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Implementing Distance Learning into Montana ABLE. Quality Initiative September 17 th , 2008. Distance Learning – Initial Steps. State selected Pilot Teams State applied for Rural Adult Education Collaborative Grant (RAEC) sponsored by OVAE Montana was one of five states to be awarded the
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Implementing Distance Learning into Montana ABLE Quality Initiative September 17th, 2008
Distance Learning – Initial Steps • State selected Pilot Teams • State applied for Rural Adult Education Collaborative Grant (RAEC) sponsored by OVAE • Montana was one of five states to be awarded the RAEC grant • State contracted with Missouri GED Online • State hired DL Education Consultant
Montana’s Distance Learning Team • Office of Public Instruction • Margaret Bowles: Montana ABLE State Director • Jackie Provance: Distance Learning Education Consultant • Crow Agency/Hardin • Jerry Guay: ABLE Director • Patricia Whiteman: ABLE Instructor • Anita Schoppe: ABLE Instructor • Lewistown/Roundup • Diane Oldenburg: ABLE Director • Gloria Miller: ABLE Instructor • Marie Ann: ABLE Instructor • Paula Mentzer: ABLE Instructor • Miles City • Annette Gordon: ABLE Director • Jennifer Kocher: ABLE Instructor • Melinda Lynnes: ABLE Instructor • Shelley Freeze: ABLE Instructor
State Preparation Summarized scope of work into project overview • Project Context • Project Development • Phases I, II, III • Product Development • Consultant • Data • Sustainability
State Preparation Developed table to: • Identify objectives • Categorize key actions • Name personal responsible for actions • Describe outcomes • Identify measures • Create manageable time frame
State Vision & Strategies for Distance Education • Train staff and implement a distance learning curriculum • Create a paradigm shift for Montana ABLE • Build partnerships with employers in order to identify and provide education for under-skilled employees • Revitalize partnerships with agencies serving unemployed, under-skilled adults
What We’ll Cover Today • Stages of development: Phase I – Trainings & Preparation Phase II – Marketing & Establishing DL Phase III – Instruction, Evaluation, & Revisions • Is your program a good fit for distance learning? • Advantages • Potential challenges • Next Steps…
Phase I Training and Preparation for Distance Education
Phase I - Overview State Trainings: • Deliver “Online Methodology” to Pilot Teams • Project Ideal • Missouri GED Online • Introduction to distance learning software: • Missouri GED Online • SkillsTutor
Trainers Introduce New Software to the Montana Pilot Teams Mary Grott introduces Missouri GED Online and SkillsTutor Leslie Petty introduces Project Ideal
What are Effective Strategies for Online Instruction? • Identify: • DL student characteristics • Resources that will be needed to accommodated distance learning students • Professional development that will be needed for staff to adapt to distance education • How your program will recruit distance learning students • How your program will retain distance learning students
What are the Characteristics of a Distance Learning Student? Distance learning students have • a consistent reading level with the course • a partial “visual” learning style • the ability to work independently • the ability to multitask • intrinsic motivation • the ability to seek help when needed
What resources are needed for the success of distance students? • Knowledgeable instructors • A body of research material (both books & online resources) • Access to computers and relevant data sources • Technical Assistance • Accommodations to meet disabilities (if necessary) • Printers
How do programs recruit distance learning students? • Work with current partner agencies • Create new employer partner agencies • Schedule Orientations or Open Houses • Attend Job/Business Fairs • Promote Community Outreach to: • Schools • Employers • Health Care Programs • Public Assistance Organizations
How do Instructors Make Distance Learning Students Feel Comfortable Online? • Create friendly environment for students • Set expectations upfront • Make sure students understand procedures and how to navigate software • Set up welcoming e-mails • Respond to students in timely manner
Will Your Program Match Instructor Personalities with Distance Learning Students? • How will matches be determined? • When will matches take place? • Will instructors plan quarterly meetings with distance students at scheduled times during the year?
How do programs retain distance learning students? • Make students feel excited they are participating in a distance learning program • Extend the vision of online learning • Use welcome strategies • Mail certificates and/or send e-cards • Set reasonable goals with specific measurable results and review them often, give positive feedback, and enjoy your jobs!
Planning for Online Instruction Community Zero Assignments (Distance Learning 101) • What's Needed for Students to be Successful? • Student characteristics? • Classroom requirements? • Resources needed for success? • Identifying and Recruiting the Target Audience • Who is your audience? • What is the best way to recruit them? • Specifying Training Needs • What are your training needs? • How will training be provided? • Planning for Teaching • What teaching activities need to be provided for a distance learner? • How will these activities be implemented • Plans for Learner Assessment • What strategies will be used with distance learning students and how will these strategies be implemented?
Helpful Suggestions to programs that plan to implement a distance learning program… • Work as a team to develop strategies and plan for distance education • Create a blended ABLE model of classroom instruction and distance delivery • Provide staff time to explore distance learning curriculum and navigate around software • Research “best practice” and utilize Montana’s Protocol Guide • Maintain communication with all participants
Initial Marketing Preparation Begins and Materials are Produced at OPI • A Needs assessment is created to gain insight to educational needs from employers perspective • Marketing materials are designed to advertise Montana ABLE and distance education • Fliers • Brochures • Generic Newspaper article is written to help with local advertising • OPI creates materials for display board to use at Job Fairs and Business Fairs
Outcomes of Phase I • Assignments completed • Instructors learned how to manipulate DL software • GED Online and SkillsTutor • A process for online instruction evolved at each site • Partner agencies & potential employers were identified to target potential DL students • A tracking system was incorporated into MABLE • State produces marketing materials • Monthly conference calls with pilot teams began • pilot teams shared DL ideas
Phase II Marketing and Incorporating Distance Learning into Montana ABLE programs
Incorporating Distance Learning into Montana ABLE Programs Distance learning teams: • Identify current and potential partner agencies • Make introductory phone calls and plan visits to meet with partners and local employers • Share distance learning materials that have been created to introduce students to distance education and track student progress • Welcome guides • Students surveys • Student introductory letters • Student tracking process • Trouble shoot with GED online • Walk through student enrollment process with each instructor
Marketing Continues Distance Learning Coordinator works with each pilot team to: • Organize marketing packets • Needs assessment updated with site information • Orientation fliers created for packets • Created site labels for distance learning fliers & brochures • Included business cards • Lead distance learning instructor • State distance learning consultant • Program hours of operation • Site Brochures • Meet with local newspaper reporter • Meet with several partner agencies to describe distance learning and deliver marketing packet
Collect Business Cards from current & potential partner agencies • Keep business cards in rolodex for future reference • Place relevant information on the back of the business card to remember • Contact Names • Phone numbers • E-mail Addresses
Marketing Continues…SupportiveMaterials are Produced for • Staff and Students • Employer Tracking Charts are updated with relevant information • Phone scripts are created • Introduction • Follow Up • Business cards are collected in Rolodex • Newsletter templates & articles are shared • Student User’s Guides are implemented • Congratulation letters, certificates, and cards are shared
Marketing Continues…SupportiveMaterials are Produced for • Employers • Revised Needs Assessment includes site specific questions • Pre-stamped envelopes are included in the marketing packets for return of needs assessment • Win-Win-Win Document created and shared with community • Employer Sign Up Sheets used for businesses afar • Display Board materials are created to use at job fairs/business fairs • Marketing Packets are put together and delivered throughout community • Revised fliers & brochures • Site specific address labels are created to place on fliers
Marketing Milestones • Each site developed a site-specific packet of materials for local employers • Outreach into communities • All local newspapers published an article on distance learning becoming available in their community • The education consultant and instructors made follow up calls to local employers • Reminded employers of the upcoming orientation • Reminded employers to return the needs assessment
Milestones Continued… Analysisof Needs Assessment: • Employers see a need for: • Montana ABLE services • Distance learning • Soft Skills Curriculum • Employers will support adult education and distance learning in a variety of ways: • Pay partial or all of the GED testing costs • Increase salary after employee receives GED • Provide space and/or computer access to employees pursuing academic studies
Milestones Continued… • Each site planned, organized, and held a distance learning orientation • The first distance learners were enrolled • Exploration of workplace curriculum occurred at state level • Instructor commitment contributed to student success • Professional bond was created within distance learning team
Milestones Continued... • State continues tosupport marketing efforts • Display board purchased for ABLE programs to check out and use at business events and job fairs • Advertise individual program • Advertise distance learning • Montana ABLE posters created to advertise: • Montana ABLE programs (Montana map with specific site information) • Distance Learning • Montana facts on adult education • Supportive communicationcontinues via • E-mails • Conference calls • Telephone calls providing technical support
Outcomes • Enrollment numbers increased 20-50% • GED's were obtained through distance education • On the average distance learners logged 8.5 contact hours/week • On the average distance learners were enrolled for 2 -3 months • On the average distance learners made a 20% educational gain after post testing
Outcomes Continued… • Local newspapers and Montana’s State School Superintendent, Linda McCulloch recognizes and honors first distance learning student to obtain a GED through distance education • Draft of Distance Learning Protocol Guide • Draft of Distance Learning Guidance for ABLE
Phase III Instruction, Evaluation, and Revision
Instructional Support Montana Protocol Guide is developed from best practices to guide programs with DL implementation: • Introduction to RAEC grant • Preparation for online learning • Delivery of online instruction • Examples of dl orientation process • Resources for instructors & students • A listing of online curriculum approved by Montana ABLE • Marketing strategies to help deliver distance learning into local communities.
Instructional Support Continued…… • The Distance Learning Policy for ABLE is developed which defines and facilitates the implementation of distance learning delivery • sets the context for distance learning • describes general distance learning requirements • includes the application and approval procedures to operate a distance learning program • describes funding • describes training requirements
Instructional SupportContinued… State provides Web site on FTP server as resource to support ongoing communication • Promotes collaboration between pilot sites • Access a state Website to find distance learning resource: • Newspaper templates • Newspaper articles • Advertisements • Certificates and awards • Protocol Guide
Evaluation Distance learning team meets in Billings, May 2008 • Evaluate latest Marketing Tools • Display Board • Win Win Win document • Employer Sign up Sheet • Evaluate and make final contributions to Distance Learning Guidance Manual • Share and evaluate new deliverables • Complete electronic student management system • Evaluate Pros and Cons of Missouri GED Online • Review Best Practices • Functionality concerns • Technical problems • Evaluate RAEC folder contents
Revisions • Marketing Strategies were revised to better meet the needs of our local programs • Outreach will be determined by individual programs • Functionality and technical issues were presented to Missouri GED Online • GED Online established a system for report non functioning links • GED Online established a trouble shooting folder to help instructors • Manage data • Access student information (student reports) • GED Online (Blackboard) will include student sample test that will allow students to determine if online curriculum will meet their needs
Revisions Continued Win-Win-Win document was created and revised to improve marketing. Montana ABLE programs and distance learning make a difference in our lives!
Can your program support DL? Do you have… • Commitment to professional development? • Time to integrate a new curriculum? • Time to support marketing efforts? • Commitment to ongoing communication with other distance learning programs? • Commitment to provide annual distance learning improvement plan? • Analysis/assessment of employer and student needs • A goal to increase the number of distance learners served with an accompanying marketing plan
Benefits? • Increase student numbers and improve state outcomes • Bridge gap between employer, community and Montana ABLE programs • Protocol Guide • Share distance learning resources and best practices • Utilize state resources and support • Recognition for effort and success
Challenges? • Reallocation of existing budget & resources • Incorporation of distance learning into current mode of operation • Time and staff commitments • Software demands • Marketing challenges
Next Steps…… • Become familiar with distance learning resources • RAEC folder • Montana's Adult Basic and Literacy Distance Learning Protocol Guide • Montana's Distance Learning Guidance for Adult Basic and Literacy Education • Send distance learning team to professional development training scheduled on the 23rd and 24th of October in Bozeman at the Grand Tree Inn • Complete Interest Inventory and email to jprovance@mt.gov • Incorporate site information into Blackboard to prepare for 2008-2009
Catch the wave! Climb aboard and surf your way into 2009 with distance learning • Embrace distance learning and make the paradigm shift for the future success of Montana ABLE