Essential Skills Online program designed for industry

In collaboration with industry, labour, and sector organizations and with funding from Human Resources & Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Bow Valley College is working on a project that will improve the employability of disadvantaged Canadians.

The project will result in the creation of an interactive, online Essential Skills tool which will help learners improve their basic skills and successfully enter the workforce.

The online tool will build upon the curriculum in the TOWES Essential Skills Online (ESO) project and will deliver essential skill training through industry-specific curriculum for the health-care, petroleum, aerospace, and automotive sectors.

“Users will improve their Reading Text, Document Use, and Numeracy skills by using industry based content that is engaging, enjoyable, and motivating,” says TOWES Project Officer Kaesy Russnak. “In addition, the content will be enhanced to support individuals with learning disabilities and other barriers that can prevent full engagement in learning and labour-market participation.”

For this project Bow Valley is partnering with the Canadian Virtual College Consortium (CVCC) and Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Upon completion of consultation work in Fall 2008, Bow Valley College will begin development work on the tool. In Fall 2009, a national field test will commence with approximately 250 individuals.

For more information on this project, please contact Kaesy Russnak or Erin Haines at 403.410.3200.