Distance Learning in Minnesota ABE:

the state of the stateJen Vanek and Tom Cytron-Hysom

Produced for Summer Institute 2011

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

Current I

Issues 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)

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

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

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

The MDE DL website

–A wealth of information for

practitioners, focusing on Minnesota

Project IDEAL –

Sharing Best

Practices from

a national perspective

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

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

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

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.

Of Special Interest –FAQ are frequently updated.

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.

Questions? Jen Vanek, jvanek@moreliteracy.com

Tom Cytron-Hysom, thysom@real-time.com