Village Gamer

Companies across Canada who hire young people are being asked to try a free online employee training resource, and share their feedback about its effectiveness. In 2010, The Centre for Skills Development & Training in Ontario launched “Summer in Smallywood,” the online game-based training tool developed by Untold Entertainment that helps young employees enhance their workplace skills.

“Young employees often need training that can help them improve essential workplace skills, which are the foundation to a successful career and life,” said Kathy Mills, Chief Administrative Officer at The Centre. “We have developed a fun, interactive and innovative approach to employee training. We’d like employers to share their thoughts about Summer in Smallywood with us so we can continue to make it a better training tool.”

Staff at The Centre are asking employers across Canada to participate in a phone call, in-person meeting or webinar to hear more about this training resource. Employers who participate will be asked to share their impression of Summer in Smallywood as an effective training tool. Business owners, managers or human resources professionals across Canada who regularly hire young people are invited to contact The Centre to take part in this important program.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlAVBkw_NT4]

Summer in Smallywood is a free-to-play, online learning series funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills that is designed to help young adults (ages 15 – 30) enhance their ability to succeed at work by focusing on three Essential Skills: oral communication, working with others and thinking skills. Essential Skills are used in every job and daily life, and are the foundation upon which all other skills are built.

“As the owner/operator of a small business, I don’t have a lot of time to mentor my young employees and teach them skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving,” said Kevin van Duyn, President & Owner of Hill’s Greenhouses Ltd. in Murillo, Ontario. “A resource like Summer in Smallywood, which helps employees enhance these skills, is very valuable to me.  It is free to use and web-based and I can refer my young employees to the games where they can learn at their own pace while also having fun. I would definitely recommend that other business owners and managers check out Summer in Smallywood to find out if they too can take advantage of this valuable training resource.”

Each module of Summer in Smallywood uses the learning properties of video games, such as a focus on problem solving, exploration and re-evaluating goals. The player is immersed in a game world where learning about Essential Skills is vital to progression in the story. The humorous story line, unique characters and intuitive gameplay are features of Summer in Smallywood that players have said are the best parts.