Chapter 3: Workforce Development through Technologically Enhanced Learning Experiences

Local and global economies face serious economic and social costs in lost productivity as a result of the mismatch between workers’ skills, employers’ needs, and cost effective training programs for workforce development. Direct investments in workforce development and training have declined while the need for skilled labor has increased (Holzer, 2008). Skilled labor, which requires increased technical and people skills, places groups of individuals disadvantaged because of ethnicity, race, gender, decreased education, or poor basic skills in a precarious position as they face the challenge of competing for jobs in a global labor market requiring at least some postsecondary education and training. This inability to function well in the labor market contributes to low employment and earnings thus placing these disadvantaged groups in distressed situations as family providers. Increased investments in workforce development and training will contribute to the reduction of unemployed workers. Technologically enhanced learning experiences (TELEs) provide a flexible learning solutions tool to address this disparity. TELEs are online training modules, providing initial and longterm support for workers to upgrade their occupational and interpersonal skills to regain lost earnings, reintegrate into the workforce, and increase the supply of skilled workers employers need to remain competitive in the current economy.