Recently, Littleton High School transitioned from Naviance to SCOIR, a platform designed to assist students with college planning and career guidance. To understand the reasons behind the change, I interviewed Mrs. Kate Walker, a staff member deeply involved in the transition.
According to Mrs. Walker, Littleton High School was the only school in the district still using Naviance. The other high schools—Heritage and Arapahoe—had already made the switch to SCOIR. Consistency across the district played a major role in the decision to adopt SCOIR, as well as the fact that SCOIR’s subscription cost was slightly lower.
When asked about how SCOIR compares to Naviance, Mrs. Walker highlighted SCOIR’s more engaging and interactive interface. She described it as being more “Instagram-y,” offering better visuals and links that appeal to students. While Naviance was more straightforward and linear, SCOIR makes it easier for students to stay engaged with features like an app, although feedback on the app from students is still pending.
In terms of college application resources, Ms. Walker believes that SCOIR will provide similar, if not better, tools for tracking applications. Both platforms allow the school to manage important data, such as the number of applications submitted, where students are accepted, and final transcript requests. This information is crucial not only for Littleton High but also for the district administration and leadership.
When discussing how teachers and counselors feel about the change, Ms. Walker acknowledged that while change can be challenging, SCOIR’s user-friendly design has been praised. SCOIR offers easy access to online tutorials and help videos, which makes it simpler for teachers, counselors, and students to get assistance. In contrast, Naviance often required users to submit help tickets or contact customer service, which could be time-consuming.
As for training or support for students navigating SCOIR, Mrs. Walker encouraged students to explore the platform on their own. While there are no immediate plans for formal workshops, SCOIR provides plenty of online resources, and future seminars may include lesson plans related to SCOIR. Mrs. Walker emphasized the importance of regularly using the platform, stating that students who log in frequently will discover its full potential, much like the hidden depth of an iceberg.
Finally, when asked about feedback from students and faculty, Ms. Walker mentioned that student feedback about Naviance wasn’t very positive. Counselors and other staff members from schools that had already switched to SCOIR spoke highly of it, which heavily influenced the decision to adopt the new platform.
As Littleton High continues its transition to SCOIR, students and staff alike will have the opportunity to explore its many features. The school hopes that SCOIR will make the college application process more streamlined and engaging for everyone involved.
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