Beginning at the Beginning: A Best Practice in Adult Education Intake

Katrina Bell

bellk@daytonastate.edu

386-506-3635

Rationale

Most students who come to Adult Education• Are underprepared• Lack academic confidence• Require structure • Are not connected• Lack direction

Why Student Orientation?• Communicate program goals and expectations

• Identify transition as a possibility

• Identify and address barriers to education

• Build a cohort

• Quasi-managed enrollment

What is Orientation?

• Three day (12 hour) process acclimating students to the adult education setting

• Includes activities designed to build cohort while increasing expectations of each individual

Who attends?

• All new adult education students (on campuses where offered)

• Students who have stopped out for 6 months or more

• Some students who have been out of class for a period of time due to referral process

• Currently, Applied Academics students are not required to attend

Pathways to the Future

Day One: Just the Basics– Program description and expectations– TABE review – “Preparing for the TABE”

• Importance of TABE for placement• Basic test taking strategies • Group discussion of review questions

– TABE Test

Pathways to the Future

Day Two: Education and Career Exploration– Computer lab overview – CHOICES– Learning style questionnaire (

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm)

– Campus tour

Pathways to the Future

Day Two: Education and Career Exploration (cont.)– Meeting with Transition Specialist

• Positive reinforcement• Completion of Educational & Career Plan

– Discussion of educational history– Utilizes CHOICES printout– TABE scores– Barriers to education identified– Referrals for support

• Schedule created

Pathways to the Future

Day Three: Student Success– Time Management– Personal Budget– Goal Setting– Dealing with Stress – “A Positive Attitude, A

Positive You”– Study Skills – “Study Skills for Academic

Success”– College Transition Unit Introduction

Implementation Discussion

Issues that confront new programs:

• Student base

• Staff attitudes

• Resources