Presented at the Careers Conference, January 2011

1. 1/27/2011
Best Practices, Strategies, and
Results of Computer Skills
Workshops in Sheboygan, WI
 Emmy VandenLangenberg-For taking such good care of the  We experienced many manufacturers closing
workshops and workers and for helping organize this their plants in Sheboygan County. Many
material.
others were laying off workers in record
 Polly Abts–Our supervisor and grant writer for this program.
Thank you for making this happen and letting us have such a numbers.
great opportunity.  Unemployment in Sheboygan, WI rose from
 Mary St. Andre-Our Administrative Asst. and guardian angel. 5.7 in 2008 to 11.7 in 2009*
These workshops would not happen without her organization,
dedication, and “gentle” reminders to keep on task.  Many of these Dislocated Workers had been
 Bay Area Workforce Development Board and Lakeshore employed in the manufacturing field for
Technical College for funding and support. many years…decades.
 Sheboygan Area Dislocated Workers -For overcoming fear,
frustration, and self-doubt to undertake new tasks and new
beginnings. *Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
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2. 1/27/2011
 Why?
 Employers who were hiring for jobs, seeing • LTC contracted with Bay Area Workforce
prospective employees without basic computer skills
needed for jobs: customer service reps, healthcare, Development Board in Summer 2009 to address
office admin. needs of dislocated workers in Sheboygan.
 Instructors at Technical Colleges were seeing DW • Initial curriculum taken from LTC Community
students who did not have basic computer skills of
other student populations.
Education Coursework. Additional curriculum was
 Increased demand on Job Center staff members to added to address objectives of the courses.
provide basic services to DW clients who could not • Curriculum was updated and revised regularly to
use computer to: meet changing technology.
 create resume
 cover letter
 look for open positions
 fill out on-line applications
 send e-mails with resumes & applications.
 Funding
 To introduce basic  Part of WIA funding (Core Services)& National
computer concepts to
dislocated workers. Emergency Grant (NEG) partnership between
Bay Area Workforce Development Board and
 Free but substantive
courses that will assist Lakeshore Technical College Dislocated
basic proficiency in Worker Support team.
Microsoft Office Word,
e-mail, the internet.
 Curriculum targeted to
meet two objectives:
 Seeking Employment
 Re-entering Education
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3. 1/27/2011
 5 Classes offered
 Absolute Beginners
 Computers for Beginners
 Word Level 1 and 2
 Location  Internet/Email
 Located in the  Classroom limit of 10 computers
Dislocated Worker
Assistance Center in
 Offered at convenient times and
an annex location at days
the Sheboygan  5 hours each (2 x 2.5 hour sessions)
Memorial Mall
And Then Try to Find This…
How Do You Get From This…
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4. 1/27/2011
 Someone who has never used a computer
 Limited in experience
 Has worked on a computer but only in company
 Parts of a Computer supplied/specific software
 Operating Systems
 Terrified of destroying computer
 Windows XP
 Never felt it necessary
 Computer Functions and Terminology
 Navigating basic file structures  Afraid of learning
 Creating, Saving, Opening a File  “Can’t” or “Too old”
 The Role of Memory  Suffers Mouse-o-phobia
 Storage Devices  A fear of connecting physically with the
technology
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5. 1/27/2011
 20% Content and 80% Cheerleading  Personalizing the Personal Computer
 Rearranging the Desktop
 Keep the content basic and easy to
 Changing appearance
understand
 File Management
 Introduce skills through the use of fun
 Copying, moving, and deleting files
tools!!
 The Recycling Bin
 Paint
 Search for Files
 Solitaire
 Task Manager
 Reassure learners
 Maintenance of Hard Drive
 Past experience plus new skills equals
 Keyboarding
new opportunities
 The learner is more eager and willing to try new
things!!
 Enforce Rule:  Welcome to Microsoft Office Word 2007
“DO NOT CLICK ON IT IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT  Creating Documents
DOES!!!”
 Introduce them to troubleshooting  Fonts and Formatting Text
 Now they don’t have to call a teenager!!  Saving and opening a File
 Many have older computers and lack the funds to  Editing
purchase new.
 Be able to work with what they have.  Changing Margins
 Welcome to Word Processing  Page Orientation
 Easing anxiety over typing speeds  Copy, Cut and Paste Text
 Use internet tools/games to build skills
 Go for accuracy and then speed
 Spelling and Grammar Check
 Printing
 Envelopes & Labels
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6. 1/27/2011
 Introduction to the Internet
 Find and Replace  What is a Browser?
 Headers and Footers  Connecting to the Internet
 Creating their own Letterhead  Web Addresses: What Do They Mean?
 Working With Tables  Protecting your Computer
 Inserting a Table  Searching The Internet
 Navigating and Selecting Cells in a Table  Information and jobs
 Merging Table Cells  Using Electronic Mail
 Inserting and Deleting Tables and Cells  Electronic mail etiquette
 Working with Tabs  Setting up your own email account
 Using a Word Template  Attaching a file to email
 Working with Graphics
 How To Recognize Phishing E-mail or Links
 Inserting a Picture From a File  Safe Surfing
 Inserting ClipArt and WordArt  Account settings in email and social
networking sites
 It’sabout more than  All level of learners
just the computers  You might not be
 Fear of computer where you think you
 Overcoming emotional are
turmoil of Job Loss  Flexing
our “teaching
 Provided needed support methods” muscles.
with co-workers
 Assessing on the fly to
 Challenging room adjust content
layout made for more
 Family members can
creative teaching
and will be separated
 “What’s that Facebook
thing all about?”… in the classroom!
 Busting myths and  “Don’t make me stop
rumors this class!”
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7. 1/27/2011
 Average response on ease of registration
4.7/5
 We held 179 classes between September,  Classes were well organized 4.4/5
2009 and December, 2010.  Information presented in an understandable
 884 people attended classes. way 4.6/5
 Average class size of 5 students: 1 trainer.  The trainer encouraged and answered
 We asked participants to fill out evaluations
questions throughout the workshop 4.7/5
and received an 84% response rate. (Thanks  My reason for taking this workshop was
to Mary) satisfied 4.5/5
 I would recommend this workshop to others
4.7/5
 In general, I was satisfied with this
workshop 4.4/5
What did you like about this workshop?
 The instructor was great! She is very
informative. She makes learning
Suggestions for Improvements? Thank you!
fun. She keeps your class interesting
 Learning to overcome my  Need more practice! Sheila Kronberg
intimidation of computers due to my  Wouldn’t change a thing WIA Case Manager/Counselor
lack of knowledge and getting closer  Have more classes more often Sheboygan Job Center
to the point I to be at for the (920) 287-7833
working world  Even more elementary
definitions would be useful Sheila.kronberg@gotoltc.edu
 It shows you step by step and hands
on  A free brunch
 I am trying to learn about
computers and I learned already in 5
hrs.
 Relaxing-easy going-pleasant
atmosphere
 Able to learn about computer at a
comfortable pace and practice at a
comfortable pace
 It was very informative for a dummy
like myself. Sheila was a wonderful
& very patient person
 Sheila was great!
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