It's All About the Adult Learner!

1. It's All About the Adult Learner! Dianne Duthie, Director Division of Lifelong Learning Bureau of Workforce Transformation

2. Setting the Vision Cut by 50% the number of Michigan workers lacking the basic skills or credentials needed to attain a family-sustaining job

3. Surprises

4. Evolution vs.Transformation Family-Sustaining Jobs Integrated Training Career Pathways Preparing Workers for the 21st Century College Transitions Health Literacy Financial Literacy EL Civics Workplace Education Family Literacy Correctional Ed The Three R’s

5. Serving Adult Learners Better • Variety of learning needs • Quality services for all adult learners • Regional partnerships • Coordinated and aligned services • Easy navigation • Cross-training • Support services

6. Serving Adult Learners Better • Variety of support needs • Coordinated network of assistance • Case management • Enroll in further education AND • Complete it and find family sustaining employment

7. CLEG Report Recommendations • A unified strategic approach • Regional collaborative partnerships • Clear connections between learning and jobs • Accelerated and connected pathways • Increased access • Funding priority • Accountability • Communication

8. Michigan Went First! Change is good. You start.

9. Change…not politics! DELEG Agency Head Governor State Agency

10. Change…not politics! • Good for adult learners • Good for Michigan’s economy • Good for adult education

11. A Strategic Approach Go slow To go fast

12. A Strategic Approach • Piloting new concepts • Determining PD and technical assistance needs • Agreeing on common terminology • Aligning intra- and inter-agency policies

13. Today’s Session • Bring you up-to-date on changes and new initiatives • Give you an opportunity to provide feedback • Jot down your questions.

14. Tomorrow’s Session • Two concurrent sessions • Building collaborative partnerships: things you can get started on now • Contextualized instruction: what is it and how can my instructors use it? • Check your nametag.

15. The Times They Are a Changin’ Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone If your time to youIs worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'.

16. The Times They Are a Changin’ Gloomy Michigan economy focus of GOP panel BY KATHLEEN GRAY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • July 28, 2009 Michigan Economy Ticked Up But Remained Weak in December Michigan Economy Nearing Life Support GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWSGRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS

17. Funding Rewards • 2009 – 2010 Federal Adult Basic Education grants • Rewarded strong proposals that addressed the new changes in the RFP with a higher percentage of available funds • 2010 – 2011 • Will provide increased training, technical assistance, and models • 2011 – 2012 • New grant cycle – start getting ready now!

18. Self-Assessment • To help you prepare • Provides clear expectations for what we will be looking for in 2011-2012 • Integrates • Program Standards • CLEG report recommendations • Research-based principles • 2009 – 2010 RFP elements • Federal/state policies

19. Self-Assessment • 2009 – 2010 • Ongoing PD • Electronic resource library • Online surveys • 2010 – 2011 • Begin to integrate some of the elements into the onsite monitoring process • 2011 – 2012 • Full integration of elements into the monitoring process • Integration of elements into the RFP

20. Transformation Taskforce • Develop a transition strategy for Section 107 • Currently meeting • Report due in November, 2009

21. NWLB Adult Learning Demonstration Grants • Ten partnership pilots • Will use lessons learned to develop appropriate training, policy alignment, and supports for future partnerships • Learning Networks to facilitate and encourage communication and interaction among the partnerships

22. Carl Perkins Pilot Grants • $200,000 to fund Adult Learner Transition pilot projects • Develop and implement programs of study to connect adult basic education and developmental education graduates to postsecondary education • Integrated training • Adult education + occupational training • Bridge courses • Available in the fall, 2009

23. Common Definitions • Developing a glossary of terms to ensure all partners speak with one voice • Integrated training • Accelerated learning • Career pathways • Contextualized instruction • Dual enrollment/concurrent enrollment • Career readiness certificate • Middle college • Etc.

24. Alignment of PD • DELEG-sponsored professional development must align with CLEG report recommendations and/or principles. • Spring conference will focus on models and promising practices for the adult learning system. • In-state and out-of-state presenters • Inter- and intra-agency participation

25. Alignment of Taskforces • Examining the roles of current practitioner taskforces to more closely align with CLEG recommendations

26. Learning Labs • Joint project between DELEG, private foundations, and local stakeholders in Detroit • 10 labs in Detroit neighborhoods • Computer-based basic skills curricula • Career navigation and educational advising • Workplace skills enhancement • Access to wrap-around services • Tutoring and access to academic support

27. We change too! • State staff • Aligning new responsibilities • Participating in their own professional development to support your efforts • Will be meeting with intra-agency staff • MWA’s • Community colleges • Support from NHRD and CSW

28. Next Steps • Collect your questions. • Discussion time

29. Discussion Topics • Regional collaboratives and partnerships • Educational counseling/advising • Integrated training combining adult education and occupational training

30. Discussion Questions • What experience have you had in each? • What resources (professional development, materials, references, examples, models) do you need to make each component work? • What questions do you need answered before you can proceed?

31. Before We Get Started • Examine a conceptual framework focused on adult learners • Develop a common language – define the terms

32. Focusing on the Adult Learner Bilateral Referrals Student Transition Process (exit level of one program aligned with entry level of next) I Beginning Learners III Adult Secondary IV ESL and Citizenship V Special Target Groups VI Advanced Training and Education II Independent Learners SUPPORT SYSTEMS (Training, Technical Assistance, Professional Development)

33. Defining the Terms • For the purposes of today’s discussions • Based on CLEG report • May change over time

34. Defining the Terms: Regional Collaboratives • The BIG group • Multiple stakeholders • Identify region’s characteristics including demographics, key industries, and available services • Determine where there are gaps in service providers and fill those gaps • Determine how services should be offered • Develop one or more partnerships within the region that would focus on service delivery that addresses identified needs

35. Defining the Terms: Partnerships • The LITTLE group • Focus on service delivery that addresses identified need • Must include, at a minimum, • Adult basic skills organization • A post-secondary institution • Local Michigan Works! Agency or another organization with demonstrated workforce development capacity

36. Defining the Terms: Educational Counseling/Advising • Help students understand how learning relates to working • Identify learner barriers and resolutions • Help learners to navigate various learning pathways • Serve as learner advocates

37. Defining the Terms: Educational Counseling/Advising • Ensure instructional staff are aware of learning style or difficulties that require accommodations • Ensure instructional staff are aware of career pathway interests and goals so coursework can be contextualized • Use a case management approach to facilitate learners’ use of support resources

38. Defining the Terms: Integrated Training • Basic skills contextualized to occupational training skills in a high demand industry • Example of accelerated learning • Conducted through: • Dual enrollment or • Concurrent enrollment

39. One state’s experience Integrated Instruction Israel Mendoza Washington State Director of Adult Education

40. One state’s experience • Traditional Educational Pathway • Can take seven – nine years for some • of our learners • Not being successful - takes too long • Learners working multiple jobs • No benefits • Family responsibilities • Time restraints

41. One state’s experience • The Tipping Point • One year of college credit plus • a certificate • $7,000 more per year • Integrated instruction versus • traditional pathway

42. One state’s experience • Know Your Partners • Vocational training arena • Community colleges • Win-win situation • Resources Available • Other states • Models and lessons learned • Don’t need to re-invent the • wheel.

43. Let’s Get Started • Divide into groups. • Designated facilitator and notetaker for each group • Facilitator will report back to the whole group.

44. This project was developed by National Human Resources Development, Inc. (NHRD) in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and funded through a grant under Section 222(a)(2) State Leadership Activities of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, amended. For more information visit: http:www.maepd.org