Welcome to Innovative Program Planning

1. Welcome toInnovative Program Planning By Barb Duguay -Administrator and Kim Redford - Instructor

2. Valley Adult Learning Association www.vala.ca

3. Where in the World is Fort Frances?

4. The VALA Office

6. What is Innovative Programming? Thinking outside the box Build the program that works for you

7. MTCU Objectives • Building Partnerships • Customer Service • High rate of retention • Making referrals • Learner Progress • Learner Exits- Goal Attainment

8. Gather Information • Interview stakeholders • Meet with Ontario Works Case Managers • Employers and agencies • Meet with Employment Ontario Partners • Wrap around services VALA example- • Meet with OW September, January, and April. • Interagency meeting monthly • Advertise 3 times per year Building Partnerships

9. Gather Information • Interview stakeholders • Meet with Ontario Works Case Managers • Employers and agencies • Meet with Employment Ontario Partners • Wrap around services VALA example- • Meet with OW September, January, and April. • Interagency meeting monthly • Advertise 3 times per year Challenge: Difficult to schedule a meeting Building Partnerships

10. Identify Needs Customer Service Partnerships identify needs • Listen to stakeholders • Determine what your agency can provide • Be creative VALA example • OW case manager identified in September- clients wanting to start their own business • VALA designed a course called Planning for the Future- Build your Own Business

11. Identify Challenges • Personal issues • Children • Relationships • Addictions • Hunger • Financial • Fines • Legal issues • Transportation • Late enrolment • Guidance • Appointments • Methadone Referrals- wrap around services

12. Course Collaboration OW Case Workers and First Nations OW Case Workers helped to ensure learner success

13. Intro to Admin Retention

14. Intro to Admin Challenge: Working with OW learners

15. Why Typing? • Sets learners up for success • 15 minutes every day • Late arrivals don’t miss anything critical • Opportunity to show initiative • Builds authentic skills for office environment • Frees staff up if issues arise • Builds a routine

16. Program Promotion Referrals

17. Program Promotion Challenge: Meeting learner numbers

18. First Day Retention • Introductions • Ice Breaker • Policy and procedure • Explanation of Practicum Centers Make the learning fun – new learners might be nervous

19. ICE BREAKER What does your snack choice say about you?

20. ICE BREAKER What does your snack choice say about you? Challenge: Hunger

21. Popcorn If so.. You know how to take charge of a situation, and are usually quick to pick up the slack if the need arises. While these men and women have great self confidence, they are rather humble- no one would ever call them show offs. Popcorn lovers may hide their success so will they appear to be a “poor relation”, while they squirrel away their treasures. If you inherit money from a relative you thought was flat broke, he or she was most likely a popcorn muncher.

22. Cheese Puff If so… You are conscientious and principled and expect others to be too. You tend to take the moral high ground. With your finely tuned sense of right and wrong, you treat everyone in the same and fair manner. You have integrity. You may appear rigid to others, but in reality you just know enough to plan ahead. In your house, the spare batteries and Band-Aids are right where they belong- just like everything on your desk.

23. Nuts If so… You tend to be easygoing, empathetic, and understanding. Nut lovers can be counted on to stay calm, even in the midst of upheaval, so even a screaming spouse or a disappointing boss won’t ruffle you. They do well in jobs that involve the public. Nut lovers may not be outstanding leaders, but they contribute to a peaceful home and an effective office.

24. Pretzel If so… You’re a lively sort of person, easily bored with the same old routine. You look for new challenges at work and at home…and can spend hours mulling over abstract concepts while you much on your pretzels. You are flirtatious and like to dress in a provocative manner, but you quickly tire of a trend and are off to find the latest style. Pretzel lovers are intuitive, overly trusting in romantic relationships. They’re fun to be with, but they are vulnerable too.

25. Potato Chip If so.. You’re an ambitious person, and a high achiever. You enjoy the rewards of success both at work and at home. Not a selfish sort, you enjoy the success of your spouse and children, too. You also tend to be impatient with less than the best, and you are easily frustrated by life’s little blips-traffic jams and waiting inline make you crazy.

26. Meat Snack If so… You prefer to be with other people while you indulge. Meat snack lovers are at their best in the company of others because they are so gregarious and sometimes generous to a fault. If you want a true friend, pick the meat snack lover: they are trustworthy and always loyal. They will go all out for friends and family, even to the point of making sacrifices.

27. Tortilla Chip If so.. You’re probably a perfectionist: if it’s less than perfect you’ll redo it. Not satisfied with a mere A, you want and A+. These individuals are not selfish, so if you want a partner to help you fight an injustice, look to the people with their hands in a bowl of tortilla chips. Invite them over for the weekend too, because they’re likely to be good houseguests. The tortilla chips lover is punctual and conservative. A male tortilla chip lover can slip into a tux and feel just as comfortable in an old T-shirt but don’t look for a tortilla chip loving woman to dress provocatively- she is rather restrained sexually.

28. Snack Cracker If so… You think out problems using a rational, logical approach. You tend to be shy and avoid arguments because you don’t like to hurt another person’s feelings. Chances are you have many projects going at the same time, and they are competing for your attention. Cracker lovers tend to be loners who prefer private time, so you probably value those relaxing moments with no responsibilities or interruptions. Those who prefer snack crackers may easily find themselves involved in an online romance.

29. First DayPolicy and Procedure Retention A

30. First DayPolicy and Procedure Challenge: Adherence to the Policies Retention A

31. Practicum Centres • Summer student project • Tasks aligned with OALCF Curriculum • All Competencies and levels • Authentic tasks tailored to Administrative/Secretarial field • Delivery designed to be flexible • Classroom • one-to-one

32. Practicum Centres Tracking A. Find and Use Information B. Communicate Ideas and Information C. Understand and Use Numbers B

33. D. Use Digital Technology Retention E. Manage Learning Learner Progress F. Engage with Others

34. D. Use Digital Technology Retention Challenge: Self Direction E. Manage Learning Learner Progress F. Engage with Others

35. Intro to Admin Example Task (Practicum) See Handout

36. Tasks are colour coded to match Competency See Handout

37. Ensuring Learner Success • Encourage Self Direction • Authentic Workplace • Promote progress • Mid-term concerns • Dress for Success • Provide incentives • Varied learning activities • Celebrate Success Attain Goals

38. Encourage Self Direction • Create own policy • Personalize motivation • Determine own measure of success • Certificate • Arrivals and departures • Breaks • Phone • Facebook Learner progress

39. Encourage Self Direction • Create own policy • Personalize motivation • Determine own measure of success • Certificate • Arrivals and departures • Breaks • Phone • Facebook Challenge: Ongoing issues – celebrate any success

40. Authentic Workplace • Chore list • Customer service • Office environment • Dress code • Language • Attitude • Engaging with others Learner progress C

41. Authentic Workplace • Chore list • Customer service • Office environment • Dress code • Language • Attitude • Engaging with others Challenge: Getting along in the workplace Learner progress C

42. Promote Progress • Safe environment • Constructive not critical • Positive • Encouraging • Feedback • Mid-Course Review • Self Performance Assessment • Report Card Retention D

43. Promote Progress • Safe environment • Constructive not critical • Positive • Encouraging • Feedback • Mid-Course Review • Self Performance Assessment • Report Card Challenge: Sabotage Challenge: Wanted more feedback Retention Challenge: Feedback can be difficult D

44. Mid-Term Concerns Concerns VALA encountered: • Interruptions • Facebook and phone • Break time behaviours • Personality conflicts • Attendance • Punctuality • Non-verbal communication Learner Progress

45. Mid-Term Concerns Don’t be afraid to call OW for help! Concerns VALA encountered: • Interruptions • Facebook and phone • Break time behaviours • Personality conflicts • Attendance • Punctuality • Non-verbal communication Learner Progress Challenge: Difficulty with rules and authority

46. Dress for Success • Authentic workplace = Dress code • Contact OW over budget • $200 / learner for clothing • $45 / learner for haircuts • Set shopping date and 3 locations • Provided feedback while shopping • Receipts submission by learners • Fashion show Learner Progress

47. Dress for Success • Authentic workplace = Dress code • Contact OW over budget • $150 / learner for clothing • $45 / learner for haircuts • Set shopping date and 3 locations • Provided feedback while shopping • Receipts submission by learners • Fashion show Challenge: Need very clear boundaries (nails) Learner Progress

48. Provide Incentives • Dress for Success- (clothing and haircuts) • Gift cards • Draws • Breakfast meeting – OW paid • Pizza Day • Graduation Party • Special Activities – Arm Knitting Retention

49. Special Activity- Arm Knitting

50. Varied Learning Activities • Workplace Communications Workshop • Breakfast meeting • Shopping • EO Partner workshop- Employer Expectations • Marshmallow Challenge • Owning your own strengths • Graduation party • Planning • Hat construction • Graduation march