The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC-Ontario)

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For 85 years, Experiences Canada has opened young people’s minds and involved them in a broader world. We offer transformative learning opportunities accessible to youth across Canada – creating fun, safe, memorable experiences that deepen their connection to their community and their country, enrich personal relationships, and build confidence and skills.2 Column

THE CHALLENGE

ACEC-Ontario is the official program provider of Highway Construction Inspection, Contract Administration, and Road Construction Contract Administration (RCCA) recertification courses, on behalf of two industry groups.

RCCA is a mandatory recertification course designed to update consulting engineering personnel on changes to policies and procedures. The recertification course has been previously delivered via instructor-led classroom-based learning sessions but since the pandemic, programming has been shifted to the online learning space.

The existing content included 200 PowerPoint slides; a 300-page bound printed book. In addition, the instructors were unfamiliar with best practices of teaching in a virtual classroom.

THE SOLUTION

shiftED Academy redesigned the slides for eight subject matters to include a consistent and refreshed design theme suitable for the online learning experience. As well, we redesigned the supplementary participant handouts to optimize delivery with online learning methodology.

We offered group training and individual coaching for the instructors, seasoned in-the-field professionals with years of experience teaching in-person audiences. We focused on online facilitation skills, including audience engagement techniques, technology, and adult-learning principles, to ensure comfort and confidence presenting online and leading a virtual classroom.

THE RESULT

ACEC-Ontario launched the redesigned training content for the 2021 industry mandated continuing education to an audience of 200+ learners. Instructors applied their newly learned online skills and techniques to engage their participants and lead them to successful completion of their RCCA recertification.

The reviews from the audience were overwhelmingly positive for both the slide designs and for the presenters. With the success of the online course and instructor training, the decision has been made to continue in a virtual delivery going forward.