WIDS Helps Apprenticeship with a New Direction

How does an organization sponsoring a nationally registered apprenticeship accommodate rapid growth and curricular needs? This was the challenge the national Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) presented to WIDS.

Demand exceeds local resources

DGA launched in Wisconsin in 2010 to train farmers in managed grazing techniques for dairy production, but it attracted national interest so quickly that DGA directors chose to register as a national apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Registered apprentices receive most of their training on the job, but they must also take occupation-specific courses, referred to as related instruction, through a college or approved training provider.

After registering nationally, the apprenticeship program was soon adopted by more than 11 states which meant DGA could no longer provide the related instruction solely through its Wisconsin partners.

DGA pursues its own school

Because related instruction must be provided by an approved provider, DGA needed to find a sanctioned method for delivering the courses across multiple states.

DGA decided it would develop its own school to provide related instruction nationally through an easily accessible, online platform.

The solution seemed straightforward, but was it?

“Because DGA is both innovative and embedded in established institutions, the pathway to offering custom classes was not clear,” Bridget O’Meara, DGA Communications Director, said.

WIDS researches the approval process

As DGA planned the infrastructure of its new school, it hired WIDS to research the approval process.

WIDS researched these critical questions:  

• Which entity approves a non-degree school for legal operation?
• What are the requirements for anon-degree school to achieve approval?
• What is required to offer online courses across multiple states?
• Which accrediting agencies would accept the school for potential accreditation?

“Our WIDS consultant’s thorough and well-presented research saved us a lot of time. She made sure we understood all options and helped us avoid missteps in the process,” O’Meara said.

WIDS helps prepare for approval  

WIDS recommended DGA seek approval to establish a non-degree offering school through the Wisconsin Educational Approval Program (EAP), which would allow DGA to provide online courses to apprentices in most states.

WIDS partnered with certified expert dairy graziers and DGA to:

• Develop a project timeline.
• Navigate the application process.
• Ensure curriculum reflected the technical skills and knowledge required of a Dairy Grazier.
• Revise curriculum to better meet both EAP and registered apprenticeship requirements.
• Evaluate learning management systems(LMS) for online delivery.
• Implement the selected LMS.

WIDS then developed the curriculum in the performance-based learning software. The WIDS software reporting features provided DGA with the detailed evidence they needed to show EAP they were meeting the curriculum requirements.

The new school opens

Within one year, DGA received approval from EAP, chose an LMS, developed the online courses, and was ready to launch its new school, the Managed Grazing Innovation Center, thanks to critical support from WIDS for:

• researching the approval process
• navigating the application process
• revising curriculum
• managing the launch of the Learning Management System.

“WIDS…consulting support has been essential not only for assisting DGA through the approval process… but also from a practical standpoint of organizing courses, creating lesson plans, and developing teaching materials." O’Meara adds

The school approval, revised curriculum, and new online delivery mode helped DGA continue to offer easily accessible related instruction as it expands the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship further throughout the nation.

WIDS (Worldwide Instructional Design System) is a nonprofit organization that provides curriculum design software, consulting, and training services.  Download the free Sample DGA Curriculum Packet.

‍