Government & Non-Profit Organizations:

Training

Wakeford & Associates researches, plans, writes and facilitates customized online and group training programs. We also test and evaluate existing programs and services and present recommendations.

Online Training

Carrie Wakeford has completed training in "Designing and Authoring an Online Course". She understands the learning styles and needs of adult learners.

Carrie has designed online training for foreign trained engineers. She has also created online training in customer service.

She has researched, designed, developed and facilitated a seven week online training program for career decision making in the health services field. The design included the development of course notes, individual tasks and discussion group topics, as well as instructions for facilitators. She was also responsible for uploading material and managing information using the training software.

Carrie has edited an online course for individuals exploring careers in the trades and provided support to the online facilitator.

She has also created an online course to teach online facilitators. This course included facilitation tips in addition to guidelines for uploading and customizing programs using a Learning Content Management System.

She co-wrote and co-facilitated a workshop called "Technology-Supported Distance Learning" at a provincial conference.

Online course topics include:

• Customer Service
• P.Eng. Application
• Canadian Culture
• Cultural Awareness
• Workplace Laws
• Communication Skills
• Essential Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Goal Setting
• Team Work
• Analytical Skills (Problem Solving, Decision Making, Critical Thinking)
• Time Management
• Stress Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Career Decision Making
• Job Search including:
  • Self Assessments
  • Career Decision Making
  • Research and Employer Tracking
  • Résumés and Cover Letters
  • Interview Skills
  • Networking and Cold Calls
  • Job Keeping Skills

Carrie has also tested and edited online and CD-based training courses in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Business Financial Management, Human Resource Management and Customer Service.

Facilitation

Carrie Wakeford has experience with online course facilitation, including the provision of e-mail and telephone support. She guided online discussion groups and chats. She has also hosted an online guest speaker.

She presented online information and activities and supported learning through discussion, independent research, group assignments and community based activities. She used both synchronous and asynchronous methods.

To enable students to access online content, tasks and discussions, Carrie has provided guidance in the development of basic computer skills.

In addition to online training, Carrie is also a certified Job Finding Club Facilitator and a Life Skills Coach with extensive group facilitation experience.

Wakeford & Associates also has a list of Associates who specialize in leading large and small groups. All facilitators have demonstrated the ability to respond to different learning styles which allows them to meet the various needs of group members. By creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable, they have been successful in motivating participants.

All courses and workshops combine the presentation of information with the opportunity for interactive learning.

Literacy and Essential Skills Training

Carrie Wakeford has designed five "Literacy and Essential Skills in Industrial Arts" courses. This included interviewing artists, researching and designing curriculum and identifying resources. She provided information and interactive activities for both individuals and groups. Each course highlighted the development of all nine Essential Skills. In addition to curriculum development, facilitator manuals were designed for each of these programs.

She has participated in the Alberta Workforce Essential Skills Society (AWES) workshop entitled "A Process Model for Integrating Workplace Essential Skills into Curricula" and she completed training in "Educational and Essential Skills Assessment". Recently Carrie attended the national "Essential Skills in Instruction" conference.

Career Management Training

Carrie has researched, designed and developed a one week (35 hour) online, CD-based job search course for a national career college. This included developing components that covered Labour Market Information, self assessment, self-employment, job search organization and implementation, résumés, references, employment letters, portfolios, interview skills and career management (job maintenance). To complement the individualized program, she designed a facilitator manual, exam, narrative and a list of resource materials.

Workshop Development

Wakeford & Associates has designed, customized and evaluated workshops, programs and orientation sessions. Topics included:

• Stress Management
• Creativity
• Humour in the Workplace
• Attitude and Motivation
• Teamwork
• Career Management at Work
• Job Search:
  • Career Management for Professionals
  • Job Search for the Experienced Worker
  • Job Search for the Seasonal Worker
  • Job Search for Teens
  • Career Exploration and Decision Making
  • Workshops in Portfolio Development, Résumé and Cover Letter Development, Networking and Cold Call Techniques
• Self-Employment and Business Plan Development
• Soft Skills, Life Skills and Job Keeping Skills Programs
• Teen and Career Decision Making; A Workshop for Parents