INSTRUCTIONAL
EXPERIENCE
The curriculum is set within
a compelling narrative drama involving
the virtual EnterTech company and its
employees. Students interact with virtual
coworkers and supervisors, receiving both
instructions and feedback from their virtual
peers. The evolving EnterTech storyline
provides learner motivation and piques
student interest in continuing the program.
Much like revisiting a favorite television
show each day to follow the plot and character
developments.
The variety of characters,
both as co-workers and supervisors, exposes
learners to a variety of personality types
requiring interpersonal strategies. Students
can practice handling a "difficult" coworker,
a "lazy" teammate, a "drill-sergeant"
supervisor in a risk-free environment.
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EXAMPLE
TEAM MEETING
Team
meetings provide virtual character
development, update the storyline
with new events, and provide background
and context for the instructional
activities. ( 1.86 MB )
EXAMPLE
TEAM MEETING REQUIREMENTS:
To view this Exaple, you will
need the Shockwave
plug-in installed in your browser.
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 BRIANNA
SUMMERS
Hi. I’m Brianna Summers. I guess what
I’m most proud of in my life are
my two beautiful children. Brittney is
only 4 and can already tie her shoes.
John Henry is 6 and can write his whole
name. They are both really smart kids.
My next favorite person in my life is
my boyfriend, Phil. He is terrific and
really supportive of me. He is finishing
a 2-year program at the community college.
Right now all four of us are living off
of my salary. So I can’t wait until
he is out of school and can get a job
and take some of the financial pressure
off of me!
I’m also proud of getting myself
where I am today. I’ve worked at
some pretty disgusting jobs and I’m
happy to be here at EnterTech where the
environment is safe and clean. But if
I won the lottery tomorrow I’d still
quit this job in a second! I’d take
a year off to travel around the world,
and then I’d go to college part time
and take care of my family the rest of
the time.
What I hate most in the world is having
migraine headaches and the pressure of
coming to work even when I feel awful.
I also dislike it when people are treated
unfairly.
 RITA
CHAVEZ
Contrary to popular belief I am not "Picky
Rita." My name is Rita Chavez and
I am a warehouse team member here at EnterTech.
I have been working at EnterTech for a
year now. People tell me that I follow
directions well, but basically I just
like doing things the right way. I have
been told that if I continue to be responsible
and effective worker, I will be able to
move up in the company. I just hope that
I don’t do something to screw it
up.
I live at mother’s house right now
but it is way crowded with my sisters
and their babies. I look forward to a
time when I can have some space to myself.
Between my sisters and their boyfriends
and babies the house is so noisy and messy
I sometimes just want to scream. Some
nights I’m up until midnight doing
dishes, putting away toys and straightening
things up. My personal goals are to save
up enough money to move out on my own
again. I think I’ll be able to in
six months.
Sometimes I feel like I’ve gotten
my act together - I totally quit doing
drugs and I found this job I like. My
only complaint is that the overtime is
difficult with my bus route. Plus standing
all day makes my feet tired and the fluorescent
lights hurt my eyes. So, I’ve probably
said too much here, but that’s the
way I see things. And I sort-of tell it
like I see it. So there it is.
 SAM
CHAPA
Position: Warehouse supervisor
Comments: This growth spurt at EnterTech
has been hard on a lot of us. So many
things are changing and we don’t
have set rules yet for how to handle them
yet. So it makes things difficult.
I will admit that the changes around here
make me a bit uncomfortable. But I’m
sure that we’ll get through this
trying time if we all pull together.
I feel that punctuality and hard work
are the most important aspects of an employee.
Although I’ve had my health problems
in the past, I haven’t missed a day
of work due to personal illness in over
a year.
Personal Life: married, no children yet.
Goals: I plan to continue moving ahead
in the company because I am a conscientious
worker and believe in the rewards of hard
work and never giving up.
 JOE
PARKER
Some things I enjoy: women, beer, drag
races, and fishing.
Things I don't like: getting up early in
the morning, diet colas, cats.
Work skills I am good at: I’m a good
forklift driver. I know where everything
is in the warehouse. I get along pretty
well with everyone.
What I'm proud of: I caught the largest
fish in the company fish-off last fall.
47 pounder! I won $200.00!
Work goals: I’d like to learn to run
some of the computer programs.
How I plan to meet these work goals: I’m
going to take a class the next time they
offer it when it's not on a Friday night.
One month from now, I would like to be:
I have a vacation coming up and rain or
shine I’m going to be sitting on
a beach in South Padre a month from now.
Other things I want people to know about
me: What can I say? I like joking around
and having a good time. I have a good
truck – when it runs. And I’m
extremely good-looking. (Well, two out
of three isn’t bad.)
 PRESTON
JONES
I'm Preston Jones and I've been at EnterTech™
for almost a year. Currently I am a member
of the warehouse team, but I work anywhere
else I am needed. I like working here,
and I figure if I play my cards right
I can move into management someday. I'm
taking training class at night to get
myself prepared.
I'm recently married to a wonderful woman
who puts joy in my life. I tell her that
she is like a beautiful angel in my life.
We met through Big Brother/Big Sister
where we both do volunteer work. We are
saving our money to buy a house and then
we want to have a couple of rug rats of
our own.
 MARCIELLA
MONSALVE
I'm Marciella Monsalve, the supervisor
in Materials Handling. As a supervisor
I try to be a good team facilitator and
make sure everyone's voice is heard. In
terms of company policy, I stick to the
rules and strive to be fair and consistent.
I have a lot of computer training and
career development courses under my belt.
I've framed and hung several training
certificates on my office wall. It helps
me remember what I've accomplished and
stay motivated.
I have two teenage sons who usually spend
weekends with their dad if they don't
have plans with friends. They are both
doing okay in school at the present.
My long-term goals are to go to college
and get a degree in business. I have requested
information from several colleges and
am making plans to start classes when
my youngest son graduates from high school.
 ADRIANNA
VELASQUEZ
I am a caring mother of a 2-year-old and
a 3 and1/2-year-old. They stay at a church
nursery during the day. I call the childcare
at least once a day – sometimes more
- to check on them. It is hard to be away
from them all day.
I just turned 21 and my family had a big
party for me. I have a pretty big family
and we get together a lot on weekends
for bar-be-ques and birthday parties and
stuff.
I like working at EnterTech because is
not too stressful. When I concentrate
on what I am doing I can do it right the
first time almost every time. I just finished
a computer training class, so now I have
access to the computer station.
I like to read, especially murder mysteries.
One day I might even try to write a story
or short novel myself.
 CAROL
TELLEY
Hi there! I'm Carol. I'll try to keep this
short, but people say I have the gift
of gab! So, we'll see…
So, where to begin? I'm 23 years old, been
working at EnterTech™ for 8 months.
I work mostly in materials handling. I
won the customer service award last month
and was runner up the month before that.
I’ve paid my dues in this area and
am due a raise, if you know what I mean.
And if any supervisor or whatever is reading
this, then good!
I keep my ear to the ground–so to
speak–so if you want to get the real
scoop on anything around here, you come
to me! I mean, this little newsletter
is nice, but I'm the one who oughta be
writing it! I've got the inside story
on just about everything that goes on
around here.
So what else…? My favorite movie of
all time is the Sound of Music.
I know every word of every song. (I'll
sing it for you some time!) I also love
Rosie O'Donell. She is the best.
My favorite co-worker is Adelle because
that girl says what she thinks and is
right up front with you. I hate it when
people don't say what they mean. I mean,
just come out and say it. I hate all that
secrecy and double talk, you know?
My work goals are to be shift representative
enough times that the higher-ups take
notice and promote me. I don't really
do much in the way of training because
I figure either you got what it takes
or you don't, you know? I mean what are
they going to teach me in a class that
I can’t learn on my own anyway?
My personal goals are to meet Mr. Right,
win the lottery, and live happily every
after. Ha-ha! Seriously, if you know any
single guys who like a gal with a little
meat on her bones give me their name and
number. I like music and dancing and all
kinds of movies (except foreign ones with
those sub-titles).
So that's me in a nutshell. TTFN
(Ta-ta for now!)
 ADELLE
GALLINGER
Hello. I’m Adelle. My greatest accomplishment
lately is that I quit smoking! After 15
years of inhaling tar and nicotine, my
body is still begging for a puff, but
I’m sticking to it. It is healthy
and successful living for me from now
on!
I spent 18 years working at home raising
children and I am happy to say that my
kids – god bless ‘em - are grown
and out of my hair! I have time to myself
again. I do volunteer work at the nursing
home, I go out with friends a lot and
I’m a big sports fan. I like to spend
time alone, too, just reading or relaxing
or writing poetry in my journal.
Anybody who knows me will tell you I am
a huge football fan. And I figure that
EnterTech, like most things in life, is
a team sport. Everyone needs to pitch
in and do his or her part. That’s
why I want to hear everyone’s opinion
and input even if I don’t agree with
it.
I believe that different opinions are
what make the world go round. I’m
happy to help out anyone who needs it.
I figure that’s how we’re all
gonna survive this old world: together.
 BEATRICE
GUTIERREZ
Hello! I’m Beatrice. Everyone calls
me Bea. I’m the Quality Control Supervisor
in Manufacturing and Assembly. I won’t
go into details, but if it weren’t
for the volunteers at the women’s
shelter, I promise you I would not be
here today. I have received so much help
from people that I want to pay it back
somehow. I believe in helping each other
out as much as we can.
My personal goals are to keep improving
myself and finding ways I can be useful
in this world.
Things I don’t like include dishonesty
and cruelty.
My work goals are to get the new assembly
lines up and running as quickly and efficiently
as we can. We have a really great team
working on the assembly lines. And I am
attending a lot of meetings and training
lately to learn more effective ways of
managing a team.
I have two cats (Margie and Petunia) who
are like family to me. I’ve started
growing potted plants for people at my
co-op. People at my co-op say I have a
green thumb. So if anyone wants a plant,
let me know! I have plenty to give away.
 CLIFF
McMILLAN
Hello there. I’m Cliff McMillian,
the oldest worker on the assembly line
and proud of it. I’ve been an automobile
mechanic for years before I come onto
this job. I like it here just fine - even
though it takes me a while to get a handle
on the new configurations and computer
parts.
On my days off I sometimes work on engines
for my neighbors. And I do a little carpentry
on the side. Built a bookshelf last weekend.
My greatest accomplishment was spending
35 of the best years of my life with my
beautiful wife, Lillian. She’s gone
now - God rest her soul -and I miss her
an awful lot.
On a brighter note, last month I tied
with Joe for the worst joke of the month.
But I’m planning on beating that
kid in the next contest we have. In the
mean time, I’d be glad to help out
any of the new kids if I can. They seem
to learn things so darn fast, but I’m
here if anyone needs me.
 LUPE
CARDENAZ
Hi! If you’re reading this, then
you want to know a little bit about me.
I’m Lupe Cardenaz, the Human Resources
Director at EnterTech. I like my work
at EnterTech and I appreciate the bonuses
that EnterTech rewards hard workers with.
But while the company perks are nice,
I do my job well because I enjoy it. So
if you have a question about something
please feel free to come to me and ask.
My husband, Pete, is a fire fighter. We
share our trailer home with two dogs,
a golden retriever mix and a Chihuahua.
We enjoy traveling on holidays and spend
our weekends sleeping late, gardening,
or fixing up our home. Pete and I are
comfortable now, but I know what it s
like to struggle to make ends just barely
meet. I also know how hard work, effort,
and extra training can pay off.
I am glad to be in a position where I
can help people with health care and decisions
that are important to their family. I
know the value of career planning, retirement
goals and pension plans. And I know my
work goes beyond numbers on the computer
screen or paperwork on her desk. I believe
that I am helping co-workers care for
their loved ones, plan their futures,
even fulfill their dreams.
 JOANNA
BECKETT
I have 4 more semesters to go to get my
degree inelectronics. I am taking off
this semester to work at EnterTech to
make some money. It’s turned out
to be a pretty good work experience for
me. Here are some goals I have set for
myself right now:
- finish school · learn more
about EMR
- get a job (maybe at EnterTech?)
- get a car
- get an apartment and move out of my
mom’s house
- start taking guitar lessons (Randy
talked me into it)
Here are some other things about me:
- I’m living at home this semester
and I hate it!
- grew up in Oregon, moved here 3 years
ago
- like science fiction books and movies
- I love Chinese food
- have a 3.5 GPA in school
- I love working with electronics and
computers.
So, that’s me. Joanna Beckett. See
you around.
 RANDY
CHANGE
Hey, I'm Randy. I'm a drummer when I'm
not EnterTech-ing. I'm playing with "The
Lone Strangers." Ever heard of them?
They're a pretty cool band.
My biggest challenge right now is trying
to figure out how to balance my social
life with my work life. It's not easy,
you know? But I'm working at it. I may
have to change my work hours since I can't
really change the hours that the band
plays.
Some things I'm good at (besides rhythm
instruments) is figuring out how to do
things the easiest way. That sounds really
lazy, I know, but it isn't. It's smart.
I mean why waste time and energy doing
things the difficult or slow way? Last
month EnterTech™ recognized my contributions
to the company because I suggested an
easier method of moving material in one
of the materials handling steps. It was
pretty cool to see my idea implemented
in the whole company. They even put my
picture and name up on the company bulletin
board as an "Innovator at EnterTech™."
One month from now I hope to be getting
more gigs with the band and have figured
out what to do about balancing my EnterTech™
work and my gigs.
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