Essential Skills Online: A Consortium Approach

OLT ProjectOverview

Essential Skills Online: A Consortium Approach

• A national initiative aimed at improving the accessibility of Essential Skills training

• Focus on those Canadians most at risk in the labour market

• How could emerging technologies improve outcomes for disadvantaged workers

OLT ProjectBackground

Background

• Federally funded by HRSDC’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES)

• Partnership between:Bow Valley College (content, LMS, field test)

Fanshawe College (adaptive technologies)

Canadian Virtual College Consortium (CVCC) (project lead and marketing & communications)

Project Background• February 2008- January 2011

• TOWES Role: Develop and field-test sector specific Essential Skills resources:

Automotive

Health

Trades / Entrance into Apprenticeship

Oil & Gas

How?Adapting existing materials for an online environment

Tailored content – sector specific

Learning management system enhances delivery

Resulted in the creation of Essential Skills Direct

WHAT IS TOWES ESD?

TOWES Essential Skills Direct (ESD)

What is ESD?

• Workplace focused content

• Activites reflect common scenarios encountered on the job, such as:

Working safely

Communication in the workplace

Planning your work

Working with time, money or equipment

What does ESD contain?• Learning Materials

Sector specific activity setsTheme-based workbooks

Source Document Booklets

SkillBuilders

Practice Assessments

Answer Key booklets

• Support MaterialsLearner Survey & ESD Profile

Learner Guide

Additional resources

Facilitator TrainingFacilitator Guide & short instructional videos

Who is ESD intended for?

seeking employment

currently under-employed

gaps in literacy skills

pre-apprenticeship learners

at-risk learners

workplace transition program participants

OLT Project

Field-Test

(January 2010-December 2010)

Background

• Two phases of field-testing:

Phase one: January to June 2010125 learners

Phase two: August to December 2010150 learners

• Results from approximately 250 learners will be included in the analysis

Pilot Partners• Phase one partners:

Atikokan Learning Centre

Fanshawe College

(Woodstock campus)

Georgian College

La Cité Collégiale

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Niagara College

Nova Scotia Community College

Teetl’it Gwich’in Council

Workplace Education Manitoba

• Phase two partners:Academy Canada

Atikokan Learning Centre

College of New Caledonia

College of the North Atlantic

Douglas College

(Foundations-Abbotsford)

Fanshawe College

(Woodstock campus)

New Brunswick Community College

(Saint John)

Niagara College

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies

Teetl’it Gwich’n Council

TriArch Educational Services

Phase One Findings

• 125 participants completed

• Provided feedback on the Learning Management System and content

• Feedback was used to enhance the Learning Management System and refine the content

• Piloted in field-test two (currently underway)

ESD Highlights

Content developed with input from industry

Actual workplace themes and activities increase user buy-in

Learning & Support Materials

ESD Highlights

Intuitive user interface, navigation and information flow

Different levels of interactivity

Solid housing for diverse tools

Customizable

Learning Management System

ESD Highlights

Multiple facilitator functions/ approaches

Flexible delivery options

Application

PRODUCT DEMO

TOWES Essential Skills Direct (ESD)

Home

Learning Plan

Hints & Tips

Workbooks

Source Documents

Toggling Function

SkillBuilders

SkillBuilder Visual Cues

Answer Key

Assessments

TOWES ESO

OLT ProjectOutcomes

Preliminary Feedback

• Positive informal feedback

• Learners motivated – relevant

• Facilitators like the flexibility of content

• Versatility of delivery

• Interface is easy to use and navigate –very intuitive

Future of ESD

Ability to create custom content

Examples:technical training

corporate customers

existing services

New avenues for delivery

Opportunity for GrowthESO for PN

Essential Skills online for Practical Nurses.

Funded by Alberta Employment and Immigration

Combined ESL and Practical Nurse Training Program (PNDIEN)

Piloted at NorQuest and Bow Valley Colleges

Custom curriculum designed to reflect workplace duties of Canadian Practical Nurses

For a comprehensive demo of ESD visit our online learning products

tradeshow booth

THANK YOU

Kaesy Russnak

TOWES Project Officerkrussnak@bowvalleycollege.ca

(403) 410-3404

Meghan Barton

TOWES Project Officermbarton@bowvalleycollege.ca

(403) 410-3198