eTrac Online Vocational Training Program
Author: Midwest Special Services
Published: 2014/04/11 - Updated: 2021/08/09
Category Topic: Disability Education - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: eTrac is an online vocational training program for helping job seekers overcome employment barriers like disabilities gaps in employment history or mental health challenges. This online program walks the job seeker through every step, from the initial job search, to the interview process, and the skills necessary to retain and advance at work.
Introduction
Midwest Special Services is a 65-year old non-profit serving adults with disabilities. We developed eTrac based on our own effort to teach these skills, we looked everywhere but there was no program like it, so we decided to create it ourselves. This online program walks the job seeker through every step, from the initial job search, to the interview process, and the skills necessary to retain and advance at work.
Main Content
(Education based on occupation or employment), also known as career and technical education (CTE) or technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is education that prepares people for specific trades, crafts and careers at various levels from a trade, a craft, technician, or a professional position in engineering, accountancy, nursing, medicine, architecture, pharmacy, law etc. Craft vocations are usually based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation. It is sometimes referred to as technical education as the trainee directly develops expertise in a particular group of techniques.
A common issue with vocational rehabilitation training is that although the content is incredibly important, it can be hard to convey such necessary information in a productive, efficient, engaging and interactive way. eTrac presents critical job seeking/retention information in an un-intimidating, comfortable and game-like setting.
Description of eTrac:
This innovative online curriculum is designed to teach job search skills to people struggling to overcome barriers to employment, such as disabilities, gaps in employment history or mental health challenges.
This comprehensive curriculum contains six separate courses - the first five focus on a specific phase of the job search process while the sixth focuses on how to successfully keep a job. Each course is fully animated and all information is presented in accessible, easy-to-understand language. Content is reinforced through fun, engaging videos, simulations, interactive exercises, quizzes, exams and a variety of practical opportunities to apply what is learned. All courses are fully narrated.
The curriculum's flexible design makes it easy for facilitators to use eTrac as a self-paced instruction option, to enhance one-to-one training support or to augment group instruction.
eTrac focuses on the unique job search challenges encountered by people with intellectual disabilities, autism, mental health and other employment barriers. However, thanks to its flexible design, eTrac can be easily customized to reflect the needs of other specific audiences, such as veterans, students in transitional programs, and more.
Whether you're a self-advocate, a parent of a child with disabilities or a service provider, eTrac can provide the skills necessary to find and keep a job.
eTrac benefits:
- Century College (MN) has certified the eTrac vocational curriculum as part of its Continuing Education program; this provides as a wonderful addition to a resume and enhanced sense of accomplishment.
- eTrac consists of roughly 40 hours of game-like, engaging and interactive curriculum that includes videos, activities, assignments, group work, video visuals with all content read aloud to assist in comprehension.
- eTrac aims at developing soft skills(eye contact, body language, demeanor, importance of first impressions, self-awareness) and computer skills(basic keyboard and mouse use, printing, password entry, internet navigation etc.)
- We want to help people not only get jobs, but to maintain employment
- Its flexibility allows for an immense amount of freedom and independence, users can access the program anywhere there is internet and teachers/supervisors can track all data/progress via Moodle.
- There are 2 versions of eTrac; a down-loadable version (doesn't require internet for use) and an online, Moodle equipped version (has full data tracking and access anywhere there is internet connection).
- Creative and in depth assignments to accommodate a variety of learning styles, independent, group, blended, 1:1. The software caters to all abilities (all read aloud, all content 3rd-5th grade reading level). Teachers can go through courses with the class in a blended learning environment using a smart board or let the students work independently and then do the assignments/activities as a group
- Create an in depth career quest portfolio. (Resume, cover letter, letter of explanation, assignments, activities,)
- Game changer, separates your program and elevates learning.
- Fully customizable for your school/program/family. Limitless potential
Internet Version of eTrac plus Moodle
Organizations can purchase one-year licenses that provide access to all six eTrac courses, plus the complete tracking capabilities of Moodle, eTrac's learning management system.
Downloadable Version of eTrac
Individuals or organizations can purchase a downloadable version of eTrac which is run locally on a PC or Mac and does not require Internet access. The downloadable will not have access to the tracking capabilities of Moodle. Instead, course completion can be tracked through an email, automatically generated and sent to a designated facilitator when a user completes a course.
The downloadable version of eTrac can also be used by facilitators to present any content in a group setting.
Custom Version of eTrac
Organizations can customize the eTrac online vocational training to meet the unique needs of their specific audience, including:
- Customized instructional content.
- Customized pre- and post-assessments.
- Addition of new modules to address specific needs.
- Development of new avatars to represent your learners' demographics.
- Creation of a new character to act as the adviser throughout the six eTrac courses.
- Creation of entirely new videos used in best practices, role plays, inspirational stories and interactive exercises.
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Midwest Special Services and published on 2014/04/11, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.