First Nations ITC Training

1. First Nations ITC Training Issues Challenges Best Practices

2. The Challenge: Sending students to training courses • Ideal for some students • Grade 12 • Basic ITC skills • Adequate literacy level • Proficient in learning with mainstream educational techniques • Able to function well outside their communities • Is this the profile of student candidates in remote rural communities? ITC training for First Nations

3. What can we learn from a pilot community? • Yekooche as a pilot community • Remote (60 km from Fort St. John) • 14% have grade 12 or equivalent • Extensive computer literacy in those younger than 16 yrs. • Some motivation to learn computer skills among young people • Ambivalence among older and elders ITC training for First Nations

4. The Study (Network BC/YFN) • What does the community think of the training plans? • What are the problems? • What do we know about these problems? • What has worked elsewhere and why? ITC training for First Nations

5. How the Study was conducted • Consultation in Yekooche • Youth, elders, middle ages, administrators, consultants, treaty negotiators, etc. • Review of YFN Community studies and Plans • Extensive Literature Review of First Nation training and learning • Consultation with Network BC • Review of FNS strategic Plan – discussions ITC training for First Nations

6. What does the community want? • Training in the community • Training suitable to learners • Training available to members of each family • Some want certificates • Sustainability ITC training for First Nations

7. What are the impediments to successful training? • Negative previous experiences with school/High failure rate a warning against ‘business as usual’ • Mainstream school environment often culturally in appropriate • Health problems prevent sustainability • Limited experience with peer-to-peer training ITC training for First Nations

8. Warning!What has worked elsewhere and why? • Huge gap between successful and unsuccessful models • Learn from experience • Be flexible – no one size fits all communities • Evaluate and revise ITC training for First Nations

9. What has worked elsewhere and why? – The big one! 1. Community Rules! • Community input in design of training the single largest determiner of success • Community input into the design and implementation of the evaluation of the training also very important. • Community support to address health learner health problems key ITC training for First Nations

10. What has worked?The other big one! 2. Culturally appropriate training • Many studies show training designed specifically for First Nation learners’ cultural needs and shared experience produces best results. • Mainstream training models should be adapted to be culturally appropriate • (see report for more on key cultural elements) ITC training for First Nations

11. What has worked? 3. Pick motivated learners 4. Measure success and adapt (working with the community) 5. Motivate the learners 6. Set the learners up for success and provide continuous feedback 7. Adapt learning models to the community needs ITC training for First Nations