Building Community Bridges for Adult Learners

1. Building Community Bridges for Adult Learners Kate Carey, Executive Director Ohio Learning Network www.oln.org

2. Ohio – Population 11 million • 1.5 million some college no degree • 41st in bachelor’s degree attainment • 40th in associate degree • 23.3% of Ohioans are earning 200% below the federal poverty guidelines • 83% of today’s workforce still working in 2010 • Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati • Steel mills, auto factories, coal mines

3. OLN seeks to be recognized nationally for its leadership in facilitating collaborative efforts to improve and expand innovative applications of technologies that enhance learning. MissionOLN works in collaboration with higher education, schools, policy makers, business and industry, government, and local communities to expand educational opportunities for Ohioans. OLN • develops and promotes learning and assessment through the use of technology, • tests and provides advice on emerging learning-directed technologies, and • facilitates cost effectiveness through shared technology investments.

4. OLN works in collaboration with higher education, schools, policy makers, business and industry, government, and local communities to expand educational opportunities for Ohioans.

5. Ohioan E-Adviser Tracking Database Certificate E Fee Lifelong Learning Lifelong Learning Lifelong Learning

6. Partnerships at the local level • Ohio College Access • Staff teach, recruit, and are e-guides • Community Technology Centers • Teach, e-guides, and recruit • Local Schools • Teach and recruit • Community Organizations • Recruit, teach, and e-guide

7. Promotions at the local level • Radio advertising w/local tags • Posters • Bookmarks to libraries • Women’s organizations • Farm Shows • State Fair • Employee Education Fairs • HS and College Career Fairs • Speaking to Community Organizations, elected officials – anyone who will listen

8. View course and assessments @.. • http://vista.kent.edu • Ohio Learning Network • Logon and password • oln1 oln1

9. Six modules, online, mimics discipline-based course • Careers, Costs, Credits, Concentration • Students receive a “certificate of completion” • Eligible for fee waivers at some institutions • E-guide assigned to help with other education choices

10. Your website is truly a godsend. If I hadn’t of found it, I would be in quite a predicament…. The other day I was discussing my plight with a reference librarian at the University of Toledo. She told me to go to ohiolearns.org. After months of frustration, it was all there. • Reasonable tuition • Flexible schedules • No huge in-state/Out-of-state distinction (punishment) in the tuitions. • A wonderful searchable catalog of classes, with a great user interface.

11. “I am a married working mother with twin girls, a son, and of course a husband. With all of the demands of work, home and family I was able to work E 4 ME around my busy hectic schedule no matter what time of the day or night. E 4 ME is a very user friendly learning environment. The instructor was friendly and easily accessible for questions. It was a great experience and very informative. I would highly recommend E 4 ME as the starting point for your distance learning experience.”

14. Girls Rule!