PATTERNS IN THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AMONG SCHOOL COUNSELLORS IN ROMANIA

Abstract

Digital technology has become ubiquitous in the practice of school counselling in Romania, but currently there is little evidence and critical reflection on how it is employed in daily activities. The aim of the study was to gather information regarding the practices and resources associated with school counselling, especially regarding the use of digital technology. A total of 528 valid answers were collected from school counsellors across Romania’s 42 administrative divisions, using an online questionnaire. A cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of use of digital technology in professional practices, with three groups emerging: a) all-around use of digital technology, b) less frequent use of digital technology and c) regular use for specific professional tasks. Several socio-demographic factors were used to attempt to predict cluster membership. We discuss the implications of this exploratory study and chart potential avenues of action and research.