Conrad Murphy, Director of TOWES & Centre for Career Advancement, Bow Valley College, participated in ”Essential Skills in Apprenticeship”, a dialogue hosted by Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) on February 24, 2011. Guests representing various stakeholders from across Canada, including school boards, provincial and federal government departments, unions, industry associations and other organizations, joined the CAF-FCA Board of Directors to discuss some of the best and most promising practices for integrating Essential Skills training into employee development, particularly for apprentices and within the skilled trades.

To learn more and view presentations: Essential Skills & Apprenticeship

Essential Skills Online: A Consortium Approach | Project # 5332978

As part of a national partnership with Fanshawe College and the Canadian Virtual College Consortium, Bow Valley College has developed an Essential Skills training curriculum that will integrate online and hard copy materials, to teach Essential Skills in a sector specific context. Sectors include: Health Care, Automotive Service and Repair, Oil & Gas and Trades (entrance to apprenticeship).

The first field test in spring 2010 indicated that improvements were needed to the online Learning Management System so that the curriculum, designed to be flexible to meet the needs of a broad range of learners, could achieve the intended objectives. Improved content navigation and web based electronic capture are only two of several components improved within the redesigned LMS.

TOWES is looking for Pilot Project Partners to field test this REDESIGNED product. If your organization is interested in being a part of this project please see the attached Request for Pilot Project Partners. Field testing begins August 2010.

If you are interested in previewing the redesigned Learning Management System please contact TOWES.

Please contact TOWES if you have any questions.    

To view the RFP Letter, click RFP Letter -ESD Phase II                  

(403) 410-3200 or towes@bowvalleycollege.ca

Be  a part of a National Pilot Project!

TOWES is currently looking for Pilot Project Partners to field test a new Essential Skills tool: Essential Skills Direct.

As part of a national partnership with Fanshawe College and the Canadian Virtual College Consortium, Bow Valley College has developed an online Essential Skills training tool designed to teach Essential Skills from a sector specific workplace context. Providing accessible, innovative and convenient learning options, this new tool aims to effectively remove barriers to learning and employment by teaching the skills needed for working in Canada’s highly skilled labour market. The tool will help learners develop techniques for improving Essential Skills and introduce an integrated approach to training in an online environment.

The tool will improve the Essential Skill levels of learners in the context of specific sectors including Health Care, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Aviation and Trades.

If your organization is interested in getting involved in this project please see the RFP, or contact us for more information.