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VCCS Employment Services
Planning & Developing a Virtual Employment Centre
Agenda:
Introductions What, How and Why? Features & Technology Costs, Advantages and Limitations
Questions?
What is a Virtual Employment Centre (VEC)?
A highly interactive website
An online “space” where clients can connect with career practitioners, other clients and/or employers
A community “tool” where mediated networking and information sharing can happen
Example:
How is this achieved?
Through interactive features such as:
Video & Audio Clips E-Counselling (a.k.a. Cybercounselling) Online Workshops and Courses (E-Learning) Online Quizzes and Assessments Social Bookmarking Webinars and Podcasting Blogs and Discussion Boards
Why build it?1. Reach more clients using a medium they understand
2. Help clients who can’t meet face-to-face (f2f)
3. Still Relatively Innovative for Community Service Providers
4. Promote your services through client “trusted networks”
5. Recognizes different cognitive preferences of clients
Thinking Styles4 Types
Visual Preferences (V)
Remember what they SEE versus what they HEAR May know what they want to say but have difficulty coming up with the words Usually need to have verbal instructions repeated Respond to colour, art, mapping Like to have a plan; good organizers The See-ers
Clue: Doodle during phone conversations,counselling sessions, classes
Visual Reading/Writing Preferences (VR)
Enjoy reading and would rather read than be read to Like handouts, prefer information in words rather than charts or diagrams Like to use dictionaries, manuals, texts The Reframe-ers
Clue: Often reread silently, rewrite notes, like tojot down ideas
Auditory Preferences (A)
Like to talk through a problem Find writing difficult Remember what they HEAR Don’t visualize well; respond to patterns of sound, speech and music Often good speakers! The Listen-ers
Clue: Talkative, love discussion, repeat words
Kinesthetic Preferences (K) Like to experiment and practice Memorize by WALKING and SEEING Respond to movement, gestures, acting things out Have difficulty remembering a place unless they’ve actually been there The Do-ers
Clue: Hard to sit still during counselling session, may have messy handwriting, gesture a lot when they talk
31km/ 26mins
Large rural area
Few (if any) public transit links
2000+ clients this year Assessment EAS Job Connect IRS Resource Room
VCCS Serves:62.5km;51mins
35km;36mins
20km; 20mins
90km;1hr 22mins
34km;34mins
New Realities = New Issues
Second Career Program
Economic downturn
New strategies?
Context: What is happening in the City of Kawartha Lakes Expansion of broadband Internet service across
the region
Local high schools are teaching in-class lessons while simultaneously broadcasting live online
Local Adult Ed Centre also a Virtual Learning Centre
What is happening in our communities?
Websites are getting ‘deeper’
Computers and Internet connections are getting faster
Web Technologies are evolving
Expectations are changing
Why now?
Technology trends are quickly evolving in terms of what is available and how public perceives it
Emphasis on user input and personalization of
components
This new theme of interactive web is known as Web 2.0
What Our Clients Told Us:
Focus Group of 16 multi-barriered youth aged 16-29
Survey of 142 clients 66% had high-speed Internet at home 51% can use more complex applications 61% engaged in online chat frequently 56% had experience with webcams 54% had used video streaming/videoconferencing
What They Wanted:
58% were interested in online chat (+/- counsellor)
31% liked the idea of attending an online workshop
44% would watch videos of Employer Presentations
50% would watch videos on other topics
Features & Technology
Video Clip Library
Definition: A compilation of video information used as a tool in employment education
(A)
(V)
Putting It Together
2 Options:
Direct users to existing video files in another location (e.g YouTube.com)
Beware of copyright! Can also use hyperlinks to free video files
Record, edit and convert video “in-house” Update web pages easily using an HTML Editor MS Frontpage, Dreamweaver, Coffee Cup NVU, Page Breeze, KompoZer, EVRSoft First Page 06 FREE!
Suggested Hardware
Digital Camcorder Cost $270-$800 (lower end of price range
would be suitable)
Wireless PC Microphone Provides clear, consistent audio
recording for video Cost $100-$130 Audio can also be added later
Suggested Software Windows Movie Maker
Allows: Add music Split and remove portions Insert titles and captions Special effects No cost service; free download
Available on computers using WindowsVery user friendly!
Free Screen Recorder 2.9
Audio Clip Library
Definition: A compilation of audio information used as tool in employment education
Option #1: Provide a library of audio recordings (eg. Employer Presentations)
Option #2: Provide voice readings of written content
(A)
Suggested Hardware and Software
Desktop Microphone $12 - $30
Audio editing software Audacity: FREE download
http://audacity.sourceforge.net
E-Counselling Methods
Use web-based media for service
More than Email; Synchronous
Potential Methods:Live Chat Live Document Sharing
Live Chat Yahoo Messenger ICQ MSN Messenger
Allows collaboration with Yahoo Messenger users Live full screen video and audio messaging Send and receive cell phone text messages Live Chat
Possibilities: establish a time to meet 1:1 or a digital sign-up session for a group
(VR)
(V)
(K)
Zoho.com Live Chat
Free product
Chat box can be embedded directly into your webpage – nice feature!
Anonymous secured meeting space
“Live Support” vs “Shoutbox”
Insert Zoho.com chat box sample here
Live Document Sharing
Online connection with one person or a group collaboration on written electronic documentsscreen sharing and remote assistance
Live Chat is included
Examples: Googledocs.com, Zoho.com, Windows Live Workspace
(V)
(K)
Online Information Exchange
Social Bookmarking Quizzes & Assessments RSS Feeds
WebcastingPodcasting
Social Bookmarking
A method of Human Mediated Search
Search engines such as Google use “metaspiders”
Social bookmarks centralize info others have found on the same topic
“The average person spends 1 hour a day searching online. That means every 2 weeks, our clients are loosing an entire
working day of time.”
Marco Campagna – OCASI
Demystifying Web 2.0 Facilitator
How this works:
Sign up for a FREE account on a social bookmarking site
Copy the website address and add it to your social bookmark
Place links on pages of your website
Quizzes & Assessments
Crossword puzzles
Multiple choice or short answer quizzes
Fill in the blank worksheets
Matching exercises
RSS Feeds
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication”
A file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web
Users request notification when an addition is made to a webpage through a feedreader
Can be added to your webpage or blog using a feedburner
Podcast subscriptions work this way
Webcasting
An Internet technology that literally broadcasts information: audio or video live (streaming) or ‘on demand’ Unlike typical surfing (which relies on users coming to the
information) webcasting uses push technology (RSS Feeds)
Non-interactive, linear stream of a media file
Could be used to broadcast workshop facilitators or guest speakers
Components of a Podcast
RSS (Subscription Method)
Podcast
Webpage
Client Communications: Blogs and Discussion Boards
A space for clients to learn and to network
Blogging
Open forum communication tool
Can be individualistic or perform a crucial function for your organization
3 basic functions: post links to other sourcescompile news and articles provide a forum for opinions and commentary
(V)
(K)
(VR)
Discussion Board/Message Board
Users post and read announcements on topics of common interest
A popular way to interact online
Easy to navigate and easy to use
Where To Start?
1. Consider Your Context - what makes sense?
Agency & Budget Service Area and Client Demographic Human Resources Current Online Presence
2. Survey Your Clients – where are they?
Where To Start?
3. Take An Inventory – how much do you already know?
Staff training needs Identify a “Champion”
4. Explore Partnerships – who can help you make it happen?
Look within your community for logical partners Who offers training in Web 2.0? Can we collaborate?
Where To Start?
5. Test It Out – when should you ‘go live’? Have we missed anything? Run some test groups or pilots with existing
clients
6. Model the Behaviour – use the tools often! Have staff refer clients to the site and
demonstrate features during f2f sessions Encourage staff to participate in the collaboration
Considerations:
Funding model & where virtual service delivery fits
Organizational capacity to make it work
“The ultimate goal of technology should be to enhance customer relationships and to increase service levels.”
- Dan Trepanier, YMCA of Greater Toronto
(Technology & Career and Employment Counselling – A Compendium of Thought, Counselling Foundation of Canada, 1998)
Questions?
