Distance Learning

Many programs for working adult learners integrate distance learning as a means to make the coursework more accessible and the learning self-paced. The resources here include guidebooks for planning distance learning projects, developing the skills of educators in distance learning methods, and identifying appropriate curricula.  Specific curriculum software  products are listed below only to serve as examples of the type of software  products that are available.    

What Makes Learning Effective, Support Mechanisms to Maximize the Impact of Distance Learning in Adult Education, by Dr. Paul Porter and Liz O’Connor,  Adult Literacy Resource Initiative,  2001

This planning guide provides an overview of distance learning and the factors that increase its effectiveness. It includes tools for planning and implementation of work-based learning projects.

Outreach and Technical Assistance Network for Adult Educators
http://www.OTAN.us

OTAN’s Web site, developed by the California Department of Education, has extensive materials to assist with technology planning, integration into an adult education program, and software selection. Resources for staff development can be found through the following path: home, educational technology and media, planning, technology planning resources, staff development.

Adult Ed Online
http://www.adultedonline.org

This Web site was developed to increase the availability of “technological solutions” in adult education. It is a joint effort of the University of Michigan/Project IDEAL and the Sacramento County Office of Education, with support from the U.S. Department of Education/OVAE. The Web site also has materials to assist with staff development.

The Literacy Assistance Center
http://www.lacnyc.org/resources/IT/evalsoftware.htm.

The center offers assistance with evaluating and choosing software.
Two resources with lists of vendors that offer products that include adult basic education and workplace education resources include:

Outreach and Technical Assistance Network for Adult Educators
www.OTAN.us (click “ed technology and media, distance ed, distance learning vendors”)

OTAN has extensive resources to identify appropriate software and includes free, on-line curricula. For a list of vendors that offer adult basic education and workplace education products, click “ed technology and media, distance ed, distance learning vendors”. For links to free, on-line curricula, click “ed technology and media, distance ed, online curriculum.”

The Education Department of Washington County, Virginia
http://www.wcs.k12.va.us/programs/psoft/adulteducationsoftwarelist.htm

This site also includes vendors that offer products for adult basic education and workplace education.

The following are examples of software programs used in adult education. The two examples below are from www.OTAN.us. There are many other examples at this site.  

CASAS
https://www.casas.org

“CASAS provides learner-centered curriculum management, assessment and evaluation systems to education and workplace programs.”
The CASAS site, under Instructional Resources, offers an Instructional Materials Quick Search (CD-ROM) and an Instructional Materials Guide in print format.

Phillip Roy Inc. (Aquarias)
http://www.phillip-roy.com

“Aquarias software, basic literacy skills, ESL, pre-GED, employment training, conflict resolution, workplace literacy materials …correlated to CASAS, SCANS and TABE.” Reviews and testimonials are available at the site; most of the names included on the list are social service or community based organizations. Phillip Roy is described as a family owned company.

Plato/WASATCH
http://www.plato.com

“An integrated learning system … which has an academic core competency, school to work and complementary curriculum …. Aligned to a variety of standards ….including TABE, SCANS, CASAS.”

At the Plato.com site, under Research and Resources, there are “Implementation Stories;” several community college projects are listed, also a Workforce Development Board in Texas, and the “WAGE” initiative in Arkansas.

Distance Learning Network

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, a long-term care provider headquartered in South Dakota, developed its Distance Learning Network to transmit courses to 24,000 staff in 25 states through satellite broadcasting and an in-house studio (Adler et al. 2004). Several hundred learning events are available at a given time, including academic courses, workplace-focused skill instruction, and management courses.

The Distance Learning Network is integral to the society’s Growing Our Own program, which prepares CNAs through apprenticeship programs and educates internal candidates for Associate’s degree and Registered Nursing status. Students take general education and prerequisite coursework online or through the network, while performing clinical lab requirements at their nursing facilities. Use of the network doubled from 2002 to 2003, from over 12,000 to nearly 24,000 users a year.

School At Work/Building a Career in Healthcare

“School At Work” was developed by a private company, Catalyst Learning, in cooperation with Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. This program prepares entry-level workers for medical programs at community and technical colleges. It combines Internet-based course work, live television broadcasts with an instructor, and classroom-based pedagogy. It includes both basic skills training (math, reading, writing, computer use) and academic and occupational topics, such as anatomy and medical terminology.

The development of the program was assisted by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor’s High Growth Job Training Initiative. Typical School At Work students are employed in such areas as admissions, dietary, environmental service, housekeeping, or nursing assistance. Over the course of the Department of Labor grants, participating hospitals have increased their share of funding for curricula, satellite and DVD equipment, and a site coach to facilitate implementation. The coach is usually a hospital staff educator or human resources employee but in some cases a consultant or community college staffer (Gilstrap 2005).

 

http://www.catalystlearning.com/products.htm