New Information - a comparison of programs.

Ferndale Adult & Alternative Education has just added (or is in the process of adding) two new programs to their night-school computerized offerings.  Here's a rundown of what they now have and what it all means:

• Nova-Net: the oldest distance learning program in use. Covers most major subject areas and some electives. Currently used mostly for civics, economics, and some English 9 courses, with career education electives.  FAAE is considering discontinuing this program, as it is still entirely text and audio based, with no video components.  Costs several thousand dollars for approximately 11 student licenses.
• Compass Learning: a few years old, paid for by Oakland Schools rather than by FAAE, so it's "free" to us.  Used for math, and some history classes only, but has unlimited licenses for those subjects.
• *NEW* - E20-20: a brand new program comparable to Nova-Net that FAAE has just purchased.  We have ~30 ports available, and the capability to add a health class.  Started as part of Compass learning before the companies split.
• *NEW* - Plato - used for math, science, English, social studies, and health. (although the counselor believes she will build the health modules on E20-20 instead of Plato)  Approximately 160 ports available!
• This program will open up the capability for at-home learning!
• It isn't set in stone yet, but the current possibility the counselor has set up is to allow chapter work to be done at home, while tests and quizzes must be done from the school computer lab.  This adds greater flexibility for students with work, family, or transportation barriers to education, but also risks running afoul of the School Board's distance learning policy.

All of the programs are self-paced, meaning the participant goes through the material as quickly or as slowly as he or she likes.  It is up to the teacher to add supplementals, which is useful for those programs with fewer available student ports (shared by multiple classrooms across the district).
Plato is the most "self-sufficient" of the programs, with plenty of activities for students to complete without needing supplemental materials.  After a set of activities for a chapter, there is a quiz. After five chapter-quizzes, there is an exam. This simulates an ordinary quarter-type schedule.

All of the assessments are multiple-choice for the computer to score, but with a bank of questions so that students are able to re-take a test without repeating questions.  The programs are currently set to allow two re-takes without having to get special teacher permission. (After 5 attempts at the test, the questions start repeating). This allows the student to make up for a bad testing experience, and then allows the facilitator to determine whether they need to go back and re-access the content material.
(M Mirkes, personal communication, February 23, 2011).

I am excited about the new programs!
I still recommend increasing the multimedia components, and finding a way to add authentic assessments to the computerized modules.  I also think that it would be helpful to add collaboration pieces, perhaps as supplemental materials for the students to do in the classroom.
Finally, I recommend that the school budget for enough site licenses that all of the students have access during their allotted class times, rather than having to take turns and hope someone else logs off!

Recommendations

In my opinion, there are always room for growth, improvements and changes within any organization. Ferndale's Adult & Alternative Education does offer programs such as lifelong education and adult education through technology-based courses. Adults should be provided with alternative educational options, which are aligned with graduation requirements. The alternative educational options should be efficient and effective resources. My recommendations are tutorial programs, college entrance courses, or Michigan Virtual High School. What are some other recommendations, upgrades, or changes that are necessary for adult learning?

Addressing concerns based on technological tools

Adult learners are provided with technological tools that are relevant to the course of study, reliable, and compatible with the districts media equipment. Media equipment is selected based on format and price, technical quality, and ease of repair and maintenance. If adult learners have any concerns with the materials or equipment such as the type and size of bandwidth, who do the adult learners address these concerns with?
Adult learners may also want to implement new multimedia materials to enhance his or her learning experiences and to make it possible for him or her to accomplish the objectives or goals of the program. If adult learners did want additional material such as audio, video, or web 2.0 tools that are appropriate to the content, what procedures are put in place for selecting instructional resources for courses?

Managing the activity use of technology

Adult learners who are busy can opt to night classes or online courses to obtain a diploma on their own schedule at Ferndale's Adult & Alternative Education. Each participant is required to use one of two computer programs to help with completion and they learn at his or her own pace. Each participant receives self-paced computer support. If this is so, how are the use of these programs being managed? How are the two computer programs implemented in the curriculum to ensure participants receive diplomas? Does each participant have to login and complete a certain amount of hours?

Ferndale's current technologies

I am interested in learning more about the two computer programs (Compass Learning and Nova Net), which are offered at Ferndale Adult Education. It is very intriguing that the city of Ferndale offers courses for adults to enhance their skill set. Among the two computer programs, what technologies are currently active to help promote lifelong learners?

Ferndale Adult & Alternative Education

Ferndale Adult Education offers evening classes two days a week for students who are unable to attend during the day school, or who wish to supplement their day school classes with evening credits to accelerate their education.
While one night course each quarter follows the traditional on-ground classroom approach, the majority of the courses offered for night school take place through one of two computer programs: Compass Learning, and Nova Net.

This blog will discuss the learning technology Ferndale Adult Education uses, how it is managed and implemented, and make recommendations for upgrades, improvements, or changes.