Career Exploration (ESTR)

Impact Summary

• Used in course(s): Education and Skills Training (ESTR) Program – Career Exploration and Employability Skills courses
• When: Integration planned for 2025–2026
• Estimated number of students using resource(s): 50–75 per year
• Average price of textbook/ resource replaced:
  • The average price of a career development–related textbook in Canada typically ranges from $80 to $150 depending on format (print or ebook) and publisher – we are using a modest estimate of $100 per high-quality textbook or resource, featuring accessibility and engaging components such as videos, graphics, and interactive H5P activity components.
• Estimated savings: $100 x 75 students = $7,500 annually

Impact Story

By Divya Chandak

Background 

At Thompson Rivers University, the Education and Skills Training (ESTR) program supports learners as they prepare for employment, career transitions, and lifelong skill development.  Christina Cederlof, an instructor in the ESTR program, has spent years helping students navigate job readiness, motivation, and career decision-making. “My background is in preparing students for employment,” she explained, “and helping people understand what motivates them and how to approach their job search.” 

Working alongside Christina on the Career Exploration OER was Jeisil Aguilar Santos, a learning technologist at TRU with a background in educational research. Initially joining the project as a research assistant while completing her Master of Education, Jeisil brought strong expertise in educational technology, multimedia design, and universal design for learning. Together, they combined pedagogical experience and technical innovation to create a comprehensive open resource for diverse learners. 

Inspiration and Idea 

The idea for the Career Exploration TRUBOX OER emerged from Christina’s experience teaching in a field without a single, cohesive textbook. “This area has always relied on pulling material from many different sources and adapting it,” she said. Creating an open educational resource that brought everything together felt like a natural and necessary step. 

From the start, Christina and Jeisil focused on who the resource was for. “We thought about what type of students and instructors would use this,” Jeisil shared. They intentionally designed the OER for learners with varied backgrounds-students returning to education after a long break, newcomers to Canada, parents, working adults, and those with different learning needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) became a guiding principle, shaping how content was presented through videos, interactive activities, and text-based materials. 

Collaboration and Support 

Both Christina and Jeisil credit TRU Open Press with shaping the success of the project. “The OER looks the way it does largely because it was connected with Open Press,” Christina said. From early conversations about design to ongoing feedback and coordination, the support helped turn ideas into a polished, accessible resource hosted on TRUBOX using WordPress. 

For Jeisil, the experience was especially formative. “I had never worked with this type of platform or with a team that had expertise across so many fields,” she said. While the final product looks seamless, she emphasized that the process was complex, and made manageable through strong guidance and collaboration. 

Challenges and Breakthroughs 

One of the biggest challenges was managing the breadth of information in the field of career education. “There’s so much information available now,” Jeisil explained, “especially with artificial intelligence and new platforms.” Ensuring that all content came from reliable academic or institutional source, and presenting it in a coherent way. 

Another challenge was condensing complex topics into short, engaging videos. “We aimed for three to four minutes per video,” Jeisil said, followed by transcripts and interactive H5P activities. Throughout, the team continually returned to the question of the end user: students, educators, and community members accessing the resource in different ways. 

For Christina, a key breakthrough came when she realized the project’s potential was growing far beyond initial expectations. “When I saw what Jeisil could do with scripted videos and curriculum delivery, it took the project to another level,” she said. That moment led Christina to invite Jeisil to become a co-author, recognizing the depth of her contribution. 

Impact on Students and Educators 

The Career Exploration OER was designed to make complex topics, such as workplace laws, safety regulations, and employment practices-easy to understand and accessible in one place. “We put complex things in a simple way,” Jeisil said. “With videos, text, and interactive activities, students can learn in the way that works best for them.” 

Christina sees the OER as equally valuable for educators. “It’s a large, comprehensive resource,” she said, “and I hope instructors really dive in and explore what’s there.” Having already used the OER in her own classes, Christina has received encouraging feedback from students who reported new insights and deeper engagement with topics like active listening and workplace communication. 

Looking Ahead 

Looking to the future, Jeisil sees open education playing a critical role in teaching critical thinking-especially in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. “It’s not just about the platform or the technology,” she said. “It’s about teaching students how to ask good questions, evaluate sources, and think critically before using any tool.” 

Both creators see open education as an evolving space where accessibility, pedagogy, and technology intersect to support meaningful learning experiences for all. 

Advice for Future Creators 

For Christina, the message to future OER creators is clear: “Go ahead and take the step forward.” She emphasized the importance of institutional support and believes TRU Open Press positions the university as a leader in open education. 

“Faculty embracing technology and making their knowledge openly available, that’s the future of education,” she said. 

Together, Christina and Jeisil’s work on Career Exploration demonstrates how collaboration, inclusivity, and thoughtful design can transform career education into an open, adaptable resource for learners everywhere. 

Author Interview – Christina Cederlof, Jeisil Aguilar Santos