Apprentice perception of eLearning in Northeast Wisconsin construction electricity apprenticeship training program.

Abstract

Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin offers a web-based, block- scheduled, apprenticeship training model for the construction electrician apprentice program. There is no data to research a program of this type. This research project consisted of the evaluation of other distance education programs in addition to traditional face-to-face construction apprenticeship training programs. There was a need to collect and analyze student perceptions of web-based online learning components in a construction electrician apprenticeship. This research provides a guide for future implementation in other apprenticeship training programs and examines the Fox Valley Technical College program. Methodology used consisted of an electronic survey sent to currently enrolled and active apprentices in the Northeast Wisconsin training program at Fox Valley Technical College. The results demonstrate while respondents are satisfied with the Fox Valley Technical College Apprenticeship instruction as a whole, an overall dissatisfaction with the eLearning components of the construction electrician apprenticeship program was prevalent. Considering the majority of participants have limited previous experience with eLearning systems, technology issues did not contribute towards the dissatisfaction. Future research could include State of Wisconsin electrical licensure completion rates for students enrolled in the block scheduled, web enhanced, and traditional face-to-face apprenticeship programs.