Earle C. Clements Job Corps Instructors Turn to New Resource to Help Train Students Studying from Home
Published

Earle C. Clements Job Corps Instructors Turn to New Resource to Help Train Students Studying from Home

CST
Earle C. Clements Job Corps

While some students have been allowed to return to the Earle C. Clements Job Corps Academy campus, many are still studying from their homes. Distance learning can be a challenge for some, but computer service instructors have found a new way to make distance learning more successful.

The Earle C. Clements Job Corps computer service technician certifications come through dedication of a year or more of study in college-level classes. Instructors David Hayes, Jon Joyner and Ryan Weatherbee have become masters of creativity when faced with teaching young adults challenging courses through virtual learning, and Deck Toys is the key!

Deck Toys is an online resource used in conjunction with Google Classroom. It is a study guide for virtual learning to replace traditional bookwork and tedious worksheets.

“We are in the process of making a deck for every chapter of the course. We load in key terms, quiz questions, videos, and other resources that are turned into a deck,” explains Hayes.

“Added to the deck are activities such as memory, matching, crossword, and other designs to challenge and keep the learning interesting and light. We can also add fun things like gifts, pictures and silly phrases to promote student engagement.”

CST
Earle C. Clements Job Corps

Deck Toys is essentially a conglomeration of mini games to master skills in computer service technology. Deck Toys are gamification, the process of applying gaming design and concepts to learning or training scenarios in order to make them more engaging and entertaining for the learner.

CST
Earle C. Clements Job Corps

“Students have liked it and responded well to it. We have had amazingly positive feedback from our students,” says Weatherbee.

The new Deck Toys approach started in mid-January 2021, and certified graduates are the result.

Mehki Walker earned the CompTIA A+ (primary certification), Elyssa Hanks earned CompTIA A+ (primary certification), Tyler Waldman passed the first half of the CompTIA A+, Kirubie Guangul passed the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (secondary certification).  Four additional students took exams in April.