Groep Maatwerk, as an employers’ federation, represents the interests of sheltered workshops, also known as “custom work companies”—or in other words, organizations that offer adapted work to individuals distanced from the labor market.
Founded in 1980 in Antwerp as VLAB, the Flemish Federation of Sheltered Workshops, Groep Maatwerk supports its 64 members through social consultation, policy advocacy, and the development of sectoral positions. Altogether, Groep Maatwerk’s members employed nearly 80 percent of the target group employees in the custom work sector in 2020, totalling 26,000 sheltered or custom workers.
Groep Maatwerk provides training on diverse topics to all those individuals, including safe social media usage, first aid, communication skills, self-care, financial management, and safety procedures.
“Like many organizations, due to the pandemic, we had to find an alternative to our in-person training sessions,” says e-Learning project officer Jeroen Jonkmans. “We initially experimented with Zoom calls, but we soon realized that sitting behind a computer for a full day isn’t feasible for everyone. The interaction of a traditional classroom setting proved to be crucial, and translating that to a Zoom call was challenging.”
Consequently, Groep Maatwerk sought an alternative. “When comparing e-Learning tools, we had a clear idea of what we needed. By utilizing a MoSCoW model (Must have, Should have, Could have, and Will not have) to outline our requirements, we were convinced of FLOWSPARKS after thorough research.”
“The most important criterion for us was ensuring our target audience remained engaged during e-learning. Many tools were ruled out because they lacked intuitive navigation, visual appeal, logical structure, or failed to provide sufficient stimulation for individuals with cognitive disabilities.”
members
sheltered or custom workers
“FLOWSPARKS met all our expectations and allows us to maintain the interactivity of a traditional classroom lesson. It’s not merely a tool for disseminating information; it fosters two-way communication, requiring users to make choices and provide solutions to progress. For instance, we use the SMARTGAME, where scenarios change based on the students’ choices. While it’s not identical to in-person interaction, it’s highly engaging.”
“Another significant feature of FLOWSPARKS is its accessibility and its user-friendly interface, which simplifies navigation through the e-Learning content.”
Reflecting on his initial experiences with FLOWSPARKS, Jeroen acknowledges there was a lot of trial and error. “I had a lot of time to figure things out on my own, which was necessary at the start to get the output I wanted, but that really applies to any tool.”
The most important criterion for us was ensuring our target audience remained engaged during e-learning. Many tools were ruled out because they lacked intuitive navigation, visual appeal, logical structure, or failed to provide sufficient stimulation for individuals with cognitive disabilities.
“Working with FLOWSPARKS requires a different didactic approach,” Jeroen observes. “Digital learning activities elicit different responses compared to in-person training. Without the authoritative presence of a teacher, participants may disengage more easily. Trainers must stimulate learning motivation, and that’s where engaging and entertaining e-learning content becomes crucial. With FLOWSPARKS’ plethora of Learning Formats, you can introduce a wide variety of activities, making the learning experience enjoyable.”
“Interactivity is also key; offering choices and incorporating game elements can enhance engagement. Learning is allowed to be fun,” emphasizes Jeroen. “From the outset, it’s essential to establish a connection between the content and participants’ contexts and work environments, ensuring a clear relevance to the world they know and recognize.”
To achieve this, Groep Maatwerk utilizes videos and images that were captured within the sheltered environments of the custom work companies themselves. Jeroen’s top tip? “Ensure you have high-quality visuals and produce as much content in-house as possible. While it may seem daunting, a smartphone with a good camera can go a long way. It’s also very useful to plan your script in advance and to master some basic filming techniques.”
Following an extensive comparative study, Jeroen found FLOWSPARKS to be the most accessible and user-friendly e-learning tool on the market. “However, it still requires a significant investment of time and effort to fully utilize its potential.”
With FLOWSPARKS
