The programs are:
Surveys were conducted with both Academic Upgrading program managers (program co-ordinators or leads) and front line deliverers to gather information about what program linkages are currently in place and what the information needs of front line deliverers are with respect to One Stop, Job Connect and Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship. Surveys were returned by 31 program managers and 73 front line deliverers.
Together, the projects served as a comprehensive PD needs assessment for the 2006 Conference. Information gathered through the projects provided a very strong focus for the conference and determined the format and themes of the sessions. Those themes included:
As appropriate, the project reports were circulated to conference presenters and facilitators in advance to help them plan for the sessions.
Four distinct professional development formats were used to help participants learn about developments in the field, gain strategies to apply in practice and network with colleagues from other colleges. They are:
Theme figured predominantly in the way the sessions were structured, i.e., sessions were connected by theme as much as possible. For example the workshop, Distance and Technology-Assisted Learning, was followed up by the panel, Integrating Technology into the Classroom.