		e-newsletter Home

	Apprenticeship Branch Continues ES Strategy

		Essential Skills in Customer Service

		Perspectives: A Learner

		Did You Know?

		Teaching Math to Adults

		Authentic Workplace Tasks/Materials Speeds ES Coaching

		Going AWAL in Manitoba

		Newsletter Archives

Going AWAL in Manitoba

AWAL ACTIVITIES IN MANITOBA

Technical Vocational Initiative Demonstration Projects: River East Transcona School Division (2004 – 2005)

The goal of the project was to increase teacher awareness of the value of technical-vocational education and their appreciation of technical jobs in the workplace. As a result of the experience of this project, River East Transcona School Division strongly endorsed the AWAL model as an efficient and effective means to introduce subject area teachers to occupations that relate to their teaching areas.

Technical Vocational Initiative Demonstration Project: River East Transcona School Division (2005 – 2006): McLeod Adult Learning Centre Student AWAL

In Year 1, McLeod Adult Learning Centre has proposed sending its students to participate in an Applications of Work and Learning (AWAL) project oriented around the awareness and acquisition of essential skills. As an outgrowth of that Year 1 experience, in Year 2 of the initiative, McLeod ALC will have acquired the ability, expertise and contacts to continue with their annual student AWAL and Job Fair. The next step in this project is the planned establishment of the Technical Vocational Steering Committee for McLeod Adult Learning Centre to help guide the ongoing program.

Adult Learning and Literacy Branch (2005 – 2006): 2 Year AWAL Plan

AWAL within ALCs and Literacy Programs will raise awareness of essential skills and the integration of workplace tasks and materials into curriculum development. Project activities include:

Year 1. Essential Skills workshop and 5 AWAL days in Winnipeg, Brandon, Dauphin, and Thompson.

Year 2. Reassess, while continuing to deliver AWAL Days.

Applications of Working and Learning (AWAL) is a national project that’s helping educators in Manitoba and across Canada make better connections between the academic or career subjects they teach and the Essential Skills critical for success in the workplace.

The AWAL model uses a professional development day to put educators in a variety of business and industry workplace settings for a half a day. While on site, educators interview managers or human resources staff to learn more about the company’s products and services, employment practices, and future opportunities.

The educator also interviews a front line employee to gather information about the use of math, computers, document use, thinking skills, working with others, and communication practices. Where practical, a tour of the work site is arranged.

The educator is then encouraged to make connections between the workplace and the curriculum through a reflection activity that includes an analysis of the Essential Skills. To help further connect what they teach in their classroom with its application in the workplace, educators then develop original ideas for classroom activities which can be added to the searchable, electronic database found at www.awal.ca.

Feedback forms from participants have been overwhelmingly positive, with one teacher commenting recently: “I thought it was a wonderful experience. I wish we had more opportunity to do something like this. I’ve been teaching for 8 years and it’s the first time I’ve been really able to take part in a professional development thing that was really meaningful and something I wanted to do.”

For more information on AWAL activities in Manitoba, contact Lois Morin at LoMorin@gov.mb.ca