In this short podcast, Ruchir Shah and Dan Riggs from SkillCat talk about how to make online training that does not suck! They talk about how to develop training that is relevant to the trades and can be applied in real-world trade work.

The skill gap is widening in the trades, especially as shortages grow when people retire and it becomes more difficult to hire qualified new people. Hiring apprentices with little experience also has costs associated with it, and SkillCat aims to address the training reasons for the skill gap and provide the needed accreditation for trades like HVAC (including EPA 608). After receiving feedback that the curriculum was too theoretical and could do better in the applied learning areas, the SkillCat team has been revamping the training program with a skill map.

Now, there are partnerships with trade educators, more interactive videos, and interactive virtual activities to create a more relevant learning experience. There are now kits that SkillCat ships out to trainees, and assignments have offline proctors who verify all submitted materials and online activities to ensure that the trainees' submissions align with real field conditions and expectations. The goal is to have trainees who enter the field and can be fully functional helpers with a basic tool kit and enough working field knowledge to identify system components and perform basic tasks, bringing value to employers from day one. SkillCat is going to be piloting a new training program with a mentorship component as well.

Learn more about SkillCat at https://www.skillcatapp.com/ and the GRIT Foundation at https://www.thegritfoundation.com/.

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