Evaluation of Digital Tools in the Preparation of Educational Psychologists for Career Orientation in the Era of Educational Digitalization

Abstract

Educational psychologists play a critical role in guiding students’ career orientation by helping them define personal and professional development trajectories, set goals, and monitor progress. This study explores the role of educational psychologists in career guidance and evaluates the potential of digital applications for their training. The research employed general scientific methods, including content analysis, surveys of the first-year students (analysis of academic motivation, assessment of the teachers' digital literacy, and evaluation of digital platforms in the context of their use as educational tools), and statistical analysis. The results showed that the choice of teaching most students (66,9%) was influenced by parents or guardians, the minority chose a profession with the help of educational psychologists (33,1%). Students who chose a profession with the help of psychologists were more academically motivated. Curso de Psicologia was rated highest for structured theoretical content, while DBT Diary Card and Skills Coach were most effective in simulating scenarios and developing emotional regulation skills. Lumosity and EdApp received positive evaluations for supporting cognitive functions, reflective thinking, and diagnosing decision-making. For effective education of high school students, it is essential to implement modern educational programs supported by efficient digital applications. It is also important to integrate the influence of parents, teachers, and well-trained psychologists to guide students in making informed decisions about their future careers. The apps that the teachers evaluated were effective for their teaching, but this does not exclude the possibility of using other effective digital applications for training future teacher psychologists. It is also worth checking the effectiveness of combining the influence of teacher psychologists and the use of digital applications for effective career choice by pupils.