How a Plug-and-Play Training Platform Kept Hillyard Students on Track
Hillyard Technical Center (HTC) started offering vocational classes in 1941, with its first auto mechanic class held in a decommissioned police station in St. Joseph, Missouri. Through decades of community and capital investment, HTC has become the top vocational and technical training center in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.
The 141,500-square-foot facility boasts an average annual enrollment of 505 students and an average graduation/completion rate of 78.5% across programs, including Automotive, Electronics, Machine Technology, Welding, HVAC, and more. But even a strong program can be disrupted by the unexpected, and HTC needed a fast, reliable way to keep one of its programs on track when it lost a key instructor.
The Challenges
Unexpected Staffing Gap: HTC’s Electronics Technology & Robotics instructor resigned unexpectedly following the first semester.
No Ready Replacement: Despite efforts, a full-time replacement couldn’t be found, and the substitute teacher faced challenges with the material.
Urgent Timeline: As a result, an efficient content delivery solution was urgently needed to ensure program completion within four weeks.
The Solution
Discovery: To find a swift and effective solution, HTC explored the offerings of WorkForge, a known provider of innovative learning solutions. As a ready-made plug-and-play training platform, WorkForge’s content was a compelling option due to its immediate accessibility and integration, aligning with HTC’s pressing timeline.
Taking Action: HTC chose the WorkForge solution and quickly implemented the new content by leveraging WorkForge’s project-based implementation process. Content was aligned with HTC’s curriculum and district requirements, combining self-paced e-learning modules with hands-on assessments that led to course credit. HTC tailored WorkForge material to individual student curriculum needs, further enhancing the program’s impact.
Building the Program: The curriculum covered Robotics (PLC-101 Programmable Logic Controllers, PNE-301 Pneumatic Applications, PNE-201 Components of a Pneumatic System, AUT-101 Introduction to Industrial Automation) and Electrical Troubleshooting I & II (PNE-101 Introduction to Pneumatics, AUT-201 Process Controls).
“I was trained on the platform, and then later our substitute teacher was as well, so she could address questions in the classroom as they occurred. It is an easy program to learn and navigate for all users.”
Hillyard Technical Center Employee
“WorkForge has been incredibly helpful at all levels of our organization. When we lost our full-time instructor, they quickly provided real-world learning options for our students. They assisted us with the software platform and maintained open communication throughout the process. The online component has been well-received by our students, as has allowed them to master objectives that were previously unavailable in the traditional classroom setting. I am grateful for their commitment to student achievement and learning!”
Jill Huntsman
Retired CTE Director, Hillyard Technical Center
Looking ahead
When an unexpected staffing gap threatened to derail a full semester of coursework, WorkForge gave Hillyard Technical Center a fast, flexible plug-and-play training platform. Ultimately, this resulted in completion and test scores well above national and district averages, and produced two state-qualifying, nationally-competing students.
Want your program protected against the next unexpected staffing gap? Book a demo with our team today.
