Supporting Construction Millwrights

1. Supporting Construction MillwrightsRiding the Wave:Joint College Academic Upgrading, Job Connect, Apprenticeship Training EventSue Folinsbee and Claire HallJune 5, 2007

2. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Purpose of Presentation: • To present the highlights (work-in-progress) from a • province-wide consultation to find out what academic supports would be useful for construction millwright apprentices • To discuss with participants how the findings relate (or not) to their own experiences

3. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Background Information: • consultation is a partnership of the Millwright Regional Council of Ontario and the College Sector Committee • purpose of the partnership is to identify academic upgrading challenges for construction millwright apprentices and strategies to address these challenges • consultation just one component of a larger project: Supporting Apprenticeship and Pre Apprenticeship Programming Through Academic Upgrading • several other deliverables are pivotal to this project

4. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Millwright Regional Council of Ontario: • affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners • eight locals cover the province • Millwright Regional Council and its members were interested in finding ways to address the challenges that apprentices may face in the in-school component of their apprenticeship in areas such as trades math, document use, reading comprehension, note taking, study skills and test taking

5. Supporting Construction Millwrights • What is a Construction Millwright? • A millwright is a tradesperson who installs, maintains and • repairs stationary industrial machinery and mechanical • equipment by interpreting drawings, performing layouts and • assembling parts until they are in perfect working order. • Construction millwrights often work for more than one • employer in a year, at various locations, in order to execute the • Initial installation of industrial plant equipment. • Millwright Regional Council of Ontario • http://www.millwrightsontario.com/

6. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Purpose of consultation: • identify challenges in the in-class component of the construction millwright apprenticeship training • identify supports that would help address the challenges • make recommendations with respect to strategies that address the consultation findings

7. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Consultation Methodology: • consultation began in March 2007 • participants were local apprenticeship committee members, apprentices in school and working, business managers, apprenticeship instructors, and others • focus groups and interviews were used • to date, there have been 144 respondents • ethical consent practices were developed • a wide range of topics related to the in-school component of apprenticeship was explored

8. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Findings: Construction Millwright Apprentice Profile • the large majority of apprentices are male, between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age • all have a high school diploma • some have taken other college courses such as pre apprenticeship or pre trades, welding, industrial mechanics or other trades related courses • some apprentices have had previous careers • apprentices learn best from watching or listening, then hands on and trying things

9. Supporting Construction MillwrightsWhat is Working Well • •current apprentices liked having instructors who are active millwrights still working on the tools • • networking opportunities with other apprentices from across the province valuable • • there is an attitude of support between apprentices • • opportunity to share stories and learn from others’ experiences • • learning about different industries. • • blue print training evenings at locals a success

10. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Findings: Academic Upgrading Challenges • academic upgrading challenges take place within the context of larger challenges • difficult areas in school include math, reading comprehension, blue print reading, study skills, note taking, and writing tests • referral of applicants for apprenticeship who fail the aptitude test to upgrading programs • preparation for, and orientation to the in-school component of apprenticeship before it starts • more help needed to help apprentices prepare for the Certificate of Qualification

11. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Findings: Overall Strategies Suggested to Address • Academic Upgrading Challenges • mentoring system • training and refresher packages for areas of challenge • adult learning strategies • college supports • more connection between theory and practice • common study guide for the C of Q • provincial referral protocol

12. Supporting Construction Millwrights • Recommendations in four areas: • Provincial Referral Protocol • Diagnostic Assessment, Refresher Packages and Training Modules • Mentoring through Millwright Locals • Instructor Information and Professional Development

13. Supporting Construction Millwrights • How do these findings relate to your own experience in the college system with respect to apprenticeship in-school training and pre apprenticeship and pre trades training? • What strategies have you used to address the kinds of challenges identified in this consultation especially through integration and partnerships between Academic Upgrading and Apprenticeship and Pre Apprenticeship?