Adult Education Distance Learning Policy

1. Adult Education Distance Learning Policy

2. Presenters: We are members of the State of Michigan Adult Education Task Force Sandra GrossoBill Sherb Ferndale Adult Livonia Public Schools ~ & Alternative Retired Education Amy Boyles-SfetkidesFlint Community Schools

3. Participants…Who are you? Please, introduce yourself.

4. Our task this year was to create a new distance learning policy to submit for consideration for adoption to replace the current policy.

5. Why the need for changing policy? school kills creativity - ken robinson – YouTube http://www.ets.org/Media/Education_Topics/perfectStorm/perfectStorm.html

6. Why change policy in Michigan? Is the current policy meeting the current needs of the practitioners engaging adult learners?

7. Concerns… Policy vs. Procedure Distance Learning On-line learning

8. Question… Are you a distance/on-line learner? Keep in mind that all learners will have to go on-line at some point in their lives.

9. Questions… How do you determine what type of program meets your students’ needs? Do you use distance/on-line learning?

10. Question… What to change? Take a few minutes to read over our current policy. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcd/Distance_Learning_Policy_5-4-11_354163_7.pdf

11. Now… Please, help us out with our proposed changes by marking up on the posted policy sheets your thoughts on what or if changes should be made to the current State policy.

12. Next steps... Create “Procedures” to support the new State Distance Learning Policy.

13. Five common themes repeat across all of the Distance Learning Policies: (IDEAL Handbook) 1. Identifying and recruiting appropriate students 2. An orientation that provides the teacher with information about students and students with the necessary information and skills for successful participation 3. Teacher understanding of their changed role, providing feedback on students’ work, and motivating and supporting students at a distance 4. Understanding the different purposes assessment serves and exploring ways to gauge learner progress 5. Examining issues faced by administrators in implementing and sustaining distance learning programs as part of their educational offerings

14. Best Practices: Massachusetts Guidelines for Effective Distance Learning in Adult Basic Education http://www.doe.mass.edu/acls/dl/DL_guidelines.doc DISTANCE EDUCATION POLICY FOR VIRGINIA ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAMS http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/adulted/data_collection_reporting/distance_education/distance_education_policy.pdf Project IDEAL –Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan http://www.projectideal.org/pdf/Print%20Resources/IDEALHandbook3rdEd2004.pdf

15. Next… Thank you for your assistance today. The next step is to compile the Policy change suggestions, compile them into a Policy Draft that will first be pushed out through the TEMA listserve. After attending to any further identified changes, the final draft will be submitted for consideration to replace the existing policy.

16. Contact Information: Bill Sherb: billsherb@hotmail.com Sandra Grosso: sgrosso@ferndaleschools.org