VMRC project proposal

Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community Project Proposal by Sarah, Shana & Alex

For our design project, we will be partnering with Joshua Mathews-Ailsworth and the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). VMRC, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, offers independent living, assisted living, and nursing home communities, as well as home care, wellness programs and rehab services for seniors in the area. 

VMRC employs over 400 people in the following departments: Activities, Dining Services, Office/Clerical, Building & Grounds, Housekeeping/Laundry, Registered Medication Aide, Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed/Registered Nurse (LPN / RN). For our project, we are redesigning two specific training programs: Fire safety and power tools. The power tool training program we will create is specifically for the Building & Grounds crew, while the Fire safety training module will be seen by all employees.

Joshua approached us with the need to revamp the current fire safety and power tool training modules. Due to a lack of space and resources, VMRC is looking to conduct all of their new employee trainings on computers. Joshua asked that we take the current tangible instruction and transform it into virtual training instruction.

Joshua emphasized three specific needs: length, evaluation, and audience. He would like each training module to last no longer than 30 minutes, especially the fire safety seminar. He also needs a short quiz at the end of each module that he can use to assess whether or not the employee learned from the training.  The group will use the shareable, content, object, reference model (SCORM) requirements.

The employees who will be taking the training are not generally comfortable or familiar with computers, so user friendliness is necessary. We need to keep in mind that the power training is only for the grounds crew and the fire safety will be seen by every employee.