Facing the challenges of online learning
Jeffrey’s man taking on Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries program
CORNER BROOK — Jude Francis moved home to Jeffrey’s from Ontario three years ago to help out his parents, but since that time securing work or availing of a program to help enhance his skills has been difficult.
At 48, with dyslexia and without a high school diploma, Francis feels he’s at a bit of a disadvantage.
So, when he was contacted about participating in the Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries program, he jumped at the opportunity.
Funded by the federal government, the program is led by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council (NLLLC), the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance and Literacy Nova Scotia.
The goal of the program is to provide participants with essential skills and employability skills for the workplace. Here, in this area, program participants will gain experience in the fishery and agriculture sectors through the on-the-job training and paid work placement portion of the program.
Francis considers the program his second chance.
“I had to completely reevaluate my life,” he said by phone from his home. “I don’t even know where to begin to be thankful. I’m excited to get up in the morning and learn.”
Francis is one of 13 participants in the program. The group, with people from Corner Brook, Heatherton, Robinsons, Black Duck Siding and Stephenville, started the in-class portion of the program in Black Duck Siding on March 9. And then COVID-19 happened and the program had to stop.
“Just my luck,” said Francis,
“I finally get somewhere where I’m actually starting to move forward with my life and better myself and this happens.”
But within a few weeks the NLLLC was able to get the program up and running online with a virtual classroom through Velsoft.
Francis was nervous about the switch as he’s learned to compensate for his dyslexia by honing his listening skills to ensure he’s getting everything he needs to understand instructions. It’s something he feels works better in person.
“It’s somewhat of a challenge for me, but it’s a good challenge.”
The biggest challenge was more in the method of learning.
“I was more afraid of the computer than I was of the class,” he said.
The change has allowed him the opportunity to work with the Chromebook provided to him and learn more about computers.
“I go online at least once a day now. I’m getting on by myself, I’m doing the video chats. It’s unbelievable.”
Jennifer Brake is the project co-ordinator and facilitator of the program and said Francis’s situation is not an unusual one for many of the participants.
Many have limited computer knowledge or access to technology and she had only completed one-day of computer training in the classroom before COVID-19 happened. She’s had to help them learn to use the computer and to get on to the virtual classroom over the phone.
And she’s a bit surprised with how well things have been going with 100 per cent attendance in the sessions and the participants doing more individual work at home in the nighttime.
“I feel like they’ve learned more because of COVID with computers, because they had to do this online, than they would have even if they were just in the classroom.”
She can see a place in the program for a mix of online and in-class instruction.
The program was originally supposed to be six weeks of in-class training, followed by two weeks on the job training and then seven-week paid work placements at North Atlantic Aquaponics, Atlantic Canada Eel and Growing for Life.
Now they’ll have 10 weeks to complete the in-class component online. The onthe-job training and work placements will still go ahead starting mid-june because they are in areas that are part of the food chain.
Francis is looking forward to that.
“This is all new to me. So, each day as we’re learning and growing the options are there to do many things. So, wherever they put me and wherever I get a chance to grow with, I’m in. I can’t wait.”