Company Training Needs in Conflict with Technology and the Resistant Learner

Deedra Evans, Dan OBrien, Christina Whitfield

CUR 516

July 25, 2016

Professor Joan Beckner

 The ACME bicycle company has decided to bring manufacturing operations back to the home

company headquarters in the United States. Currently ACME has all manufacturing performed in Asia

and company employees receive unassembled bicycles, assembly tasks are performed by the employees

and then they are shipped to the distributors and bike shops. Manufacturing within the companys

locations will require employees to learn new skills such as operating advanced manufacturing

equipment. The new equipment and skills necessary for manufacturing all require a basic level of

mathematical skills prior to attending training. The President of ACME bicycles has decided to utilize the

local community college, Northwest Valley Community College, since a class that fits their needs is

already in place. The president mandates that all employees who want to continue to work for the

ACME bicycle company complete the community college math class with a B grade or better. The

president is offering to pay employees their wages and course costs providing they pass the class with

the required grade. The president also stated employees not meeting the requirements will be

terminated.

The course chosen for the employees of ACME bicycle is MTH 115 Basic Mathematics. The MTH

115 class focuses on a fundamental understanding of basic math principles to include arithmetic,

decimals, fractions, percentages, linear equations with variables and simple geometry. The course is

being offered in an online format utilizing a learning management system for instructional activities, this

will be the only contact learners have with the instructor, a smartphone app is also available. The

college does have a math laboratory where students can come in and work with student math tutors to

help work through areas where there is confusion or little understanding.

The employees of ACME Bicycle are diverse in cultural background and age demographics along

with skill levels. Most come from Mexico, Central America and some from Asian countries, most

learners have completed high school in their native countries while others immigrated to the United
States in search of employment before graduating. Juanita Sanchez is twenty five years old and

completed her high school education at a small rural high school in central Mexico. Very little computer

and modern technology was used at Juanitas school, what technology Juanita knows was learned in the

United States. Juanita speaks conversational English well but struggles with understanding written

English. The ACME bicycle company offers exceptional health benefits and Juanita is terrified of losing

her job as she has always struggled with math.

Mai Lin Chan is a twenty-three year old woman and completed school in Manila, Philippines.

Due to education in the Philippines being much different than in the United States, Mai Lin Chan has

been out of school since she was sixteen years old. She had very little knowledge about computers,

however academically she was very great in Math. Mai Lin spoke in her native language and knew

informal English. She also is unable to read or write in English. With new changes taking place at ACME

she is afraid of losing her job and will not be able to provide for her parents who are both very ill.

Michelle Green is 50 years old and has been the receptionist for the company for years. The

company is considering promoting Michelle to an assistant within the bicycle department. Michelle has

never gone to college and hasnt taking any math classes since high school. Michelles current position

only requires her to transfer the phones, but the new position will require her to assist in answering

some questions. Michelle has been very evasive and reluctant to sign up for the class, finally agreed to

sign up. Michelle is generally a sweet person but in this class she is defying the teacher by refusing to

answer any questions when asked in the class chat group. The online chat group provides an area

where students discuss the questions that has been presented to an individual in the class. The

professor calls on an individual to answer the question and once the question is answered the others

will start respond to the answer or elaborate on the answer. Michelle has turned in incomplete

assignments when asked to obtain information from other areas on the website.
 Tommy is an 18 years old smart young man. He was top in his high school class and has never

had to study. Tommy feels that math is easy. He is new to the company and has to take the class too. In

group discussions, Tommy answers all the questions and degrades his classmates answers if it is not to

his standards. Tommy has taken a college level course similar to this course in high school to prepare

him for college.

The learners at ACME bicycle could very easily become resistant to their new employee

mandated learning experience for several reasons. The motivation for taking the basic math course is a

requirement of the employer and not the employee so that makes the motivation extrinsic. The training

requirement will not help the learners self-image of themselves as learners, the company should

consider evaluating the skills of the employees prior to this training mandate. The employer is not

rewarding the employees with any additional benefit for taking and completing this math course.

Employees will immediately see this course as a negative means of motivation. Fear of the unknown will

cause resistance from the learners as the new online format for the course offered by the college is new

to most employees at the company, many will resist learning activities for this reason alone. Those with

minimal computer and technology experience are likely to struggle due to lack of basic soft skills. A

prior evaluation could also determine if additional training would be needed to help employees who are

new to basic computer technology. Also by sending the employees to a community college for these

math skills there is little relevance to the math that will be required to operate the new advanced

manufacturing equipment at ACME bicycle as most college math courses are very general in course

content and may not relate to the math that will be needed with practical examples relevant to making

bicycles.
 References

Weimer, M. (2009). Student learning, six causes of resistance. Faculty Focus. Retrieved from

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/student-learning-six-

causes-of-resistance