The Food Sharing Project

Providing Training to School Staff that Ensures Students are Fuelled to Learn

Service

eLearning Development

Industry

Social Services

Training Type

Professional Development | Community Member Training

The Challenge ...

The Food Sharing Project plays a vital role in supporting school nutrition across Ontario, ensuring that students have access to healthy, balanced meals during their school day. With provincial funding underscoring the importance of the School Nutrition Program, the delivery of these services depends heavily on the availability of trained school staff. However, frequent staff turnover and limited time for in-person training created a significant challenge in maintaining program consistency and quality. New staff needed to be trained quickly and effectively, while existing staff required ongoing resources to support their responsibilities. The Food Sharing Project recognized the need for a flexible, efficient training solution that could be easily accessed by staff as part of their regular workday—without sacrificing the depth or quality of learning.

AligneDesigns was selected to design and develop a scalable eLearning solution that would meet these needs, provide just-in-time training, and ensure that all program administrators were fully prepared to deliver the School Nutrition Program successfully.

The Process ...

AligneDesigns partnered with The Food Sharing Project to create a streamlined, accessible eLearning module designed to support the ongoing delivery of Ontario’s School Nutrition Program. Recognizing the challenges created by staff turnover and limited staff time, we focused on building a one-hour, self-paced learning experience that would offer immediate, targeted training for school staff responsible for the program. Working closely with The Food Sharing Project team, we identified the key topics necessary for successful program delivery, including program planning, roles and responsibilities, nutrition guidelines, meal planning, ordering food, and reporting requirements.

To ensure an engaging and effective learning experience, we combined clear, text-based content with supportive visuals, tables, and step-by-step job aids. Learners were provided with software demonstration videos, printable checklists, FAQ documents, and additional resources to reinforce understanding and support on-the-job application. Built in Articulate Rise, the module was designed to be fully accessible, mobile-friendly, and available for offline use, ensuring flexibility for busy school staff. After successfully launching the English version, AligneDesigns collaborated with a professional translator to create a fully localized French version of the training. Once translated content was received, we rebuilt the module in Articulate Rise, mirroring the English version’s structure and interactive elements to maintain consistency across both language versions.

The Result ...

The Food Sharing Project now offers an accessible, efficient training solution that directly supports the continuity and quality of the School Nutrition Program across Ontario schools. The self-paced eLearning module empowers staff to complete their training during their regular workday, minimizing disruption to their schedules while ensuring they are well-prepared to manage program responsibilities. The inclusion of visual aids, instructional videos, and take-away resources enhances both comprehension and long-term retention. By offering both English and French versions, The Food Sharing Project ensures equitable access to training for diverse staff members across the province. The addition of an optional certificate of completion also provides participants with a tangible credential, supporting both career development and operational consistency as staff transition between schools. With this eLearning solution in place, The Food Sharing Project is well-equipped to sustain and strengthen the delivery of essential nutrition services to students throughout Ontario.