Interactive course catalogs revolutionize the way students explore and select classes, providing a more intuitive and efficient alternative to traditional printed or PDF catalogs. Many students struggle with course selection, often feeling uncertain about whether they’re making the best choices for their academic and career goals. Is this class too difficult? Will there be space for electives? Which courses align best with my future aspirations? Often, this uncertainty leads to lack of student engagement in the course selection process.
Here are some of the challenges that students face when selecting classes:
- Graduation Requirements vs. Interests – Balancing required courses with electives students enjoy can be tricky, especially if the required classes take up most of their schedule.
- College and Career Alignment – Students may not fully grasp how their course choices impact college admissions or career paths, leading them to select courses that don’t prepare them for their future goals.
- Prerequisite Confusion – Some classes require prerequisites, and students might not realize they must complete specific courses before enrolling in advanced options.
- Schedule Conflicts – Desired courses may be offered simultaneously, forcing students to choose between subjects they are equally interested in.
- Lack of Interest or Awareness – Students might not explore unique or specialized courses (like coding, design, or finance) simply because they don’t know enough about them.
How can school counselors help students feel confident when selecting classes?
A more intelligent, interactive online course catalog can simplify the course selection process, offering personalized recommendations, scheduling assistance, and a more straightforward path toward success.
When we present this substantial information to students in a format and language they prefer (e.g., digital, filterable, “like”-able), we give them tools to foster independence. This can significantly alleviate the stress and uncertainty students often feel when selecting courses, boosting confidence in their decisions.
Here are key ways an interactive course catalog can help your students and counselors:
- Parent & Counselor Collaboration: Students can make independent and informed decisions, then easily save and share their preferences so parents and counselors can assist in the selection process.
- Intelligent Recommendations & Personalized Guidance: Interactive course catalogs can offer pathway-based guidance that shows how courses align with career goals.
- Interactive Course Descriptions: Instead of static descriptions, interactive course catalogs can include video previews, testimonials from past students, and sample assignments to help students better understand each course.
- Search & Filter Tools: Students can breeze past courses that don’t apply to them, customizing what they see with their needs and interests and accessing those courses sooner and more clearly.
- Prerequisite & Requirement Checkers: Online course catalogs can integrate an eligibility checker that alerts students if they are missing prerequisites for a course.
- Scheduling & Conflict Resolution Tools: Students can build a mock schedule and automatically flag conflicts before finalizing their choices.
- Accessibility & Mobile-Friendly Design: Interactive course catalogs meet each user where they’re at with a mobile-friendly design so that students can browse and choose courses easily, regardless of their device.
As a result of the benefits above, students are more informed at course selection meetings and assemblies, and more confident in their choices for the upcoming academic year and for their future.
Case Study: Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
The interactive course catalog for Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a powerful tool that helps students find classes in the way that best suits them. They can explore the entire catalog by grade or subject or use pathway-based guidance to see how courses align with their interests and career goals. The interactive “choose your own path” catalog provides a more immersive experience for their students, solving the problem of lack of student engagement in the course selection process.
When we present this substantial information to students in a format and language they prefer (e.g., digital, filterable, “like”-able), we give them tools to foster independence. This can significantly alleviate the stress and uncertainty students often feel when selecting courses, boosting confidence in their decisions.
At Belen Jesuit, students are encouraged to utilize course sequences to help envision their futures right from the start of high school. This interactive course catalog pulls together each thread, connecting the dots for students in a way they understand while granting counselors more time to focus on collaborating with students about their future.