Teri Donat

Las Positas College

Job Relevance: Education that Prepares Students for the

Workforce

Introduction

Who’s Teri Donat?• Consultant – Ez 4 U Computer

– Develop custom training programs for businesses

– Corporate trainer

• Community College Instructor – Computer Information Systems and Retail

Management

• M.S. Education – Instructional Technology• Project Director – Job Development

Incentive Training Fund Grant

Overview

• Where does your class fit into industry needs

• Industry issues and opportunities

• Career pathways

• Workplace skills

• Student retention and success

• Campus and industry resources

Where does your class fit into industry needs?

Do you teach:

• Basic skills

• Entry level

• Upgrade training and education

Basic Skills Training

Course work for those with little in the way of skills and/or work experience, i.e. career and educational opportunities, basic literacy, numeracy and computer skills.

Entry-level Training

Course work for those ready to enter into high-wage, high-demand career pathways.

Upgrade Training and Education

Course work targeted to workers (students) with demonstrated skills and work experience, provides additional skills and education needed to advance on a career pathway.

Industry Issues and Opportunities

• Individuals need some form of post-secondary education and training in order to become financially self-sufficient for the long-term

• The nation’s community colleges are in a position to help provide disadvantaged individuals with the skills and education they need to get out of poverty.

Industry Issues and Opportunities

• A workforce development system can help individuals move from unemployment by becoming the skilled workers that employers demand

David Gruber and Brandon Roberts. Workforce Development: Issues and Opportunities. James Irvine Foundation. San Francisco, CA July 2001.

04/21/239

Career Pathways

To successfully advance individuals, a pathway should include:•An introduction to career opportunities in a region’s high-wage, high-demand employment sectors•The basic skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and training•A transition to entry-level skills training•Internships and employment•Continuing upgrade training•Social supports throughout as necessary

Career Pathways

• Does your class fit into a career pathway?

• Does your class/program fit into more than one industry sector?

• Where along the pathway is your class?

overview specific job skills

Workplace Skills

Employers report that close to 50% of their entry level worker lack basic communication and critical thinking skills. Also they do not have the work ethic skills needed to be successful.

Workplace Skills

Research has identified specific competencies necessary for a person to become a valued and skilled employee.

•Social Competence

•Cognitive Development

•Psychological Development

Social Competence

Skill set needed to interact with others successfully

•Crafting effective written communication

•Work with diverse groups

•Resolve conflicts

•Working together on a team

Cognitive Development Employers administer their own job-specific skills and competencies to identify dependable workers•Specific trade certificates•Previous internship or work experience•Quality of internship and work experience•Ability to use technology•Critical thinking/problem solving skills

Psychological Development Personal qualities related to psychological development•Positive self-esteem•Optimism and planfulness•Coping skills, resilience and flexibility•Good judgment•Self-management (motivation, autonomy, initiative, responsibility, time management) •Moral development (strong work ethic, reliability, honesty, integrity and professionalism)

Teaching Workplace Skills

• Social Competence– Group activities– Effective email communication

• Cognitive Development– Critical thinking/problem solving

assignments

• Psychological Development– Self-management– Ethical academic behavior– Coping with classroom changes

Student Retention and Success

Incorporate a variety of activities – students can practices skills through discussion groups, practice by doing, teaching others

Factors that Impact Retention

Good Practice• Encourages Student-Instructor

Contact • Encourages Cooperation Among

Students • Encourages Active Learning • Gives Prompt Feedback • Emphasizes Time on Task • Communicates High Expectations • Respects Diverse Talents and Ways of

Learning

Factors that Impact Success

• Financial need – are they working, do they have money for basic needs?

• Family influences – do they support the students academic goals?

• Demographic influences – is education a priority for their race, age, gender?

• Ethics – do they feel entitled? Are the over or under achievers?

What Builds or Breaks Student Interest, Interaction and Enthusiasm in the Classroom?

InterestBuilders• Current, real-world examples• Teaching to all learning styles & modalities• Ability to track grade/progress in class at any

time • Students participating in teaching activitiesBreakers • Class structure is unknown or chaotic• Too much information • Broken, dead and outdated links• Class materials not challenging enough

Interaction

Builders• Graded discussions (set expectations)• Group activities• Help discussions (student mentoring)• Timely responses and frequent

communication from teacherBreakers• Fear of asking dumb questions• Confusion about technology• Student can’t find class materials

Enthusiasm

Builders• Positive Feedback • Some control over assignments

(choice, scope of difficulty)• Appropriate time, real-world deadlines• Building Blocks/Reviews of learning

materials Breakers• No response from students or instructor• Tasks are unclear (over communicate!)

Classroom Resources• Real world examples• Applying knowledge• Assess fluency (accuracy and speed)• Go out and do it assignments• Virtual mentoring• Service learning – Reality, Reflection,

Reciprocity, and Responsibility • Online Videos – coursework out of the

classroom

Campus ResourcesFor Students• Assessments Center• Tutoring• Library/Resource

Center• Math, Writing and

Computer Labs• Support Classes• Financial Aid• Counseling• Health Center

Campus Resources

For Teachers• Work with Teachers from Other

Disciplines– Contextual materials

• Work with Tutoring Center Staff • Distance Learning Staff

Industry Resources

• Community Partnerships and Regional Partnerships are critical to moving students into and through a career pathway.

• Community-based organization – recruit individuals isolated from post-secondary education and career opportunities. Provide social support services needed for student success

Industry Resources• Adult Basic Education provides can

offer preparatory services and a bridge to community college programs

• Workforce and Social Service agencies – direct resources toward community colleges to provide financial and operational, support in a city or region

• Local employers – help define needed worker skills and provide internships and work sites to develop upgrade training

Summary

• Incorporate learning activities that help students learn important work skills

• Evaluate curriculum and programs – how they fit into a career pathway

• Work with community to build partnerships and resources