet Lene
Reflection Questions
After Watching Episode 1, reflect together:
- What career-related challenges does Lene face?
- Is there anything in Lene’s situation that you recognise from your own guidance practic?
Episode 2: The guidance session with Lene
Join the guidance session with Lene
The two guidance moments focus on:
- Conflicting expectations
- Exchange and studying abroad
After watching the video, reflect together:
- How would you guide Lene?
- The session shows only two brief moments from a full guidance conversation. Is there anything else you think should have been said or done?
Reflection Questions
After Watching Episode 2
Use these questions to explore key aspects of the guidance process together:
- How does the career counselor identify and respond to Lene’s needs?
- What strategies are used to support reflection and decision-making?
- How are conflicting expectations explored in the guidance process?
- What would you have done differently in this situation?
Episode 3: Reflection
Thematic Reflection Questions
Use these questions to reflect on key themes in the guidance session with Lene. You may also connect your reflections to the self-assessment tool My competence.
Theme 1: Navigating uncertainty and expectations
Lene feels uncertain about her choice, influenced by expectations from friends, her background, and the approaching application deadline.
- How does the career counselor respond to Lene’s uncertainty as the deadline approaches?
- How do you support a student who has had a long-standing plan but begins to doubt it?
- How does the counselor explore the influence of friends and expectations on Lene’s thinking?
- How do you approach situations where a student feels torn between staying in a familiar environment and moving away?
- How can the counselor take the student’s background and context into account in the guidance process?
Theme 2: Broadening perspectives and exploring opportunities
Lene has always planned to study nursing but is now considering other possibilities.
- How does the career counselor support Lene in exploring options beyond her original plan?
- How do you help students become aware of a wider range of educational and career opportunities?
- What methods or approaches can be used to broaden a student’s perspective without overwhelming them?
- How can the counselor connect the student’s interests and abilities to different pathways?
- How do you support students in exploring both familiar and unfamiliar options?
Theme 3: Supporting reflection and decision-making
Lene is unsure about what she wants and is reflecting on different possible directions.
- How does the career counselor use questions to support Lene’s reflection?
- How do you help a student move from uncertainty towards making a decision?
- How does the counselor balance giving information with supporting the student’s own decision-making?
- How do you ensure that the student’s final choice is based on their own preferences and not only external influences?
- What role does the career counselor play when a student is unsure close to an important decision point?
