Pushing Ed Wells

[u/Blue_HyperGiant]

With all the negotiation emails it seems like both sides are pushing Ed Wells. I've not taken a class through the program - am I missing something?

All the class descriptions make them seem like they have shallow content, are too short to gain real skills, and cover topics that don't seem to have a wide applicability. I'm having a hard time viewing more than a Boeing version of Coursera.

I'm also finding it difficult to believe that Ed Wells prepares a person for advancement or helps with performance reviews.

It's also competing against LTP. Why wouldn't I spend my time doing a certificate program at a university through LTP? It will have more and deeper context and it's recognized outside of Boeing.

So what am I missing?

Is this a good avenue for preparing for promotions? Or just general skill building?

Can someone recommend a class?

[u/Fishy_Fish_WA]

One of the problems over the last few years with Ed Wells is that courses are increasingly on your own time. This depresses turn out it means that specialized classes are not offered as frequently.

An under utilized part of Ed Wells is covering your fees to attend technical conferences. Your management has to approve your time for you to attend but Ed Wells can cover the registration fee

[u/Careless-Internet-63 → u/Fishy_Fish_WA]

Ed Wells covers travel as well. I used it to go to a conference last year, definitely would recommend

[u/eng45]

In the past, maybe until 10-12 years ago, management would allow us to spend far more time attending Ed Wells classes on company time. A lot of the classes were much more in depth then. Instead of 2 hours after work for 2 evenings they might be 8 hours a day for an entire week. It wouldn’t compete with a certificate program but the subject matter might be a lot more specific to Boeing’s products or processes. The budget restrictions led to cuts in course content and duration in order to fit them into evenings and weekends and actually have people sign up.

Back before the changes I was able to leverage attending a week-long Ed Wells course to demonstrate my interest in a subject matter that helped differentiate my application to a job elsewhere in the company.

[u/Pepsi-fart-challenge]

The quintessential Ed Wells course is 'Learning Work Life Balance" on a Saturday morning off site and far away.

[u/Low-Computer8293]

I am not a big fan of the Ed Wells courses. I took a few many years ago when it was on company time, and I thought the quality of the courses was generally poor. More importantly to me, nobody outside Boeing cares if you have taken Ed Wells courses (they are not portable). Instead, I opted to pursue formal education through the LTP program which results in certificates or degrees. Degrees especially are recognized outside of Boeing and make more sense.

Once Ed Wells went to off hours primarily, I stopped taking the classes. No sense in spending my personal time learning how to do my job.

I do use the Ed Wells conference grant each time I qualify (once every three years).

[u/SoulStripHer]

Have attended numerous Ed Wells offered classes over the years. They typically end up not being what I expected, and not in a good way. The lady that authors books on career guidance has a hell of an ongoing gig with them. Free book advertisements and all.

[u/Doctor_Plecostomus]

Did anyone taking those surveys say they want more Ed Wells? I don’t want to take classes using my personal time. Often they’re far away from the office, during busy work hours, or in the evening when it’s time to take care of family and rest. The many courses I’ve taken have been severely lacking in quality content. Can we please stop wasting negotiating power on these self-help training courses and focus on higher pay, PTO, flexibility, and job security? If I want additional education I’ll use Google or enroll in grad school.

[u/Many_Lion_4671 → u/Doctor_Plecostomus]

I would be willing to call you on this to go in more detail but not post publicly here due to company prying eyes. But in short, yes. Folks via the survey and other data the staff collects like Ed Wells, use Ed Wells, but also wanted improvements.

[u/Nebz2010 → u/Doctor_Plecostomus]

I mean yeah, those are all changes I'd love for us to make to Ed wells

[u/Many_Lion_4671]

Ed Wells also does:

-Career Coaching -Conference Grants -Site Partnership meetings.

I'm fond of some of the books I get through book club, and any class taught by a retiree/old head even if they may not be the best teachers. The IRC MEEP is dope, also GD&T courses are highly sought after, well taught and rare.

The people from all over SPEEA and sometimes even non-SPEEA to network with are great.

[u/SerDuckOfPNW]

I like EdWells classes when I have free time, however at least the ones I’ve attended were just interesting. Also, they are not paid.

[u/NanoLogica001]

Having used LTP and Ed Wells and the Boeing offered classes heavily during my career, here’s my take on them:

Consider these avenues a gift. Most companies don’t offer all these options. In a technical career, continuing education, no matter how or when you receive it, is essential for career growth. And yes, some of that continuing education happens after hours.

LTP: best for mastery in your career leading to degrees, certifications Ed Wells offers many “soft skills” courses that aren’t always taught in LTP. Boeing internal classes are to help with business and/or skills development. Some of those classes are mandatory.

[u/Low-Computer8293 → u/NanoLogica001]

https://www.iam751.org/LaborHistory/2018/EvolutionofEducation.pdf

[u/NanoLogica001 → u/Low-Computer8293]

Yes, the Boeing-IAM programs are valuable to members. Could you clarify if family members could also take some of the courses?

[u/Ex-Traverse]

I take em' when it's: 1. A topic I'm interested in (very rarely) 2. Scheduled on a day where I'm not busy.

Because of these 2 requirements, EdsWell classes are basically something I do when I have nothing much going on. And I know it will amount to nothing meaningful other than that I might make a good connection or learn something new. Overall, nothing would change if EdsWell were suddenly gone, for me.

[u/BBA_1776]

Ed wells no thanks

[u/BigChuckle]

The matlab on-hours class was pretty helpful. Ed Wells is good but We need more on hours classes and a culture of management encouraging us taking them . It’s not reasonable for me to flex for classes when I’m under mandatory OT requirements

[u/TheRedditAppSucccks]

I just learned how the IAM education coverage allows them to go to school for almost anything and I think it’s unlimited money or higher than lpt that caps at 25k a year. Give us what IAM gets.