Training & Development creates
Online Technology Bootcamp
to provide instruction for employees

I

Fulfilling the Transportation Tech Operator (TTO) Step 1 process requires completing the 2-day Technology Boot Camp computer course. During the pandemic, however, assembling a traditional hands-on, in-person class was simply not possible. So ITD’s Training & Development people went to work to find a solution.

“There were 50 employees around the state who needed the class to advance in the Horizontal Career Path, and all had varying levels of comfort and skill with computing software,” explained Trainer Renae Beal. “We don't want the computer to be a piece of equipment that becomes an obstacle for them in their ITD career.”

Beal said an in-person classroom setting would have been best for the training, but they worked with the hand they were dealt.

“We brainstormed some solutions that would give the participants the right level of interaction. We assessed each participant’s level of comfort and asked their foremen, then assigned them to either an online class with no personal assistance required, or one done online with a district trainer there to help them,” Beal explained.

Of the 50 people, 28 of them took the online course, while 22 opted for the district trainer to help.

Beyond providing the course material and the benefit to the TTOs as they move up in their careers, Beal said there was also a financial benefit to the T & D staff for not having to travel to each of the districts to offer the training – a total of almost $1,800.

They completed two of the boot camps in June.

Beal said the online version of the Technology Boot Camp is likely here to stay.

“We intend to offer it in the fall and in the spring for the more experienced computer users. We’ll also offer the version with the trainer, but I foresee a lot of the TTOs taking advantage of the online option.”

 

Published 08-14-20