Rhode Island Adult Education
Technology Initiative(2013-2015)
2013-2014 - Technology InitiativeEstablished
- Incentive grant funds set aside by RIDE for investment in technology for Adult Education
- Programs designate a Technology Point Person (TPP)
- Quarterly TPP meetings are established, serving as a technology professional learning community (PLC)
- Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) formed to advise RIDE on allocation of the tech funds and conduct preliminary statewide planning for technology in Adult Education
TAC Recommendations made to RIDE
- Bulk of funding to be distributed to RIDE funded agencies through an RFP: Technology Breakthrough Grants in Teaching and Learning in Adult Education
- Overarching, Infrastructure, PD and Student Standards
- Outline of a technology plan
Technology Breakthrough Grants
- Infrastructure and equipment (including software and licenses)
- Teaching and learning (implementing new instructional models, etc)
- Professional Development (PD) delivery
- For use by all RIDE funded Adult Education Agencies
RI Adult Education Positioned for new WIOA law:
WIOA Consideration 7: Whether the eligible provider’s activities effectively use technology, services, and delivery systems, including distance education in a manner sufficient to increase the amount and quality of learning and how such technology, services, and systems lead to improved performance.
Rhode Island Adult Education
Technology Initiative
2013-2015
PURPOSE
The goals of Adult Education in Rhode Island include preparing students forpost-secondary education, employment, and participation in family and the community. In order to achieve these goals, adult education students need basic digital literacy skills including the ability to access computer-based testing, (including but not limited to the GED, with January 2014 implementation), and to utilize digital learning as a component of adult and post-secondary education, and job training. As well, Adult Education aims to support adults in gaining the ability to complete online tasks increasingly required of them in the 21st century (examples include downloading and completing job applications and many social services forms, banking.)
To meet College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCR) and the demands of 21st century skills, competency in using technology is essential. RI Adult Education programs can play a key role in bridging the digital divide that can prevent our students from gaining equal access to learning and work opportunities and everyday life tasks by helping them develop and strengthen fundamental computer skills that apply to their next steps. This process includes the integration of digital technologies into instruction and also the modeling of technology usage across all adult education domains.
Goals
1) support students in learning computer basics.
2) integrate technology into the program operations and classroom instruction.
Background
There are currently many changes in the field of adult education that are being impacted by technology. The RIDE Adult Education Office has decided to invest recently awarded Workforce Investment Act Incentive Grant funds into technology infrastructure and capacity building in adult education programs. A Technology Advisory Committee has been assembled to assist RIDE with this Technology Initiative. With this investment decision comes the acknowledgement that, while there are indeed many tech savvy practitioners in our programs, there is a need to ensure that there is one designated “Technology Point Person” (TPP) in each program to assist in supporting the activities of the Initiative.
Role of the Technology Point Person
The TPP’s involvement and leadership in this initiative will help programs, individual staff members and students develop their comfort and proficiency with technology for educational purposes. TPP participation will also help start programs and colleagues on the path to acquiring the skills and competencies found in the novice and more advanced levels of the Rhode Island Practitioner Technology Standards, which will ultimately benefit the students served by RIDE funded programs. Professional development for TPPs in this role will take place in TPP meetings.
TPP meetings into 2014-2015
- Redefined the TPP role
- Exploring concepts of blended and personalized learning for adult education
- Providing Professional Development and Tech Grant Project support