Rolling Out Distance Education for Adults: Tennessee

1
Rolling Out Distance Education for Adults
Tennessees Lessons Learned

• Duren Thompson Bill McNutt
• Center for Literacy Studies
• University of Tennessee

Project funded by Division of Adult Education TN
Dept of Labor Workforce Development
2
Session Goals Objectives

• Provide an overview of one system for statewide
  implementation of DE for Adults
• Share lessons learned by TN Adult Ed
  practitioners
• Compare TN DE results to other states/systems
• Provide opportunity for networking about DE

3
About Tennessee

• People Places
• Adult Education Structure Funding
• AE Performance - Scorecard

4
In the Beginning

• Ad hoc/independent DE at local level
• Destinations Pilot Project
• Mandate from State Director field
• Research, Research, Research.
• Curriculum decisions
• Rollout Accountability plan

5
Curriculum Decision

• GED Connections KET
• Low cost
• Multi-faceted
• Low-tech options
• Focused on high-level learners
• Well-established company
• Commonly used and strong in DE research

6
Accountability Plan

• Weekly time reporting
• Monthly signed time sheet
• Routine face to face with instructor
• Work samples
• Testing orientation face to face
• Post-testing - OPT GED testing in TN
• Tagged Recorded in state MIS system

7
Roll-out August 2003

• KET Train the Trainer
• Eight Regional trainings
• Local Supervisor Instructor pairs
• Training Content
• GEDC Video workbook only
• How to implement DE effectively
• How to do DE in TN (accountability)
• Completion free set of GEDC tapes

8
Myth Busted 1

• DE ? Computer

9
Myth Busted 2

• DE Does NOT Replace Teacher

10
Myth Busted 3

• DE is Neither Easier Nor Faster

11
Myth Busted 4

• DE means you must learn to do things differently

12
Myth Busted 5

• DE is NOT Cheaper

13
Guidelines from the State

• Training strongly recommended
• DE implementation NOT required
• DE only authorized for AE Level 5 6(later
  relaxed to NRS Level 4 w/ 9th grade reading)
• Strongly recommended to go slow
• Strongly recommended to keep it simple
• Think outside the box

14
Training Follow-Up

• Discussion List
• By request ongoing support
• Mop-Up trainings 2004 (spring fall)
• Online Tools Training 2004 2005
• Local Program presentations
• Online Course replaces face-to-face

15
Evaluation

• Pre-Surveys
• Training Evaluations
• DE Student Participation Data
• Current Data Analysis
• Hours per student per NRS Level
• DE student gains
• DE student outcomes
• Planned DE local program studies

16
TN Results for DE

• DE growing slowly
• 66 of programs implemented DE
• 1.8 of students served via DE
• 5 programs actively using Online Tools
• DE implementation widely varied
• DE students lower hours, gains, outcomes?
  (based on partial analysis reports)

17
TN Thinking outside the box

• Student Recruiting
• Student Orientation
• Materials Distribution
• Materials Exchange
• Instructor Recruiting
• Instruction

18
TN DE Hard Lessons Learned

• Sometimes
• they didnt follow directions
• they heard what they wanted
• expectations were to high
• there is no champion
• there were structural barriers
• priorities changed

19
Overall Lessons Learned

• speed
• DE implementation can be very diverse
• One solution does NOT fit all
• DE needs a champion
• DE the once and future initiative
• How do you measure success?

20
Wrap Up

• Evaluations CLS COABE
• For more information
• http//aeonline.coe.utk.edu
• 865-974-4109
• aeonline_at_utk.edu
• Or visit us after lunch at the Exhibit Hall,
  booth 125, UT Center for Literacy Studies