Fitting Solutions

Understanding your employees' basic skills needs as well as your organization's financial and technical needs and capacity forms a basis for WEP design.  By examining existing models for WEPs, you can find solutions with the correct fit for your company.

Many research organizations have already studied existing programs and can provide helpful insights as you design and measure your WEP.  You can also make use of the efforts of other companies in the area of basic skills training by fitting their methods to your WEP where similar needs and resources exist. 

Model programs, including instructional models, curricula, professional development, and life-long learning modules that may serve as a guide for new programs are available from The Division of Adult Education and Literacy Clearinghouse.
   URL: http://ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/InfoBoard/f-16.html

This report, from the US Office of Educational Research and Improvement, presents abstracts and evaluative reviews for 58 exemplary workplace education products.  An overview of the selection process and a guide to the content of the documents is included.
    URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+ericdb2+ericdb+998839+0+wAAA+%28ED427190%29

Workforce Learning Systems Training by CASAS provides businesses with training tools and expertise through workshops that determine employee skill levels and basic skill needs, identify training requirements, develop worksite specific training materials and identify instructional strategies to meet company training objectives.
    URL: http://www.casas.org/02TrainingProfDev/02WLSTrain.cfm

The Employee Training Institute has over five years experience in multimedia training development.  ETI has created Web-based Training and CD-ROMs for small and large companies, and for educational institutions. Its expertise is in adapting instruction to low level literacy and basic skills.
    URL: http://www.workplace-eti.com/cbt/

Search the Workforce Development in New York State website for thousands of educational programs, classroom courses, distance learning opportunities, web-and computer-based training and apprenticeship programs to find training opportunities and providers that best suit your needs.
    URL: http://www.wdsny.org/provider/

This article on Skills Gaps discusses how to fit training to the specific needs of the individual employee.
    URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/16/72/223541.php

Regular measurement of key pieces of HR information over time and the correlation between various measurements can be extremely valuable. Cost per employee helps employers examine the value of every aspect of human resources management, including training.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/section/10/article/23/40/07.html

Using an HR Audit, such as this one used by the Commonwealth of Virginia, allows organizations to examine their recruiting, training, benefits, and labor relations policies.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/section/09/article/23/39/64.html#Explanation%20of%20Department%20Organization%20Questionnaire

This article offers questions to ask vendors of learning management software. Asking these questions can help you ensure the correct product is selected. Finding out specifics about program content, security, costs, and other issues may ease the selection process.
   URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/article/22/12/97.php

These tips for hiring an effective trainer can help HR people to  thoroughly evaluate vendors and avoid wasting money on gimmicky training efforts.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/26/14/223471.php

Workplace literacy is an individual’s ability to read, write and speak in English, and to compute and solve problems at the necessary levels. According to the National Workforce Assistance Collaborative, the most effective workplace literacy programs share many common traits.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/17/40/224259.php

Developing systems that track employee skills is an absolute necessity in an increasingly specialized business world. Regular and ongoing analysis of clients' needs and surveys of employee skills and competencies can help to fill gaps through hiring and training.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/29/92/index.php

PPL Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, designed a customer-service training program that used technology as a tool, not a replacement for other methods. Instead, program delivery methods included instructor-led training with mentors, Web-based self-study, and on-the-job practice.
    URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/28/64/223971.php

A team-based approach to mentoring can help reduce employee turnover. Potential leaders are targeted by management and coached through the development of critical leadership and technical skills. Their progress is then carefully followed by senior management and HR.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/16/68/index.php

"Disability Employment 101: Learn to Tap Your 'HIRE' Potential," is a new guide with programs and resources to assist business leaders with hiring people with disabilities. The guide was released jointly by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
     URL: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products/employmentguide/index.html

Tapping the Talents of People with Disabilities is a resource guide developed to assist employers in hiring people with disabilities and integrating them into their workplace. Practical advice on everything from pre-employment considerations through recruitment and selection, appropriate modifications to accommodations, and workforce education is included.
     URL: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/boardwiseii/LayoutRecentPublications.asp

Coaching an executive requires an understanding of the executive work world, psyche and leaders' language. Effective executive coaches recognize these seven coaching issues and use them to design and implement appropriate strategies. 
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/23/57/45/index.php

Recent research by the National Association of Manufacturers finds that skills shortages are having a widespread impact on manufacturers’ abilities to achieve production levels, increase productivity and meet customer demands.
     URL: http://www.nam.org/s_nam/sec.asp?CID=9&DID=7

This article presents Seven Characteristics of Highly Effective Adult Learning Programs. These are the results of a study that investigated factors in adult learning environments that best facilitate adult growth and development.
     URL: http://www.newhorizons.org/lifelong/workplace/billington.htm

Working Mathematics for the 21st Century is a UK report that examines the changing mathematical demands of the workplace, employee skill levels, employer views and the costs and benefits to employers and individuals relating to maths teaching and learning.
     URL: http://www.nrdc.org.uk/publications_details.asp?ID=119

All Signs Point to Yes is a new Canadian report that explores the connections between workplace literacy skills and occupational health and safety results.
    Free download: report

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Last updated: Oct. 24, 2008.