Vecima WEST: Workplace Essential Skill Training
May 2010 - January 2011
Project Management Team included: Deborah Rutherford (Vecima Liaison), Dorothy Hyde (Radius Liaison and TOWES Invigilator) and Robin Stone (Computer Assisted Instruction Educator/Radius employee)
In the Vecima WEST project, Radius worked alongside Vecima staff to help create a computer based learning environment that promotes workplace communications in reading, writing and numeracy. Radius provided adult education expertise and essential skill instruction with select Vecima staff from the production line, Operator positions and technicians. Radius’ role included the responsibility for the progress measurement and evaluation of project success.
The activities of the Vecima WEST project had manufacturing line workers engaged in computer assisted instruction sessions for one 3 hour session per week over the course of 10 weeks for a total of 30 hours. All training hours were part of the employee’s paid work time.
Project Highlights:
- 80% of a grade point increase in reading skills for employees
- 36% of a grade point increase in document use skills
- 22% of a grade point increase in numeracy skills
- Measured improvement in coworker communication and openness to learning
- Measured improvement in attitudinal change and improved language
- Employees came forward requesting self improvement activities for employee development
Vecima WEST was made possible through funding from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration: Workplace Essential Skills of Saskatchewan initiative.