college technical instructor/trainer

National Occupation Classification Code: 4131

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

What are the main duties of a College Technical Instructor/Trainer in Alberta?

College Technical Instructor/Trainer’s teach adult students of all ages and academic backgrounds. Typical duties include:

• Determine training objectives and developing course curriculum
• Use instructional techniques such as lectures, demonstrations, laboratory work, hands-on training, case studies, independent or group projects, field assignments, field placements and multimedia technologies (including online learning)
• Create course materials, handouts, instructional aids, audio-visual materials and similar teaching aids
• Conduct classroom training
• Test and evaluate student performance
• Prepare, administer and mark student exams

A College Technical Instructor/Trainer also must keep abreast of current developments and changes in their fields by maintaining contact with industrial or business sectors. Attending workshops, seminars and refresher courses is a necessary part of the job.

What are the requirements to work as a College Technical Instructor/Trainer in Alberta?

Most College Technical Instructor/Trainer’s have related post-secondary education. Specific educational requirements vary depending on the position:

• College Technical Instructor/Trainer’s usually have graduate degrees (master's or PhD degrees).
• Instructors responsible for teaching academic upgrading usually have at least a bachelor's degree. An Alberta teaching certificate or a certificate, diploma or degree in adult education are definite assets.
• Instructors of technical, trade or vocational programs should be experts in their particular fields. Instructors in technical institutions normally hold professional or technical certification and may be required to have a license for their particular field of expertise.
• Most instructors have extensive work experience as well as formal education qualifications.

In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions offer programs specifically in adult education:
• Mount Royal College in Calgary offers a nine course Adult Educator Seminar Series program through Continuing Education.
• At the University of Alberta, the Faculty of Education offers a two year Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program in adult and higher education.
• At the University of Calgary, the Centre for Distance Learning offers a two year M.Ed. degree program in adult, community and higher education.

What kind of skills and experience do employers expect in a College Technical Instructor/Trainer?

Candidates for a College Technical Instructor/Trainer position require a combination of in-depth subject-matter expertise plus excellent communication and presentation skills. They must be able to explain sometimes difficult technical material clearly and patiently to students of varying levels of proficiency. Candidates should be outgoing and comfortable working with diverse groups of people while maintaining professionalism at all times. A bachelor’s degree in a related subject area may be preferred by employers. Technical knowledge and one to five (or more) years of training experience also are required. Certification, such as Microsoft Certified Trainer designation, also can be useful.

Over 10,050 Albertans are employed in the College and Other Vocational Instructors occupational group which is expected to grow 2.2 to 3.2 per cent each year from 2006 to 2011 in Alberta. It is forecasted that 220 to 330 new positions will be created each year in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

What kinds of associations represent the Information Technology sector in Alberta?

Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS)
Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) 
Calgary Technologies Inc.
Calgary Linux Users Group
TEC Edmonton
Business First
Deal Generator
Canadian Innovation Centre
IRAP
Canadian Commercial Corporation
NEWT
Wireless City
Banff Venture Forum
ICORE
NETERA