WESTERN ENERGY TRAINING CENTER WETC: DESIGNING AN EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

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WESTERN ENERGY TRAINING CENTER (WETC)DESIGNING
AN EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

• Steve Burge
• Sam Quigley
• Dr. Robert Topping
• August 24, 2006

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Background Need for WETC

• Nations dependence on the supply and
  distribution of consistent energy resources
• Major workforce concerns and needs
• Energy Industries are accelerating efforts
  develop workers

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Responsive To Local Need

Education
Community
Industry
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Purpose

• The purpose of the WETC is
• Respond to the workforce needs of the energy
  industry and the communities they serve

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Energy Workforce Development System
Strategic Workforce 70
Performance Gap
Years
20 15 10 5 0
Tactical workforce 20
Knowledge Base Prep Basic Tactical
Strategic Expert
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Senior Personnel
Strategic Knowledge (Cross-Functional Knowledge)
Succession Planning
Mid-Level Personnel
Time in Specialty
Tactical Knowledge (Siloed Knowledge)
Junior Personnel
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Current WETC Strategic Development Questions

• What is the function of the WETC?
• What state of the art features will be needed?
• What are the major issues that need to be
  addressed?

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Significance of WETC

• Vital to economic development
• Energy industries expend significant resources on
  training
• Need based training
• Replace aging workforce
• WETC can be the entry point

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Key Argument for WETC SignificanceAging
Workforce

• Strategic workforce eligible to retire
• Strategic positions will be the most difficult to
  replace
• Loss of critical knowledge
• Energy Industry will protect and plan for their
  future work force needs

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Snapshot of Retirements
Strategic workforce
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Organization of WETC Focus

• Features of WETC
• Components
• Associated features

• Function of WETC
• Learning Outcomes
• Learning Process

• Major Issues Affecting WETC
• Strategic planning
• Sustainable funding
• Undocumented knowledge

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Function of WETC Learning Environment

• Learning outcome
• Comprehend the performance capabilities of energy
  workers to be competent in the workplace
• Learning process
• Demonstrate how energy workers accomplish the
  learning outcomes

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Current WETCLearning Activities

• better prepare and assist energy workers to
  successfully accomplish their current duties and
  prepare for the future workforce needs of industry

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Elements of WETC Learning Process

• Individual work
• Lectures
• Small group work
• Hybrid work
• Student practice
• Testing

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WETC Future Learning Environments

• Outdoor
• Underground systems
• Indoor High-bays
• Learning Laboratories
• Classrooms
• Work-based learning

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Future WETC Learning Components

• Themes
• Will serve as the fabric for WETC
• curriculum
• Will structure how WETC will
• better prepare workers for future
• challenges

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Unique Features for WETC

• On-site
• Equipment Training
• Simulators

Reclamation Construction Site
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Major Industry Issues will be Addressed by WETC
Strategic Planning

• A synthesis of the major issues affecting
  industry provides the basis for what needs to be
  addressed in WETC products, process, and services

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Implications for Policy and Practice

• Develop strategies
• Outline decision making
• Set the framework
• Address major energy industry workforce issues

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Further WETC Activities

• Study the overall performance levels of
  energy-workers
• Comprehend the geographic sensitivity of WETC
  training offerings
• Determine the appropriate considerations and
  responses

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Epilogue

• Critical workforce needs are occurring now
• WETC needs to participate amongst cluster groups
  of Employers
• Collaborative efforts need to identify and
  prepare expanded labor pools for entry

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WESTERN ENERGY TRAINING CENTER (WETC)Preparing
Workers for Opportunities in the ENERGY INDUSTRY