Academic Upgrading

CareerQuest offers targeted and individualized remedial education for clients requiring upgrading in areas including English, Math and Science. This program is intended to prepare participants for other retraining programs or for direct entry into the workforce.

Specific areas of upgrading can include:

• Reading Pronunciation
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Spelling
• Writing/Grammar

• Basic Operations
• Fractions and Decimals
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Calculus

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
  

The program is customized to the individual’s learning needs and taught by a qualified instructor in a small group setting with a maximum 4:1 student to instructor ratio. Comprehensive monthly reports are provided that detail the student’s progress in each subject area and whether he/she is on schedule to meet academic targets. As well, standardized academic tests are administered at the beginning of the program to establish each individual’s training needs, and throughout the program to monitor progress. For a list of standardized tests used, please refer to the section covering academic assessments.

Computer skills training in keyboarding and the MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer) is included as part of any standard academic upgrading program at no additional cost. CareerQuest is an industry leader in offering training in computer applications targeted to individuals with special needs; we incorporate the use of these applications into each client’s academic upgrading program as needed to overcome barriers to learning:

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech-recognition software for individuals who must limit handwriting and keyboard use due to hand or arm impairments
  
  
• Inspiration, SparkSpace, and WordQ programs to assist individuals who have difficulty organizing ideas and writing essays
  
  
• Kurzweil 3000 software for clients with visual impairments or who have learning difficulties related to reading and phonics
  
  
• ZoomText and JAWS software for individuals with visual impairments

This component is of particular use to an individual who has special needs due to a learning disability or an acquired brain injury. Specialized techniques and compensatory strategies are taught to allow the client to maximize functioning in relation to learning new material. If appropriate, we will also incorporate the use of specialized computer applications designed to assist individuals in overcoming barriers to learning:

All of CareerQuest’s centres are located in premium office settings. Our classrooms are equipped with fully adjustable ergonomic chairs and a wide variety of ergonomic devices such as Obus Forme back and seat supports, footrests, inclined writing surfaces, heating and cooling pads, etc. As well, complimentary ergonomic workstation analyses are conducted for all clients for whom they are requested. All participants are provided with a dictionary, calculator, and wide-barreled ergonomic pen or pencil, which they may keep at the end of their upgrading program.

The academic upgrading program is available on a continuous intake basis and runs for four hours each day (20 hours per week). It is available in the morning (8:30 am to 12:30 pm) or in the afternoon (12:30 pm to 4:30 pm).