technology in education: removing unnecessary barriers to
TRANSCRIPT
2014 NDTAC
National Conference
Technology in Education
Removing unnecessary barriers to learning – Education 4 Change
The Mission“While it is imperative that communities strengthen school, family, and community supports to prevent youth from having any contact with the justice system in the first place, educational and juvenile justice agencies must also ensure that youth who are already confined receive the services they need to meet their educational goals, obtain employment, and avoid recidivism.”
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan & Attorney General Eric
Holder June 2014
Quick Overview of Juvenile Justice Education in Oregon
• The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) houses youth from 12 to 25 years of age.• The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) provides
funding and the education until a youth has attained a regular high school diploma or is over the age of 21.• OYA provides vocational and post-secondary education to
youth that have graduated or that are over the age of 21.• ODE and OYA work intently to ensure smooth transitions
for youth from K–12 to post-secondary and from the facilities to the community.• Both agencies fund education at twice the funding rate of
an average K–12 student in Oregon and run a 220-day (11-month) academic year with 5.5 hours of instruction per day
High Expectations for Both Youth and Adults
• No matter what field of study or vocational interests an OYA youth has, it is important to begin preparation for college and career studies while under OYA supervision. Access to technology and skill development is vital in preparation for today’s world.• ODE and OYA have worked together to meet
the varied educational and vocational needs of all of the diverse youth.
OYA - Continuous Improvement
with a Focus on Education• OYA created a position within the agency to serve
as a liaison with ODE and to develop vocational and post-secondary educational offerings. • OYA assessed the challenges of Internet access
for youth for both K–12 and college courses.• OYA developed a formal policy for youth access
to the Internet with a focus on online education resources and transition preparation.• ODE staff have open communication with the OYA
Director
Cultural Shift towards digital learning
Obstacles • Management and staff attitudes, fears, and
lack of understanding of technology• Constant pace of technological innovation –
“wireless contraband”• Systemic and physical infrastructure to enable
access to technology• Rural/remote areas with limited technological
access, experience, and expertise• Last 6 years of financial hardship and constant
change in leadership
Removing Obstacles • Positive and “can-do” attitude • Identify and address issues head-on: focus on
a solution path; seek feedback from peer states and technical aid from NDTAC and other organizations, such as Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS). • Involve stakeholders, including students, and
keep the lines of communication open
How Technology is Improving the Educational Experience
• Oregon Student Transcript Exchange (OSTX) saves time in youth transcripts moving between schools• Let’s Go Learn online assessment system for multi-systems• Career Information System (CIS) allows for smoother
transition to the community• Students have access to a wider range of courses taught by
High Qualified Teachers (HQT)• Youth have access to college courses and College Level
Examination Program (CLEP)• Students have access to courses at different facilities and
beyond the school day• Mobile GED testing lab that travel to different facilities• Training and classes for adults too, including iLearn
The Learning Network• ODE and OYA have
contracted with local educational and Internet service providers • Local school districts,
educational service districts, community and 4-year colleges
• Two separate high speed dedicated networks for different purposes: education and juvenile justice• Both agencies share
resources with educational providers
BASIC Blended Learning
Infractions and Solutions• Breech of security – compromised logins and
password• Adult staff impropriety and myth of anonymity• Youth access internet and email
inappropriately• OYA and ODE work together on investigations• OYA and law enforcement have access to
education staff and equipment for investigations without warrants• Intergovernmental Agreement and contracts
spell out security protocols and technology safeguards
Safety in NumbersUnited View
Why Digital Learning• Provides access to Highly Qualified
and credentialed teachers and professors• Addresses capacity challenges for education, especially for
rural sites• Emulates general trends and moves content to Virtual
Schools, E-Learning-based platforms, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
• Allows more students to be educated in a reduced space and at the students' pace
• E-Learning methods can reduce per-student cost of education, allowing correctional systems to efficiently leverage federal and state revenue streams
Facing Costs• The rising costs of K–12 and post-secondary
education across the country is enlarging the divide of equity and access for youth in the juvenile justice system to quality educational experiences.
Learning Offline
• Some youth prefer computer-assisted instruction • Learning according to their own self-pace• Levels of supervision and assistance vary• There are advantages of greater access
time and lower cost of administration• Facilities can expand their instructional
course offerings and reach
Freedom to Explore
• All living units have access to college courses• Youth have freedom to explore interests and
potential areas of study
Technology is not just the Internet:
Master Gardening
• All facilities gained Master Gardening DVD’s from partnering university with text books.• Conduct green technology
and ecology projects
Orientation and Encouragement:Online Courses
• Mentoring and exposing youth to research and business skills helps in transition
Communication Skills and Processing
• Before designing on a computer, youth engage staff in their ideas and possibilities, which promotes soft and technical skills
Interest in Wood Leads to an Interest in Computer Design
• Youth gain confidence from their love of wood working to technology and design
Making it Real
Online to Assess Current Trends
• Youth learned styling trends and techniques online.• MOOC on business
helped with opening a barbershop
Being a Part of a Cause
• Learning computer skills and helping peers to gain college courses. Civic duty and technology.
Digital Music Studio• Youth have
attended online music schools• Youth have set up
audio and video projects• Youth gained
employment at local radio station and other careers
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Facility Geek Squad
• Class to prepare state surplus computers to be repurposed.
• Teaching youth basics of A+ Certification including:o Hardware recognition
and service.o Software installation.o Troubleshooting
techniques.o System maintenance.
Drivers Education: From Simulator to Road Test
Machine Shop:Computer Diagnostic and
Design
Youth in firefighting course learn online, and gain skills to operate emergency radio
equipment
Technology Kits
• Wind Power Technology kits for 6 facilities. Popular hands-on project with youth• Youth also
visited wind farm
OPEN E-Learning System
Internet – School/Facility Organize Sites - White ListOpenCourseWare from Internet:•Kahn Academy•GED – Study Guides•Odysseyware•College classes /
MOOC•Read 180•Career Info System
(CIS)•Oregon Library
Express•Let’s Go Learn•National Career
Readiness
E-learning content resides on secure server and standalone systems:• Software organizes
subjects and class material
• Students can navigate through subjects and courses
• CLEP Course Catalogue
• Self-paced or study group participation
• Transition and treatment
• Build portfolio
Student terminals options:• State surplus • recycled
computers• Open Source
Resources• Donation• OYA youth program• build LINUX
systemsOpen Source applications and freeware:• Google Docs• Open Office• Adobe Reader PDF• Real Player/iTunes
Noted MOOC’s• Udemy: 16,000 courses (in 10 different languages!)• Class Central: high-quality MOOCs from reputable providers • Stanford’s SEE: Technology SEE (Stanford Engineering
Everywhere.) • edX: non-profit online initiative created by founding
partners Harvard and MIT.• Coursera: education to improve youth’s lives, the lives of
their families, and the communities they live in.• Saylor: a very simple, very earnest, and very bold idea:
Education should be free. • Khan Academy: Khans Mission is to provide a free, world-
class education for anyone, anywhere. • Academic Earth: Academic Earth has curated links to over
750 online courses and 8,500 individual online lectures, unparalleled access to college.
• Harvard Online Courses: Distance education classes at Harvard Extension School - online video or live Web-conference format.
The FundamentalsStand alone College ComputersContent from Open Sources• MOOC & education content on DVD or
KIOSK• OYA piloted program at a majority of
facilitiesSecure Network – OYA - YCEP and DOCContracted OYA / DOC Voc/Ed Providers • MOOC online learning and transition• Online community college coursesContent OPEN and Community Colleges• E-learning course list and study material
on MOOC sites, Community College online courses on DVD
• Content Open Source, program materialStudent• Course study, transition, treatment, GED• Online completion and CLEP exam for
college credit, where sites permit
Future Hopes• Equity in access to education
for those in secure facilities • Resource Warehouse Web
base • E-Learning utilization of MOOC
content bring mass education to mass incarceration.• Virtual School District that
encompasses K–12 & post-secondary • CLEP testing offered at all
correctional facilities
Our Goal
• Youth will attain educational achievements that they would not have otherwise attained• Through education there is a reduction in
recidivism • Youth will be employable in the community
and lead productive, crime-free lives• All systems will view technology as a
necessary tool that facilitates educational success
Thank youRuss Sweet – Statewide Title I, Part D N&D Coordinator - Oregon Department of [email protected] and (503) 947-5638
Sam Ko – Subpart 1, Title I, N&D Grant Recipient - Oregon Department of [email protected] and (503) 947-5745
Frank Martin - Education Administrator - Oregon Youth [email protected] and (503) 986-0362