Let’s take another look at learning styles, how they affect how you will do in school and how they should even affect what career you choose.

Tailoring your abilities to your education

Whether you’ve got to see it to believe it, can’t believe your ears, or physically do it yourself, learning is different for everyone.

Do you learn better when you’ve got the instructions right in front of you? Do you have to hear something to know how to do it? Or, are you one of those people who has to do it themselves once to have it down pat? Everyone’s a different kind of learner, and knowing what type you are can definitely help you decide what career and schooling institution is right for you.

Visual learners are those people who must see the task being done or read instructions in order to learn how to do it themselves. It’s estimated that the majority of people are solely visual learners, or visual and one of the other types. If you’re a visual learner, you have good spatial concepts; you likely are good with language and can understand word problems, and can memorize from textbooks.

Auditory learners are those people that understand how to perform a task by hearing the instructions or method read out to them. Auditory learners are the second most common type of learner. If you’re an auditory learner, you likely do well in oral discussions; you might be good at learning and remembering music by ear, and you may pick up languages quickly by just listening to a native speaker. You also can follow and understand detailed instructions by just hearing them.

The last type of learner is a kinesthetic or tactile learner. These people learn by actually performing the task themselves. They also learn by handling objects or drawing pictures of what they’ve learned. If you’re a kinesthetic learner, you’re likely good with your hands – you might paint, sculpt or draw well; you might also be able to fix and understand mechanical objects. Kinesthetic learners are often another type of learner, as well – a visual/kinesthetic learner can pair pictures and graphs to a statistical report well, for example.

The type of learner you are can help you determine what your strengths in a job are. A visual learner may not do well as a mechanic, but an auditory learner may be a great teacher. Learning types will help you decide what your career path should be.

Community college, universities, or specialized schools – what works for you?

You’re ready to take the next step for finding and learning about your medical career; now, what sort of school should you attend? There are several types of post-secondary institutions that offer different types of education. Before you decide on where to go, ask yourself these questions:

• What sort of career are you aiming for? Different careers require different levels of schooling. For example, you can’t become a doctor by attending a community college, but you can become a nursing assistant or acquire skills in the medical field itself. You can also transfer your credits to a university later on down the road and achieve your dream of becoming a doctor.

• What kind of learner are you? How you learn will determine what kind of education you will need. People who do better in an auditory/visual environment might prefer the academic environment of university. People who are more hands-on may do better in a community college or technical school environment.

• What can you afford? Tradition-al universities are often much more expensive than colleges. However, community colleges are often better for preparing for university, and you can transfer credits if the institution is accredited.

Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, you can start to research institutions. They basically fall into three main categories:

• Universities. These schools are traditional colleges, giving out degrees in disciplines such as English, Humanities, Arts and Sciences. They tend to be generalized degrees, incorporating a large spectrum of careers and education. You can take nursing, medicine, physical therapy or chiropractics.

• Community Colleges. These schools tend to be much more technical, teaching their students exactly what they need to know for specific careers. Mechanics, people in the nursing field, and medical assistants would go to a school like this. Specialized education will prepare you for a career by giving you lots of hands-on experience. They also may provide distance education in a variety of disciplines and even special interest classes.

• Technical or trade schools. These schools are extremely specialized – electricians, plumbers, welders, etc. will receive their education at these schools. There, they will learn their trade, make contacts and apprentice to further their careers.

Whatever you choose, make sure to do your research and make sure that your diploma or degree will serve you well in the working world.

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So, if you believe some people we are now on our way out of the recession. The skilled trades job market seems to hum along as well as it ever has. A few recent news stories paint a picture of the present and future of skilled trades jobs.

The Guardian complains about government policy in the UK

A story in the Guardian – albeit, this is the Guardian – claims to uncover an issue that has been hampering policy there for several years: the persistent miscalculation of how employment will change by the year 2020 and what impact societal and other changes should be anticipated and how they should affect present politics. The article, in part, cites Ed Balls, the schools secretary, who says in part, that the future of Britain’s job market holds an “increasing demand for higher skills, with very few jobs available for people with low or no skills”.

The article offers a portrati of some young job seekers who have acquired skills but no strong job prospects. And on the other hand, “sceptics of the government’s policy [say the] predictions are groundless. There is no evidence, they say, that the number of mainly low-paid jobs that recruit young people with few or no skills or qualifications is going to shrink.”

Canada: more training, more demand and even some appreciation

In Canada, trade schools like the one offered at Sir Sanford Fleming College are successfully running students through the program and growing steadily. And a survey of Ottawa Valley businesses found that there is a growing shortage of skilled trades workers. Meanwhile, visiting St. John’s Newfoundland, Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised local construction and promised  that the Government will continue investment in Newfoundland’s employment and training programs.  Among other things, he told the crowd: “If construction professionals adopt new technologies and stay current with their expertise, they should have long, busy and successful careers,” the Prime Minister said.

Your neighbourhood

Leave a note to tell me and others how things are in your neck of the woods. Are there lots of skilled trades jobs? Do they pay well? Is there still a recession affecting you? Drop a comment and unless it’s spam I’ll allow it, to see if we can engage some discussion on the latest about skilled trades jobs.

And where have I been?

I would be remiss if I did not note that I have not blogged in an incredibly long time. The simple fact is that this is one of numerous gigs I have and I have numerous other commitments that (frankly) pay better and more immediately. You can bet that I will still be checking in now and then and blogging when there is proper blogging to do.

This summer’s World Skills Competition in Calgary means that people all over the world are training and otherwise gearing up to compete for gold, silver and bronze.  Canada Skills is holding its national showdown May 20 – 23 in Charlottetown, PEI, approximately 100 days ahead of the ‘Olympics of skilled trades.’ For agenda, logistics and registration information visit the Canadian Skills Competition at www.skills2009.ca.

Meanwhile, in Charleston, West Virginia, they are competing just for the fun of it.  Mike Finlayson is one of a number of apprentices competing in the West Virginia State Pipe Trades annual apprenticeship contest at the Civic Center. Says Finlayson, “I went to Carver Career Center, did well there, got into this and never looked back.”

The competitions allow apprentices and experienced tradesmen to network, learn from each other and about each other. Jim Cartwright, a veteran, says that apprenticeships offer “a great opportunity for young men and women. They go in at fifty percent, thirteen dollars an hour. And, in five years, they double that to twenty six. Great health care and pension. I’ve been doing this for thirty years and I love it.”

The State of Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) Initiative got a $100,000 boost from The Grainger Foundation. The donation will support training and education for NWLB students pursuing careers in high-demand traditional trades like HVAC and plumbing as well as emerging trades in the green sector.

Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholme said, “Grainger’s commitment to Michigan is extraordinary. It is precisely this kind of public/private partnership and investment in NWLB scholarships for emerging-sector businesses that will help us train highly- skilled workers for jobs in the 21st century economy.”

“We are proud to support this important initiative to reinvigorate the Michigan workforce,” said Grainger’s Octavia Matthews. “Grainger is excited to help with the retraining of workers throughout Michigan so they are well prepared as they pursue jobs in the skilled trades.”

The Grainger Foundation is funded by W. W. Grainger, Inc., the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving North America and China.

Read more about No Worker Left Behind.

Read the press release here.

This past weekend, Canadian prime minister hopeful Steven Harper (Conservative) announed that graduates of apprenticeship programs will receive a $2000 bonus if he is elected.

Said Harper, “We need carpenters, mechanics, welders, chefs, pipefitters and other skilled workers to build the roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure that keep our economy growing and our country strong.” He was speaking in St. John, NB, at the Carpenters’ Training Centre, a non-profit organization run by the province’s carpenters and joiners union and unionized contractors.

Okay, so it’s an election promise. But does this indicate a difference between two elections? From the US, we’ve only heard one peep about skilled trades and support for trade schools – and that was not even from a presidential candidate. (This is at least as far as we can tell, here at the trade up- feel free to fill us in if we missed something.)

The announcement was met with surprised applause by trainees in the audience. Harper also took the opportunity to opine that the skilled trades shortage was a sign of Canada’s economic strength and that the country was in a stronger position than its neighbours to the south.

Perhaps we agree, and the US is simply overwhelmed by much bigger problems to give any attention to something as ‘inconsequential’ as skilled trades.

“These guys have a job the day they graduate,” said Harper, whose government has previously brought in other incentives, including a $1,000-per-year grant and a $500 deduction for tools – all to help those in the trades.

Just less than 50 ‘Red Seal’ trades, ranging from hairdressers to welders, will qualify for the bonus.

Harper’s campaign co-chair, former premier Bernard Lord, called the promised bonus “very significant” for the New Brunswick economy. Lord added that while the province needs “doctors and nurses, we need plumbers and pipefitters and electricians, too.”

“It’s a great idea,” said one apprentice in the crowd. “Everybody can use a couple extra thousand, especially with the price of tools. We’re not doing this on our own money – most of us have student loans.”

Meanwhile, St. John Liberal MP Paul Zed pointed out that the Liberal party has already unveiled a $600-million program that will offer apprentices a tax credit they will be eligible for during trades training. “The Liberal program is cash in your pocket,” said Zed.

Learn more about hairdressing schools and welding schools Canada.

Sure, we’ve talked about Oaksterdam University before (aka marijuana trade school) but we just came across their website – and their crest is just so worth posting here.

See http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/images/backto.jpg

…as is the photo for Tommy Chong’s endorsement

http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/images/tommy.jpg

Less than a year from now, “the Olympics of skilled trades” will be underway in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at WorldSkills 2009. Over a thousand trade school students and graduates along with 5000 delegates from over 50 countries will descend on the world class city in the foothills of the Rockies. Events will range from culinary arts to carpentry to computer-aided design and everything in between.

And the hosts are definitely looking forward to it. WorldSkills 2009 will be “a terrific opportunity for Calgarians to see supremely talented individuals from around the world showcasing their skills in a competitive arena,” says the chair of Chair of WorldSkills Calgary 2009, Guy Mallabone.

The skills competition will be using Calgary Stampede Park. Over 150,000 spectators are expected to watch various events. 30,000 motel rooms have been reserved in anticipation of the influx of people from around the world. WorldSkills is about two thirds the size of the Vancouver Olympics and will be bigger than the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

While the scale is “Olympian,” the true value of competition ought to be seen as far more important. “Like the Olympics, we are playing host to the world – unlike the Olympics we are completely focused on skills that contribute to the economy and an individual’s employability in a global market,” says Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. He added that Calgary ought to be very proud to host this event, last held in Tokyo and next being held in London (2011). “This is the ‘big show’ when it comes to exhibiting global talent in technology and skilled trades.”

Want to know more?

-   The first competition was held in 1950 in Madrid, Spain. Canada last hosted the WorldSkills Competition in Montréal in 1999 at the Olympic Stadium.
-   Every two years, over 1,000 competitors from 50 member countries/regions gather to compete in over 48 skill categories ranging from welding, cooking, auto body repair and landscape gardening to beauty care and web design.
-   The competition attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors including public policy makers, government representatives, employers, teachers, trainers and experts from around the world.

To learn more go to http://www.worldskills2009.com

ATHENA and the Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) program at the Halton Centre for Skills Development, in Toronto, Ontario support a new generation of women in skilled trades.

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