New Experiential Learning Toolkit and Guides Launch in Region
Resources will help educators connect their students with local employers
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2018
Windsor, ON – Workforce WindsorEssex, the region’s Local Employment Planning Council, as part of their Experience for Success project, has released a toolkit and a pair of guides to encourage support for experiential learning opportunities for young people and job seekers in Windsor-Essex.
The Educators Toolkit for Experiential Learning will help educators of all education levels and local service providers prepare lesson plans and will support opportunities that bring local employers into classroom learning environments, and members of our future workforce into the region’s workplaces. The toolkit will provide background research on the benefits of experiential learning and explain how to connect with employers, while providing customizable handouts and other templates for use in the classroom.
A Parent’s Guide to Experiential Learning will support the value of experiential learning and encourage parents and guardians to consider opportunities for experiential learning in the home environment.
An Employer’s Guide to Experiential Learning will describe the benefits of employers taking part in a range of experiential learning activities while providing contact information for connecting with school boards and educators. Employers can make classroom presentations, conduct workplace tours, provide job shadowing and mentoring opportunities, and participate in OYAP and cooperative education programs.
Workforce WindsorEssex has also launched a new online Experiential Learning Hub that aims to help provide connections for educators, service providers, students and employers. Each party completes an online form that collects information about the kind of opportunity that fits their needs. Workforce WindsorEssex will match people with opportunities and connect the parties.
QUOTES:
“Employers participation will be critical to support learning beyond the classroom. By doing so, we will give students the chance to explore different career options and build their skills for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Doug Sartori, Board President and Chair, Workforce WindsorEssex
“Workforce WindsorEssex is taking the guess work out of connecting educators, service providers and employers so that job seekers and students benefit. Not only are we providing resources that educators and service providers can customize, we are giving them all kinds of suggestions on how their students can benefit from experiential learning.”
Michelle Suchiu, Executive Director, Workforce WindsorEssex
“Cavalier Tool highly promotes experiential learning opportunities in the manufacturing industry. Due to the shortage of skilled trades, we need to find talent and grow them from within our organization. We do this through high school co-op placements, hiring students from the OYAP program and by offering apprenticeships to new employees getting into a trade. We also strongly encourage our employees to attend job-related schooling by reimbursing tuition costs upon successful course completion. Without these training and development opportunities, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with customer and industry demands.”
Jena Reid, Human Resources Manager, Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd
“Experiential Learning is a powerful way for learners and job seekers to explore their unique interests, skills and abilities, that can all lead to a rewarding career opportunity. We have seen firsthand that learners with intellectual disabilities who already have real work experience prior to graduation have much greater success in the workforce. This Toolkit for Experiential Learning is an impressive tool that can certainly assist educators and service providers in supporting their students and clients to achieve their career goals!”
Derek Roy, Manager of Community Living Supports, Community Living Essex County
“To prepare our students for the demands and the jobs of the 21st century, we as educators need to work with and take advantage of the skills, knowledge and experience of our corporate and community partners. This new educator toolkit provides our teachers with resources, ideas and tools to incorporate and implement experiential learning activities with linked questions to help students reflect on their experiences and next career steps. By building on Workforce WindsorEssex’s valuable resources as well as through experiential learning programs like COOP, SHSM, and workplace shadowing opportunities, students gain first hand experiences and contacts that will shape their futures, change mindsets and ensure our students have the right skills for the right opportunities.”
Thomas Couvillion, Principal, E. J Lajeunesse
QUICK LINKS:
- The Experiential Learning toolkit and guides for educators, parents and employers can be downloaded here: www.workforcewindsoressex.com/experiential-learning-hub/
- Employers, Students and Educators can get help matching employers with students at www.workforcewindsoressex.com/experiential-learning-hub/.
- Parents can access our Career Toolkit in order to help their grade 7/8 child with career navigation. It is available in English, French and 9 other languages at www.workforcewindsoressex.com/career-toolkit
- Employers, job seekers and students can learn more about connecting with the services and supports they need by using
WEsearch. View WEsearch at https://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/wesearch/. - Your Job Search is a tool that Workforce WindsorEssex created to help job seekers in their job search. Learn more at https://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/your-job-search-overcoming-barriers-for-job-seekers/
- WEnav, a career counselling program that helps youth aged 12-30 find their ideal career pathway while teaching them the effective skills and knowledge required for effective career navigation and career success, is used by educators and students. Learn more by visiting www.workforcewindsoressex.com/wenav.
- To learn more about the Local Employment Planning Council and view our current and past projects visit www.workforcewindsoressex.com/lepc
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Media Contact:
Justin Falconer
Manager of Communications & Government Partnerships
Workforce WindsorEssex
226-674-3220 ext 854
jfalconer@workforcewindsoressex.com
About Workforce WindsorEssex
Workforce WindsorEssex (legally Workforce Development Board Windsor Essex) was created as an independent, community-based board in October 2008 as a result of significant foundation work by the City of Windsor, County of Essex, WindsorEssex Economic Development Commission and Province of Ontario.
Our mandate is to plan, facilitate and advocate for regional workforce development, defined as the development, retention, and recruitment of a wide range of skilled workers to meet the current and future economic and social development needs of Windsor-Essex.
Workforce WindsorEssex currently receives funding under three projects: Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership, Local Employment Planning Council and WEskills. Learn more at www.workforcewindsoressex.com.
About the Local Employment Planning Council and the Supporting Small Business Project
The Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC) is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. The LEPC pilot aims to increase the access to accurate, up to date, local labour market information and help pioneer new and innovative approaches to local employment planning.
