Target Population

Prior to the training, each independent contractor will receive an email outlining their first “proof of concept” assignment. Before the training adjourns, contractors will demonstrate that they are able to access all relevant systems and that they understand the scope of their assignment. The facilitator will be an experienced project manager who is familiar with all of the roles and responsibilities on both the internal and external teams. The target population for this training is both new and returning independent contractors.

Target Population The target population for this training is independent contractors (ICs) who have been signed short-term contracts. The independent contractors are writers and editors who will produce content for K-12 online courses in a wide range of subjects. They are employed for the term of one project, with the possibility of remaining on for further work, depending on the development cycle. This population skews largely white and female, though efforts are being made to recruit a more representative cohort. This is being done by reaching out to minority freelancing groups through LinkedIn and other social media sites. The reason for seeking a more diverse group of contractors is to better ensure that there is no bias in our course content. The age range of the independent contractors is quite wide, usually ranging from around 25 to 65, with a small group who are older and keeping themselves busy in retirement. Some of the retirees are, in fact, former employees, who already have a very strong grasp of the inner workings of the company.

The ICs have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with the vast majority holding a master’s degree or Ph.D. Almost all of the ICs have a background in K-12 education as teachers or specialists. Many are still in the classroom and performing freelance work on the side. Having experienced educators producing the course content helps to ensure that it is both factually correct and pedagogically effective. The ICs are all subject matter experts in at least one content area such as English language arts, social studies, math, or science. There is a preference for experienced ICs who have worked with us previously or who have produced content for other publishers. Because we primarily produce content for an online academic audience, there is also a preference for ICs who have experience in digital content and online education.

While the ICs are nearly all excited to be included in the project, there is a definite range of familiarity with the tools that we use to complete the work. The younger cohort generally picks up the online tools more easily while some of the older ICs struggle to grasp tools such as Smartsheet and the content management system (CMS). To ensure that all participants in the training are able to master accessing each of the tools, they will be supplied with their first assignments beforehand so that they can practice accessing the appropriate tools by the end of the training. This will be included as part of the Level 2 evaluation. While older participants sometimes struggle with the digital tools, younger participants may not have as much