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
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 [email protected]
Rosemary Matt, Director Adult Education [email protected]
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.)