Distance Learning in Minnesota ABE: the state of the state

1. Distance Learning in Minnesota ABE:the state of the state Jen Vanek and Tom Cytron-Hysom Produced for Summer Institute 2011

2. Presentation Outline • What are issues and challenges? • Where can answers to questions be found? • What is the Virtual Task Force, and what does it do? • What are the approved DL curricula? • What are proxy hours, and how are they used? • How can ABE further develop and enhance distance learning? • Discussion

3. Current IIssues and challenges • Challenge: Providing training and support for instructional staff and managers. • Response: Project IDEAL training. • Challenge: Obtaining financial resources to support DL. • Response: Approval of curricula and providing proxy hour reimbursement. • Challenge: Meeting need for support and information. • Response: Supplemental Services resources (Virtual Task Force, website, consulting)

4. Statewide DL Survey • Initial survey completed Fall 2009 • Follow-up Survey completed Spring 2011 • Major findings Spring 2011: • 32 consortiums responded • 20% delivering significant DL, 53% some DL • 52% increased DL from 2009-10 to 2010-11 • GED-I (75%) and Skills Tutor (67%) most commonly used DL curricula • WFC most common DL partner, followed by MnSCU and FastTRAC

5. Survey Results - continued • Most common challenges • Lack of learner follow-through, lack of learner interest/follow-through, lack of financial resources • Resources needed • Financial, training for staff, better ways to share around DL with other staff

6. Where to find answers to DL questions • Training around use of DL: Jen Vanek, jenvanek@moreliteracy.com • Policy and general information: Tom Cytron-Hysom, thysom@real-time.com • Support for Skills Tutor and GED-i: Susan Wetenkamp-Brandt, swbrandt@theMLC.org • Bi-monthly E-Letter, distributed statewide • Website: http://mnabe.themlc.org/Distance_Learning.html

7. The MDE DL website – A wealth of information for practitioners, focusing on Minnesota

8. Project IDEAL – Sharing Best Practices from a national perspective

9. The Virtual Task Force • Comprised of Project IDEAL graduates – provides a statewide perspective, using trained and experienced professionals • Vets DL platforms for proxy hour approval, then makes recommendations to MDE ABE staff • Periodically reviews approved proxy hour platforms for relevance • Provides input into significant policy issues

10. Proxy hour issues • ABE professional requests approval, using form • Number of proxy hours requested based on: • Initial recommendation from publisher and/or ABE professional • Review of initial recommendation by ABE professional • Confirmation of recommendation through observation of students using the platform • Virtual Task Force reviews documentation; may request more information; then forwards recommendation to MDE

11. Recording proxy hours • DL Classes created in either MARCS or MABE • Teacher or admin staff keeps a backup copy of proxy hours earned • Teacher or admin staff run reports or receive reports from DL tool admin • Must enter proxy hours at least monthly • Instructions for entering proxy hours • MABE • MARCS

12. Comprehensive information on each approved DL platform, including proxy hour equivalents, criteria for obtaining proxy hours, prerequisites, links for detailed information on each program and costs.

13. Of Special Interest – FAQ are frequently updated.

14. Further development of DL within Minnesota ABE • Project IDEAL will continue and expand – creating more local expertise across the state • Approved DL programs will be continually re-examined. Tools with limited use will be dropped from the list. • Data practices will be refined as new MABE database is released. • Website will be revamped to include more information regarding best practice and materials for use of the approved DL tools.

15. Questions? • Jen Vanek, jvanek@moreliteracy.com • Tom Cytron-Hysom, thysom@real-time.com