WoodLINKS

“Develop the best – Hire the best”

Campbellton, New BrunswickJuly 6, 2006

What is the problem?What is the problem?

• Lack of Skilled Workers

• Schools not educating enough for skills

• Lack of meaningful dialogue between education &

industry

• Negative perceptions of wood industry

• Shortage of students for post secondary programs

Skills Canada surveySkills Canada survey 13-18 year olds perception of trades:13-18 year olds perception of trades:

““Dirty”Dirty” ““Crappy”Crappy” ““Stinky”Stinky” ““Plunger people”Plunger people” ““Heavy belts”Heavy belts” ““Pants falling Pants falling

down”down”

““Male”Male” ““40 something”40 something” ““Overweight”Overweight” ““Grubby”Grubby” ““Poorly dressed”Poorly dressed” ““Tired”Tired” ““Inarticulate”Inarticulate”

Original Perceptions of Wood Industry in BC

Shop Programs at High Schools

When Shops Were Last Updated

What is WoodLINKS?What is WoodLINKS?

At its root WoodLINKS is an effective relationship

between: INDUSTRY

MINISTRY of Ed

TEACHERS

SCHOOLS

POST SECONDARY

STUDENTS

The partnership requires educators and industry to be flexible enough to create a solution that works for everyone

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles Recognition of problem and the Recognition of problem and the

need for a cooperative solutionneed for a cooperative solution Industry driven Industry driven && industry industry

supportedsupported No added costNo added cost Rolling wheel approach Rolling wheel approach

WoodLINKS provides …WoodLINKS provides … Curriculum framework (modern manufacturing)Curriculum framework (modern manufacturing) National certificationNational certification Comprehensive teacher trainingComprehensive teacher training Teaching resourcesTeaching resources Mechanism for industry and educators to collaborateMechanism for industry and educators to collaborate Supplies and softwareSupplies and software Skills competitionsSkills competitions

* Not process driven, WoodLINKS is output driven* Not process driven, WoodLINKS is output driven

How do we know it works?How do we know it works? Higher demand for course that is challenging Higher demand for course that is challenging

students and teachersstudents and teachers Better quality studentsBetter quality students More students to post secondary programsMore students to post secondary programs More scholarshipsMore scholarships More female students (50/50)More female students (50/50) More donationsMore donations More qualified workers in companiesMore qualified workers in companies

But … in some cases students aren’t staying with But … in some cases students aren’t staying with employers because many have weak HR employers because many have weak HR practicespractices

Shiloh High School Industrial Shiloh High School Industrial Technology Program-PastTechnology Program-Past

Projects before WoodLINKS Projects before WoodLINKS USAUSA

The StartThe Start

1999 Industrial Strength 1999 Industrial Strength Woodworking Show-Jerry FinchWoodworking Show-Jerry Finch

Shiloh High School IND. Shiloh High School IND. TECH./WoodLINKS Program-TECH./WoodLINKS Program-

PresentPresent

Shiloh High School’s Current Shiloh High School’s Current Student ProjectsStudent Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Shiloh High School’s Current Student ProjectsStudent Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Shiloh High School’s Current Student ProjectsStudent Projects

Shiloh High School’s Current Shiloh High School’s Current Student ProjectsStudent Projects

How did we get here?How did we get here? Started by making the Program valuable to the Started by making the Program valuable to the

school in 1995-1996 school year.school in 1995-1996 school year. Made yearly reports to the School BoardMade yearly reports to the School Board 1998-1999 school year Summer Program starts. 1998-1999 school year Summer Program starts. 1998-1999 build kitchen cabinets for Family and 1998-1999 build kitchen cabinets for Family and

Consumer Science program.Consumer Science program. 1999-2000 purchase our Thermwood CNC Router.1999-2000 purchase our Thermwood CNC Router. 1999-2000 establish Production class-first 1999-2000 establish Production class-first

customer cabinet job.customer cabinet job. 2000-2005 established industry customers for 2000-2005 established industry customers for

CNC work. CNC work.

Emory Luth-ValedictorianEmory Luth-ValedictorianElliptical DeskElliptical Desk

How did we get here?How did we get here? 1999-2000 first donation to program by Simonton 1999-2000 first donation to program by Simonton

Windows-$3,500.00 for MasterCAM seats.Windows-$3,500.00 for MasterCAM seats. 1999-2000 attend Industrial Strength 1999-2000 attend Industrial Strength

Woodworking Show. Woodworking Show. 1999-2000 meet the WoodLINKS Organization. 1999-2000 meet the WoodLINKS Organization.

www.woodlinks.com www.woodlinks.com 2000-2001 attend WoodLINKS meetings during 2000-2001 attend WoodLINKS meetings during

the IWF in Atlanta, GA.the IWF in Atlanta, GA. 2001-2002 Shiloh High School becomes 2001-2002 Shiloh High School becomes

WoodLINKS Pilot Site.WoodLINKS Pilot Site. 2002-2003 First WoodLINKS Certifications.2002-2003 First WoodLINKS Certifications.

Elliptical Top PrototypeElliptical Top Prototype

Current Classroom and Shop Current Classroom and Shop EquipmentEquipment

Wood Manufacturing equipment; Table Saw, Drill Wood Manufacturing equipment; Table Saw, Drill Press, Band Saw, Miter Saw, Shaper, Radial Arm Saw, Press, Band Saw, Miter Saw, Shaper, Radial Arm Saw, Surfacing Sander, Jointer, Dust Collector, Edge Bander.Surfacing Sander, Jointer, Dust Collector, Edge Bander.

Hand Tools; Electric Sanders, Air Sanders, Routers, Hand Tools; Electric Sanders, Air Sanders, Routers, Pocket Hole Machine, Clamps, Oscillating Spindle Pocket Hole Machine, Clamps, Oscillating Spindle Sander Sander

Digital Tools; Table Saw, Miter Saw, Pro-Panel Digital Digital Tools; Table Saw, Miter Saw, Pro-Panel Digital Tool, Small Digital Measuring Tool. Tool, Small Digital Measuring Tool.

Computer Lab; AutoCAD, MasterCAM, ArtCAM, Esprit Computer Lab; AutoCAD, MasterCAM, ArtCAM, Esprit 2000, AutoCAD Lt., Studio Viz, eCabinets, Mechanical 2000, AutoCAD Lt., Studio Viz, eCabinets, Mechanical Desktop, MasterCAM Art. Desktop, MasterCAM Art.

CNC equipment; Thermwood CNC Router and CNC equipment; Thermwood CNC Router and Nottmeyer Point-to-Point CNC Machining Center.Nottmeyer Point-to-Point CNC Machining Center.

Elliptical Top Cherry Glue-UpElliptical Top Cherry Glue-Up

The First Big Question-How did The First Big Question-How did we pay for all of this?we pay for all of this?

Making repairs for the school district motivated school Making repairs for the school district motivated school board to be generous. $10,000.00 worth of repairsboard to be generous. $10,000.00 worth of repairs

Summer Program provided some of the tools we Summer Program provided some of the tools we needed. Pocket Hole Machine and basic toolingneeded. Pocket Hole Machine and basic tooling

Family Consumer Science Cabinet Job provided tools Family Consumer Science Cabinet Job provided tools and Shaper. and Shaper.

Production Cabinet Jobs raised money for program. Production Cabinet Jobs raised money for program. $25,000.00 worth$25,000.00 worth

Donations by Industry Supporters. $90,000.00 to dateDonations by Industry Supporters. $90,000.00 to date Donations by end of year estimated to be Donations by end of year estimated to be

$135,000.00$135,000.00

Elliptical Casework Vacuum Elliptical Casework Vacuum FormForm

The Second Big Question-How The Second Big Question-How areare

we getting Industry to donate?we getting Industry to donate? We have formed an Advisory Council that local We have formed an Advisory Council that local

Industry leaders participate in.Industry leaders participate in. We are part of the WoodLINKS USA organization.We are part of the WoodLINKS USA organization. We use email to send pictures and updates to We use email to send pictures and updates to

Industry. Industry. We take students to the IWF and the AWFS shows We take students to the IWF and the AWFS shows

to develop Industry contacts and donations.to develop Industry contacts and donations. We publicize our student work to national We publicize our student work to national

magazines and local newspapers. We have been magazines and local newspapers. We have been published 11 times in 3 years.published 11 times in 3 years.

We have set up a Shiloh High School Industrial We have set up a Shiloh High School Industrial Technology Program web site for people to visit.Technology Program web site for people to visit.

Vacuum Jig with metal Vacuum Jig with metal surfacesurface

Present opportunities for Shiloh Present opportunities for Shiloh High School IND. TECH. High School IND. TECH.

StudentsStudents Summer Program paid work experience.Summer Program paid work experience. WoodLINKS USA Certification.WoodLINKS USA Certification. Dual Credit for Drafting/CAD. Dual Credit for Drafting/CAD. Job Placement right out of High School.Job Placement right out of High School. Internships with Industry supporters for graduates.Internships with Industry supporters for graduates. Participation in School-Based-Enterprise-Production Participation in School-Based-Enterprise-Production

Class.Class. CAD work for local businesses while in CAD class.CAD work for local businesses while in CAD class. Woodworking Summer Camp at NCSU.Woodworking Summer Camp at NCSU. Local and National Industry calling for workers.Local and National Industry calling for workers. Participation in IWF and AWFS Industry Fairs.Participation in IWF and AWFS Industry Fairs. Contract CNC work for local and National Industry.Contract CNC work for local and National Industry.

Vacuum Forming Elliptical Vacuum Forming Elliptical CaseworkCasework

Present opportunities for Shiloh Present opportunities for Shiloh High School IND. TECH. High School IND. TECH.

StudentsStudents IWF Business Plan Competition.IWF Business Plan Competition. AWFS Student Design Competition.AWFS Student Design Competition. Industry funded educational trips-California, North Industry funded educational trips-California, North

Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin.Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin. Student’s work published in magazines and books.Student’s work published in magazines and books. Preferential treatment of WoodLINKS Certified Preferential treatment of WoodLINKS Certified

graduates by Industry and Post Secondary graduates by Industry and Post Secondary Education.Education.

Industry Supporters come into classroom via Web Industry Supporters come into classroom via Web Cam to speak with students and answer questions.Cam to speak with students and answer questions.

Jig for sizing and squaring Jig for sizing and squaring elliptical casework sideelliptical casework side

Elliptical casework with flat Elliptical casework with flat panelpanel

Elliptical Desk ready for Elliptical Desk ready for finishingfinishing

Finished DeskFinished Desk

Cedar Ridge High - Cedar Ridge High - PresentationsPresentations

Status of WoodLINKS USA 2001-2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Projected2006

Schools Registered for WoodLINKS USA

Schools Interested or in Process ofRegistering

Total

0

5

10

15

20

25

Arizona

California

Massachusetts

Michigan

Missouri

Nebraska

North C

arolina

Oregon

Texas

Ohio

Utah

Wisconsin

Washington

West Virginia

Kansas

Illinois

South Carolina

State

WoodLINKS USA Participation By School Type

K-12

Tech School

Post-Secondary 1 or 2 yr

4 Year

Other

WMC Project ObjectivesWMC Project Objectives Review & validate Review & validate

nationally existing core nationally existing core curriculum & assessment curriculum & assessment tools.tools.

Create & validate Create & validate additional sub-sector additional sub-sector specialty modules and specialty modules and assessment tools.assessment tools.

Recruit educational Recruit educational institutions & industry institutions & industry partners across Canada to partners across Canada to deliver WoodLINKS deliver WoodLINKS education and education and certification program.certification program.

WoodLINKS Sub-Sector WoodLINKS Sub-Sector ModulesModules

Why?

Feedback from educators and industry highlighted the need for sub-sector modules to better respond to local environment

WoodLIN

KS C

omm

on Core

(Validate original skills profile)

Panelboard

Engineered Products

Millwork/Cabinets

Furniture

Windows & Doors

Fine Woodworking

Sawmilling

Remanufacturing

Productivity is the Key to the Economy

Education is the Key to the Productivity

Motivation is the Key to the Education

Connection is the Key to the Motivation

Connection is the Key to the Economy