2014 Accomplishments and Plans | Office of Workforce Innovation and Research | SIU

2015 OWIR Accomplishments

General Items Completed in 2015

1. Created and deployed the Office of Workforce Innovation and Research website
2. Brought in a 3^rd iMAC for graphics/video/audio support
3. Brought in 2^nd Wacom tablet for graphics support
4. Gamification development and distribution – explored web applications to make games more instructor friendly with exchangeable question banks.
   1. Giovani Piccinin explored using PHP/HTML.
   2. Mahbubul Khan explored using SPRING Platform
5. Purchased and installed a Network Access Storage (NAS) device for in-house file storage/sharing/collaboration
6. Began conversion of Nurse Aide Testing website pdf book examples to PNG or JPEG format for accessibility compliance on our website
7. Began creating NAT phone FAQ bank and matrix
8. Began creating NAT Help Map, i.e., “How do I ….?”
9. Used Email Chimp for direct emailing to DSP online training customers with very positive responses
10. Purchased in-room microphones and wide angle camera for online meeting usage along with a headphone distribution amplifier. Conducted successful online meetings this way.
11. Created, edited, and published an online instructional video on how to conduct MBTI surveys by combining green screen technology with online distribution
12. Created the Student Success Academy for high school and college students as a 16-module series of online courses geared to make the participants more successful in the classroom as well as in life.
13. Sold almost 400 DSP online training courses/modules for online training
14. Deployed online registration for CNA certification exams across the state of Illinois
15. Conducted two in-house pilot tests of online CNA testing
16. Delivered more than 700 certification exams via the Pearson Vue Testing Center.
17. Built four games using Construct 2 for educational purposes utilizing various scenarios and the multiple choice question format.
18. Began collecting MBTI data from 12 community colleges (4 sites completed)
19. Created an Onboarding Project to help individuals be successful in the workplace.
20. Invited to participate in the SIU Research Park’s Open House where we demonstrated our online MBTI process, took green screen photos, demonstrated our programmable KINECT, let participants play our online games, and showed our educational webcasts.
21. Attended a conference on how to create a Center for Innovation on campus
22. Delivered ~16,000 CNA exams with an 85% pass rate
23. Hired Pam Schemonia as an Office Support Specialist
24. Interviewed multiple candidates for the two Education Coordinator’s positions
25. Published a paper concerning the stabilized calculation of  Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Levels

Technical Accomplishments

1. Updated IDPH ACCESS database front end (from Version 2003 to Version 2010/2013) to stay current with upgraded computers and operating systems
2. Developed Nurse Aide Testing ACCESS database front end (from Version 2003 to Version 2010/2013) and it is in beta testing.
3. Converted MBTI survey into a web application to include auto scoring and reporting
4. Installed updated database on IDPH computers is Springfield remotely using Team Viewer software
5. Created internal website for management of NAT front door security Successfully utilized in-house back-up process to recover from a database crash
6. Successfully ran INTACT remotely via VPN
7. Aquib Mohammed developed a prototype method to help CNA’s practice their 21 manual skills using a Microsoft KINECT. The first skills demonstrated were range of motion exercises.
8. Blended Prezi with a screen capture technique and added a sound track to deliver webcasts via the internet
9. Created virtual machine technology to simulate workstations as a possible method to avoid computer viruses and malware issues
10. Developed a VPN for connecting into our database for Windows 7 and Office 2013
11. Developed a method to gather multiple choice question-type data using plain paper and existing low-cost office equipment with the data being compiled and outputted to an EXCEL^® spreadsheet

Collaborations

1. Worked with the SIU Applied Research Consultants on two projects
2. Became a founding participant in the Certificate Transparency Initiative (CTI)

Future Plans

1. Hire two Education Coordinators
2. Deploy educational webcasts
3. Implement 100% Online Registration for CNA Certification Exam
4. Implement online testing for CNA Certification Exam
5. Expand online training course offerings
6. Publish a paper about learning styles impact on certification exam performance
7. Deploy a survey of CNA Program Coordinators concerning CNA Testing Project improvements
8. Evaluate merging DSP Registration Project with DSP Online Training Project
9. Create a remote front door switch to accompany the web cam application
10. Design and deploy a creative suite for the staff to learn and develop creative talents on interactive educational projects