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The use of technology in school counselling is an under-rated subject. However, the constantly evolving presence of technology in schools is quite undeniable. Teachers with school counsellor training use technology for some added advantage and have more time and ability to connect with their learners. The responsibilities of a school counsellor vary on any given day with time spent in several tasks, tending multiple learner groups etc. However, when technology is used with intention and purpose, it can boost the counsellor’s reach and efficiency to serve students with an increased access to resources, thus contributing to overall student achievement.
 

There are many ways in which technology can benefit counsellors in saving time and money, and fulfill their responsibilities. Mentioned below are five ways in which technology supports school counsellors to achieve this.
 

1. Website/Blog
 

Many counsellors choose blogging as a way to give direction to their thoughts along with sharing any updates like what they are doing or dealing with on a regular basis. They also share instructional videos, updates on any useful apps, how-to tips and good-read articles.
 

By using technology for testing, social media, and a website or blog, counsellors can stay agile and connected with parents, students, and their peers. There are programs, apps, and tablets that school counsellors may find supportive in applying the skills they have learned in their counseling program such as a diploma in counselling course for teachers.
 

2. Going Mobile
 

Advanced technology allows a counsellor to use a tablet or even their smartphones for recording notes when they visit classrooms or have sessions with learners. These notes can easily be saved for later use. Mobile devices can also be used to check for quick information, gather student answers for a survey, and countless other applications on the go.
 

Many counsellors and even schools are using messaging apps to let students and their parents know what is happening in several areas. From assignments to scholarship application deadlines, test dates, sports group announcements etc., texting is a great way to issue reminders and send notices.
 

3. Social Media
 

Nowadays, social media offers dedicated hashtags that can be used to interact with other counsellors, express views and discuss particular issues and questions. But social media is more than just networking and professional development. It can be used to:
 

• recognize and correct cyber bullying or any other matter that counsellors work on
• keep parents and learners up-to-date on school activities and events through groups/pages
• to broadcast school news like closures, early release days, and athletic activities and practices
• Facebook pages can be used to list events or any upcoming seminars and highlight services offered to students

Though it varies with institutions, counsellors are often discouraged from connecting with students through their personal Twitter, Instagram or Facebook profiles.
 

4. College Planning
 

The courses that students choose in high school can affect whether they will get into their dream college. Most colleges have their entrance criteria listed on their websites and have been curated by several sites as well. Counsellors and students can research application fees, entrance requirements including test scores and GPA on these sites and try applying for scholarships and financial aid. This allows students to learn about colleges as per their terms, and for counsellors to be more informed when guiding students’ decisions.
 

5. Testing
 

Fostering a positive academic and career development in students is among other responsibilities of a school counsellor, and one of the ways they fulfil that duty is by conducting soft skills testing to find out and calculate their placement and aptitude. These tests help a student to find their strong aspects so that they can be determined accordingly.
 

There are several digital guidance services that offer students to take such tests online and provide the outcomes to counsellors, who can take informed decision accordingly. The available aptitude tests focus on several skill sets which includes numeric, verbal, nonverbal, mechanical, and other miscellaneous skills. These can be used in a couple of different ways.
 

Being up-to-date with technology is not only a matter of efficiency and expediency but also a point of advocacy, for which it is necessary to ensure that students and parents are receiving timely and consistent information. Given the vast and evolving scenario of technology in education, professional relevance comes to the forefront. If school counsellors do not follow technology trends and find ways to integrate online tools into their work, they may be seen as irrelevant at some point of time.