Distance Learning in Minnesota ABE:
the state of the stateJen Vanek and Tom Cytron-Hysom
Produced for Summer Institute 2011
Presentation Outline What are issues and challenges? Where can answers to questions be found? What is the Virtual Task Force, and what does it
do? What are the approved DL curricula? What are proxy hours, and how are they used? How can ABE further develop and enhance
distance learning? Discussion
Current I
Issues and challenges
Challenge: Providing training and support for instructional staff and managers.
Response: Project IDEAL training. Challenge: Obtaining financial resources to support DL. Response: Approval of curricula and providing proxy
hour reimbursement. Challenge: Meeting need for support and information. Response: Supplemental Services resources (Virtual
Task Force, website, consulting)
Statewide DL Survey Initial survey completed Fall 2009 Follow-up Survey completed Spring 2011 Major findings Spring 2011:
32 consortiums responded 20% delivering significant DL, 53% some DL 52% increased DL from 2009-10 to 2010-11 GED-I (75%) and Skills Tutor (67%) most commonly
used DL curricula WFC most common DL partner, followed by MnSCU
and FastTRAC
Survey Results - continued Most common challenges
Lack of learner follow-through, lack of learner interest/follow-through, lack of financial resources
Resources needed Financial, training for staff, better ways to share
around DL with other staff
Where to find answers to DL questions Training around use of DL: Jen Vanek,
[email protected] Policy and general information: Tom Cytron-
Hysom, [email protected] Support for Skills Tutor and GED-i: Susan
Wetenkamp-Brandt, [email protected] Bi-monthly E-Letter, distributed statewide Website:
http://mnabe.themlc.org/Distance_Learning.html
The MDE DL website
–A wealth of information for
practitioners, focusing on Minnesota
Project IDEAL –
Sharing Best
Practices from
a national perspective
The Virtual Task Force Comprised of Project IDEAL graduates – provides
a statewide perspective, using trained and experienced professionals
Vets DL platforms for proxy hour approval, then makes recommendations to MDE ABE staff
Periodically reviews approved proxy hour platforms for relevance
Provides input into significant policy issues
Proxy hour issues ABE professional requests approval, using form Number of proxy hours requested based on:
Initial recommendation from publisher and/or ABE professional
Review of initial recommendation by ABE professional
Confirmation of recommendation through observation of students using the platform
Virtual Task Force reviews documentation; may request more information; then forwards recommendation to MDE
Recording proxy hours DL Classes created in either MARCS or MABE Teacher or admin staff keeps a backup copy of proxy
hours earned Teacher or admin staff run reports or receive reports
from DL tool admin Must enter proxy hours at least monthly Instructions for entering proxy hours
MABE MARCS
Comprehensive information on each approved DL platform, including proxy hour equivalents, criteria for obtaining proxy hours, prerequisites, links for detailed information on each program and costs.
Further development of DL within Minnesota ABE Project IDEAL will continue and expand – creating
more local expertise across the state Approved DL programs will be continually re-
examined. Tools with limited use will be dropped from the list.
Data practices will be refined as new MABE database is released.
Website will be revamped to include more information regarding best practice and materials for use of the approved DL tools.