blended learningadvocacy

Blended Learning Advocacy: Learner Web for Career Paths,

Digital Literacy, and for Inmates

James MattRosemary MattStephen RederDavid RosenMarsha Tait

Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (LSAL) Followed 1,000 high school dropouts for 9 years

Some key LSAL findings– Individuals often have educational or

occupational goals but lack realistic plans to reach them

– Adult education, social services, occupational preparation are often poorly coordinated and are not wrapped around the individual

Research Base

• Learner Web responds to these gaps by providing:– A free web-based platform– Goal-directed Learning Plans that adults follow,

offering structured access to customized resources, both online resources and offline resources in their local communities

– Roles for teachers, tutors, counselors and others in Learning Plans to coordinate support of Learners as they move from one program or setting to another, giving assistance, feedback, referrals

– An e-portfolio for students to make their work and progress through a Learning Plan visible to themselves and (with permission) to others assisting them

Basic Design

• Learner Web is designed not to be just another online or distance learning platform, but also a tool for cross-sector collaboration to wrap support services around Learners, for example combining case management with learning support

Basic Design

Evolution of Learner Web

• Original conception of LW was a universally accessible system for individual learners (scaffolding access to online and offline resources)

• With increasing experience and use, LW has progressively evolved into a globally connected and locally situated system

• Content development & sharing is growing rapidly with the increase of customization of content for different types of learners, settings and programs

• Designed for adult learner• Goal-directed & learner-driven• Shareable, customizable content• Blended management of learning• Structured & unstructured e-portfolio• Roles for assistants (teachers, tutors,

counselors, …)• Links with other online and offline

resources and systems

Key Features

• GED• ELL• Citizenship• Workforce Development• College Success and Advising• College Transition• Professional Development• Digital Literacy• Broadband Consumer Education• Introduction to Career Pathways

Catalog of Learning

Plans

Organized into Clusters

• Operating in 9 states, with more likely to come on in next few months

• Pattern is for LW to spread out through states as capacity builds

• Approximately 19,000 users• 24% have completed a Learning Plan• Also provides professional

development for adult educators and tutors

National Status

• Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (DOC/NTIA)

• Tutor-Facilitated Digital Literacy Acquisititon in Hard-to-Serve Populations (IMLS)

• Next Generation Learning Challenges (Gates/EDUCAUSE)

• Part of ELL-U (OVAE/Kratos)

Current Projects

Learner Web Partnership:A Multi-state Support System for

Broadband Adoption for Vulnerable Adults

Project Purpose

Address primary barriers to broadband use:– Affordability– Lack of digital literacy skills– Perceived lack of relevance to daily lives,

needs, and aspirations

Primary target population:– Low-income adults, often without a high

school education, including immigrant communities

Funding

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

• U.S. Department of Commerce (NTIA), Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

• $3.3 million federal funds + $2.6 million match

Partners

• Portland State University: project lead & Learner Web host• Minnesota Literacy Council: content developer for learners• ProLiteracy Worldwide: content developer for tutor training• Subrecipients with networks of community partners:

– Richmond Public Library (Richmond CA)– Goodwill of Southeast Louisiana (New Orleans)– Minnesota Literacy Council (4 cities in MN)– Cayuga Community College (18 Literacy Zones across NY state)– Literacy Coalition of Central Texas (3 counties in Austin TX area)– South Texas College (2 counties in McAllen TX area)

• 100+ community anchor institutions: schools, libraries, workforce centers, community-based organizations

Program Outcomes

• 23,000+ new adults will understand broadband, including ways to access it in their homes & communities.

• Many of the adults will develop the digital literacy skills needed to use computers and broadband and begin job search and career exploration.

Timeline

• October 2010 - March 2011: Start-up– Develop and pilot Learning Plans for learners (Digital

Literacy; Broadband Consumer Education, Intro to Career Pathways) and tutors

– Hire and orient staff– Recruit, train, and place community tutors– Develop student recruitment procedures

• April 2011 - March 2013: Service delivery– Adults accessing Learning Plans in 100+ public

computer centers in six states with support from community tutors

– On-going recruitment of adult learners & tutors

BTOP Project Approach

BTOP Project Approach

Photo courtesy of LEAP Richmond

Learning Styles Demo

Meeting the Diverse Needs of Learners

Tutor Demo

BTOP Learning Plans

Learner and Tutor

Intro to Career Paths Learning Plans

Career Paths Learning Plan

• The new Learn about Career Paths Learning Plan is a “base camp”* introduction to the idea of career pathways and to four specific career pathways

• It is intended to be used by adult learners who may be at the early stages of learning, in ESOL, ABE or GED classes, and by others

_______________* The “base camp" of a mountain is an area used for exploring,

reconnaissance, or beginning a mountain climb.

This bundle has four Learning Plans:1. Introduction to Career Paths

– What is an “industry”?– Four example Career Paths: Medical

Information, Nursing, Manufacturing, Green Jobs

2. Career Awareness– Know your goals and values– Know yourself and your skills– Know your career options– Know your training needs

Intro to CPLearning Plan Bundle

Intro to CPLearning Plan Bundle

3. Career Success: how to be successful in your career - Getting ready for the job - Self management skills - Workplace barriers - Workplace problems (communication, dealing with

stress and anger, resolving conflict)

4. Career Exploration - Job Resources - Networking - Career Pathways - IT Technical Support as example of a Career Pathway - Resume strategies - Applying for a job

Career Paths Quiz in the Workspace

Example of an External Resource Quiz

“Learn About Career Paths:

Career Success” “How to be successful

in your career” “Get Ready for the job”

CP Learning Plan #3

Q. How long does it take to complete the bundle of Career Path Learning Plans?

A.On average, we believe it takes a learner to complete the whole plan. We estimate 10 hours.

Q. How can I make this available to our students?

A.You have to be in a Learner Web region. For more information, talk to us or go to

http://www.learnerweb.org

Q. Does this Learning Plan include vocation-specific Career Pathways that show someone exactly how to advance in their chosen career cluster, industry, or occupation?

A.No. This is a “basecamp” or “onramp” for those who would later choose a particular Career Pathway or “career roadmap”.

Literacy ZonesNew York State

Made in New York!

• Establish a Welcome Center– Trusted by the Community

• Educational Services• Stabilizing Families• Health Literacy• Financial Literacy • Digital Literacy• Career & Job Skill Development• Postsecondary Transition

What is a Literacy Zone?

• Clear Focus on Case Management• Support the Family First• Bring Services into the Welcome

Center• Not Just Clear Focus About Literacy• Job Development• Career Pathways

What makes it so different?

www.nys-education-literacy-zones.org

Find New York’s Literacy

Zones on the Web:

Literacy Zones FY2011/2012

•Number of students meeting NRS threshold criteria:

4,617Educational Gain for Literacy Zone Students

– Literacy Zones = 60%– NYS Benchmark = 46%

• 14% higher than NYS Benchmark

Literacy Zones in the National Reporting System

(NRS)

• Case Management combined with Instruction

• Learner Web– CareerZone/JobZone– Postsecondary Transition– Disability Education and

Advocacy • Digital Literacy through BTOP

Innovations in Literacy Innovations in Literacy ZonesZones

•6 Literacy Zones in a geographic corridor•5 Workforce Development Centers

• One Stops •5 Community Colleges

Learner Web in Central New York

All work together supporting students as

they transition to WORK or COLLEGE

Syracuse Literacy Zones

Fowler High School = 33% Graduation Rate…lowest in the

country!

• Part of the Syracuse Literacy Zone• Maximum Security, Un-Sentenced, 700 Bed Facility

• Petty Theft to Murderers• Ages 16 and up• Increasing Number of Veterans re-entering the

Community• Intention to Positively Impact Those Who are Incarcerated and

Will Be Re-entering the Community• Reduce Recidivism

Onondaga County Onondaga County Sheriff’s OfficeSheriff’s Office

• Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh• Partner in the Literacy Zones of Syracuse• Saw the Value of Learner Web• Made the Decision to Allow Learner Web • Sought $$ to Open a 20 Station

Computer Lab• Specifically for Learner Web

• School District Provided the Teacher• Central Southern RAEN Provided the

License and Training

SUCCESS!!

• First County Facility in the country to allow Internet for Inmates

• Internet is Considered Contraband • In cooperation with:

– Central/Southern Tier Regional Adult Education Network

– Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office– Onondaga County Department of Probation– SCSD Incarcerated Education Program

CareerZone/JobZone

Key = CommunicationKey = Communication

• Teachers on the “inside” can communicate with teachers on the “outside”

• Assessments• Writing Samples • Math & Reading Skill Sets

• Job Developers at One Stops correspond with inmates preparing for release

• Develop Resume• Equipped to manage prior incarceration• Familiar with Employers Hiring Ex-Offenders

• Department of Social Services Case Managers

• Assist in Finding Housing• Food Stamps and Food Pantry schedules

Services Provided Through Services Provided Through Literacy ZonesLiteracy Zones

– Weekly, on-site case management to inmates

– Via Literacy Zone Case Managers

– Follow-up case management services are provided within the community

– Cooperative effort between Incarcerated and Literacy Zone Case Managers to insure smooth transition back into the community

Contact InformationContact Information

James Matt, DirectorCentral Southern Tier RAENJames.Matt@cayuga-cc.edu

Rosemary Matt, Director Adult Education AccountabilityRosemary.Matt@cayuga-cc.edu

LVGS Learner Web Students

LVGS Learner Web Students

Discussion

1. Who are the adult basic education stakeholders in your state or community? For example:

– Students and their families– Employers,– One-stop Career Centers– Libraries or Museums – People with learning disabilities and

their advocates – Community colleges– Corrections institutions and county jails– Health care providers– People seeking digital literacy and their

advocates

2. What education problems do stakeholders want to solve?  For example:

– digital literacy– health literacy – preparation for the workforce

3. How could you use the Learner Web in your community to meet needs identified by these stakeholders? 4. How can federal policy address some of these needs? (Health literacy, digital literacy and broadband literacy, workplace literacy, etc.)