Prince George, B.C. – This fall, for the first time, the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in British Columbia offered an Automotive Glass Technician Apprentice certification program.
This program is the first trade at CNC to use a blended online and face-to-face model. The 16-week course will see students complete 15 weeks online with the last week spent in the shop at CNC applying their knowledge in a practical setting.
This online model allows students to get their certification without having to leave work for long periods of time and makes it more accessible to students outside the Prince George area.
“Blended delivery can really enhance the apprenticeship experience,” said program instructor Ken Rowell. “This allows an apprentice to spend more time learning at their job while still being able to develop a network of peers outside of their workplace.”
Speaking to trainingmatters.ca in December, Rowell said the online portion of the course is going well. “Everyone has a personal schedule and they are doing well. Many of the apprentices have a lot of experience and skill, but found it difficult to get their certifications in the north because nothing had been offered locally.”
The first group of students is expected at the school on Jan. 21, 2019, for their week of practical training. Another group will follow one week later. “The practical week is largely designed for assessment and review. I am sure it will be especially good for the more entry-level apprentices in the classes to learn not only from me but from those experienced people in their class too.” Rowell said. “It should be a good time.”
For more information about the program, contact CNC at 250-561-5804 or trades@cnc.bc.ca.
By Cindy Macdonald, Senior Editor
