Richard Sebastian Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center 817 West Franklin Street, Room 221 Richmond, VA 23284-2037 (804) 828-7537

Results of distance learning survey Survey conducted from April to June 2007 Sent to all VA program managers Solicited responses from program managers/administrators across VA Received 48 responses: 73%

Survey conducted from April to June 2007

Sent to all VA program managers

Solicited responses from program managers/administrators across VA

Received 48 responses: 73%

Do you currently offer any distance learning opportunities to your adult education students? web-based lessons correspondence classes or materials blended learning programs tele- or videoconferencing distance learning programs

web-based lessons

correspondence classes or materials

blended learning programs

tele- or videoconferencing

distance learning programs

Methods of delivery

Curricula

Blended vs Pure 1

Blended vs Pure 2

EFL type

Learner support

Assessment

Reporting

No DL

Successes “ None,” “very little,” “too soon to tell” “ [DL] worked well for individuals who have the necessary skills to understand the material and work independently and are internally motivated.” “ We are able to reach more students; the required time to complete a course is flexible; students can stop and then start again if something prevents them from completing the course.” “ Each year we have distance students who pass the GED, demonstrate level gains, obtain employment, and enroll in college. These are the most grateful adult ed students you will ever work with- those who are really stuck between a rock and a hard place needing to improve their place in life but truly unable to attend traditional classes.”

“ None,” “very little,” “too soon to tell”

“ [DL] worked well for individuals who have the necessary skills to understand the material and work independently and are internally motivated.”

“ We are able to reach more students; the required time to complete a course is flexible; students can stop and then start again if something prevents them from completing the course.”

“ Each year we have distance students who pass the GED, demonstrate level gains, obtain employment, and enroll in college. These are the most grateful adult ed students you will ever work with- those who are really stuck between a rock and a hard place needing to improve their place in life but truly unable to attend traditional classes.”

Successes “ We are fulfilling student needs due to lack of transportation or the cost of transportation (higher gas prices).” “ Feedback from our teachers and our students has been very positive.” “ The percent of successful completion has almost doubled this year.” “ Students progress more quickly because there are no time limitations.” “ Distance option has served as a bridge to retention of adults with changing life demands”

“ We are fulfilling student needs due to lack of transportation or the cost of transportation (higher gas prices).”

“ Feedback from our teachers and our students has been very positive.”

“ The percent of successful completion has almost doubled this year.”

“ Students progress more quickly because there are no time limitations.”

“ Distance option has served as a bridge to retention of adults with changing life demands”

Successes Added flexibility for students Motivational Offer new/different ways of learning Increase enrollment Increase GED/goal attainment

Added flexibility for students

Motivational

Offer new/different ways of learning

Increase enrollment

Increase GED/goal attainment

Challenges “ Retention in online courses; correspondence courses seem to have a higher success rate.” “ Internet connection speed” “ Funding!” “ Getting more program participants” “ The difficulty of pre and post testing” “ The distance between students and staff”

“ Retention in online courses; correspondence courses seem to have a higher success rate.”

“ Internet connection speed”

“ Funding!”

“ Getting more program participants”

“ The difficulty of pre and post testing”

“ The distance between students and staff”

Challenges “ Not all students have the same level of computer knowledge. Some do not have basic knowledge.” “ Many students do not have home computers” “ Tracking [student] progress” “ Maintaining consistent/meaningful contact with students” “ Student retention”

“ Not all students have the same level of computer knowledge. Some do not have basic knowledge.”

“ Many students do not have home computers”

“ Tracking [student] progress”

“ Maintaining consistent/meaningful contact with students”

“ Student retention”

Challenges Funding Access Recruitment Retention/persistence Learner support Accurate & timely assessment

Funding

Access

Recruitment

Retention/persistence

Learner support

Accurate & timely assessment

eLEARN Virginia eLEARN Virginia is a new web-based adult education program that provides GED and workplace skills instruction to adult learners in Virginia

eLEARN Virginia is a new web-based adult education program that provides GED and workplace skills instruction to adult learners in Virginia

Why e-learning? increase in technological access to, ownership of, interest in, and experience with technology technology skills = employment skills increased motivation

increase in technological access to, ownership of, interest in, and experience with technology

technology skills = employment skills

increased motivation

Why e-learning? supplement to face-to-face class work (blended approach) a (temporary) educational solution for intermittent learners an education program for adults who prefer this mode of learning a new option for out-of-school youth (OSY)

supplement to face-to-face class work (blended approach)

a (temporary) educational solution for intermittent learners

an education program for adults who prefer this mode of learning

a new option for out-of-school youth (OSY)

How does it work? eLEARN Virginia works in partnership with local adult education programs to identify , assess , instruct and manage online adult learners and OSY. identify , assess , instruct manage

eLEARN Virginia works in partnership with local adult education programs to identify , assess , instruct and manage online adult learners and OSY.

How does it work? Identify interested in online learning a minimum 6 th grade reading level basic technology skills motivation to work independently

Identify

interested in online learning

a minimum 6 th grade reading level

basic technology skills

motivation to work independently

How does it work? Assess math & reading assessment online learning tutorial phone interview

Assess

math & reading assessment

online learning tutorial

phone interview

Online registration

Online registration

Online learning tutorial

How does it work? Instruct web portal ( www.elearnva.com ) online mentor support toll-free support line

Instruct

web portal ( www.elearnva.com )

online mentor support

toll-free support line

Web portal

Online mentor support

How does it work? Instruct access to 4 web-based programs Workplace Essential Skills GED Connection GED Pathway KeyTrain

Instruct

access to 4 web-based programs

Workplace Essential Skills

GED Connection

GED Pathway

KeyTrain

Workplace Essential Skills There are units on employment, reading, communication and writing, and math, all set in a workplace context showing real employees using skills on the job.

There are units on employment, reading, communication and writing, and math, all set in a workplace context showing real employees using skills on the job.

GED Connection Online GED lessons that prepare learners to pass the 5 GED subject tests

Online GED lessons that prepare learners to pass the 5 GED subject tests

GED Pathway 60 interactive lessons in reading, math, social studies, science, literature, and essay writing, with prescriptive pre- and post-tests

60 interactive lessons in reading, math, social studies, science, literature, and essay writing, with prescriptive pre- and post-tests

KeyTrain Improves adults’ basic skills measured by the WorkKeys Employment System with self-paced instruction, pre- and post-assessments, a complete learning management system, and an occupational job profiles database.

Improves adults’ basic skills measured by the WorkKeys Employment System with self-paced instruction, pre- and post-assessments, a complete learning management system, and an occupational job profiles database.

+ 3 new pilot programs Instruction Targeted for TABE Success (ITTS) Pre-GED Online (Contemporary) SkillsCompass

Instruction Targeted for TABE Success (ITTS)

Pre-GED Online (Contemporary)

SkillsCompass

How does it work? Instruct email and phone support face-to-face support at local adult ed centers GED counseling

Instruct

email and phone support

face-to-face support at local adult ed centers

GED counseling

Manage collect data on student progress, time on task report data to local programs communicate with classroom teachers & program contacts to coordinate student learning

collect data on student progress, time on task

report data to local programs

communicate with classroom teachers & program contacts to coordinate student learning

early results Piloted with 4 adult ed programs Chesterfield Piedmont (Culpeper, Orange, Rappahanock) Middle Peninsula Charlottesville City Added Glouchester, Richmond City, Albemarle

Piloted with 4 adult ed programs

Chesterfield

Piedmont (Culpeper, Orange, Rappahanock)

Middle Peninsula

Charlottesville City

Added Glouchester, Richmond City, Albemarle

early results Between March-present Enrolled 40+ learners 4 OSY 1 GED (2 close calls) Majority blended learners enrolled in classes

Between March-present

Enrolled 40+ learners

4 OSY

1 GED (2 close calls)

Majority blended learners enrolled in classes

future plans video streaming & OnDemand Cable: GEDC & WES add ESOL component incorporate use of social software: blogs, wikis, etc. investigate use of virtual learning environment statewide training initiative

video streaming & OnDemand Cable: GEDC & WES

add ESOL component

incorporate use of social software: blogs, wikis, etc.

investigate use of virtual learning environment

statewide training initiative

resources eLEARN Virginia Richard Sebastian Project Manager 821 W. Franklin St. Rm 221 Richmond, VA 23284 http://www.elearnva.com (804) 828-7537 Toll-free: 1-877-37 My GED (376-9443 )

eLEARN Virginia

Richard Sebastian

Project Manager

821 W. Franklin St. Rm 221

Richmond, VA 23284

http://www.elearnva.com

(804) 828-7537

Toll-free: 1-877-37 My GED (376-9443 )

Resources eLEARN Va homepage http://www.elearnva.com online learning tutorial http://www.elearnva.com/tutorials/elearnva/introduction.htm

eLEARN Va homepage

http://www.elearnva.com

online learning tutorial

http://www.elearnva.com/tutorials/elearnva/introduction.htm

Resources WES & GED Connections http://litlink.ket.org/ GED Pathway http://www.gedpathway.com/gedLogin.asp KeyTrain http://run.keytrain.com/

WES & GED Connections

http://litlink.ket.org/

GED Pathway

http://www.gedpathway.com/gedLogin.asp

KeyTrain

http://run.keytrain.com/

Questions?