What's happening in our field now

Hello Integrating Technology Colleagues,

This discussion is a way of learning about and sharing what's happening in the field of adult basic skills education (including basic literacy, basic education, secondary education, ESOL/ESL, transition to college, family literacy/intergenerational literacy/two-generation literacy, workforce development, workplace basic skills, digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy and more) as we have moved to entirely online, remote, distance, or virtual education. It will range from news about research on how the corona virus pandemic has changed/is changing and is likely to change our practices, our vision and our goals for adult basic skills education, to efforts to learn what practitioners (teachers, tutors, advisors, program, state and federal adult basic skills administrators, professional developers), adult basic skills learners, education product developers, researchers and other stakeholders are thinking and feeling. Its purpose is to elicit and share information, and to inform us as we navigate through challenging times that require: invention and innovation; flexibility; attention to the needs of adult basic skills learners and practitioners; attention to our needs for individual, family, community, state and national health; attention to building a strong U.S. economy with good jobs and careers with family-sustaining wages; attention to equity in education, health, work, and digital access; attention to food security and to a changing climate. 

That's a tall order, of course, and whether or not we achieve it will depend on your participation: your following the discussion; responding to information and ideas here; and imagining a positive future for our country, its economy, public education and, in particular, for adult basic skills education.

I would like to begin by inviting you to participate in creating a simple word cloud to get a sense of how you/we and others are feeling about the changes we are experiencing in the field now. 

To participate, go to this Google Doc and add a word, or two-word phrase that best describes how you feel.

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Integrating Technology Group

Comments

Hello Integrating Technology colleagues,

I mentioned that we will look at research about what is happening in our field now as we transition to and offer entirely online, remote, distance, or virtual teaching and learning. There are at least studies taking place in May:

1. Researchers who are part of the Evidence-based Adult education System (E-BAES) task force of the Open Door Collective (newly a national program of Literacy Minnesota) have been interviewing a small number of teachers, program administrators, state level adult basic skills education administrators, and perhaps others to get a sense of how they are experiencing the closing of in-person classes and other adult basic skills services, and offering these services online. The interviews will be analyzed and the information will be compiled in a report to be published on the ProLiteracy website, sometime this summer.

2. The World Education Ed Tech Center, in collaboration with researchers who are part of the E-BAES Task Force, has created a survey for administrators and another for teachers. This will be announced here soon with information on how you can participate.

3. COABE has announced a survey of its members, a  "COVID-19 Disaster Relief Survey."  It is conducting this survey now to share how (I think COABE member) practitioners are responding to the challenges of COVID-19.

I welcome more information about any of these research efforts, and news about other studies of how our field is changing in response to the corona virus pandemic during which most if not all programs and schools have moved to entirely virtual instruction.

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Integrating Technology group

 

Hello David & Everyone,

ProLiteracy conducted a 1 question survey late last month to determine what percent of adult literacy programs were physically closed but teaching students through remote education. The result was just under 75% of programs who took the survey were actively engaging with students through remote education. ProLiteracy is now conducting a survey to find out what resources program, tutors and students need now and in the near future in order to be most effective. The survey was inspired by a Zoom meeting we had with adult literacy programs last week. If you would like to take the survey or pass in on, use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HYHTQ5Q

Kevin Morgan

Hello Kevin,

You wrote in mid-May, "ProLiteracy is now conducting a survey to find out what resources program, tutors and students need now and in the near future in order to be most effective." If/when you have the survey results, could you share a link to them here please?

Thanks,

David

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Integrating Technology group

Hi, David,

Thank you for getting the word out about the information gathering that E-BAES and other groups are doing. The interview results are starting to come in, and the plan is for them to compiled and a report written by late June. As one of the interviewers, I can say that it is both moving and heartwarming to hear how program staff are doing their best - and giving their all - to meet the needs of adult learners during this very taxing national crisis. Hats off to all of you who keep things going because that's what learners need. 

We're also excited to pitch in on the upcoming World Education survey and encourage everyone on this list to take it. The more information we collect and share with the field, the easier it will be for policy makers and practitioners to make decisions based on what is occurring. We will definitely share the results once we have them. Best wishes to all,

Margaret

Greetings - 

Please help us better understand how instructors and programs serving adult basic skills and ESOL learners have adjusted their instruction and communication strategies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are looking for instructors and program administrators across the US to please share their experiences in this 10 minute survey. The survey is open through June 7th. Please share widely.

https://bit.ly/AdultLearningCovid19Survey

Thanks,

Jen Vanek

Director of Digital Learning and Research 

EdTech Center @ World Education

 

Hello Integrating Technology colleagues,

In May, some of you described how you were feeling about teaching or tutoring online. You wrote,

Engaged, Overworked, Excited, Overwhelmed, Frustrated, Energized, Unsupported, Tired, Frazzled, and Afraid.

What have you newly learned from your experience teaching online? For example,

  • What has engaged or energized your students and/or you?
  • If you have felt overwhelmed, overworked, tired or frazzled, have you found ways to improve your situiation? If so, can you share strategies that have worked for you?
  • What online digital tools or platforms have you found that you and your students like, and what about them do you and/or they like?
  • What has changed in your role as a teacher or tutor, in your online/remote/virtual teaching, and how do you feel about that?
  • What else have you newly learned about teaching online in the past few months?

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Integrating Technology group