tech in corrections program

Hey guys, Serveral months back I started using GED Academy with students in Independent Study, and they responded well to it. Students were able to use the product in the class, some even worked on it at home, but it allowed the facilitator to work more like a bee responding to questions rather than being a tutor who can act as a gate keeper of information. Of the 6 students the 4 who did end of term testing showed NRS gains, while 1 of the 6 took her OPT and GED before the term was over. Being impressed by this I wanted to see its application in a classroom environment and was able to both use it for individualized instruction and group instruction. Similar to KET's or TV 411's videos I was able to use the virtual environment to assist with lessons I was not as strong in. I found the students to be responsive to the virtual classroom, enjoyed listening to someone besides Barry droning on about math or language, and then the class would do the exercises afterwards en masse. The products were a great compliment to the Number Power and Math Sense books the students were working from. I started the class with 13 students and finished with 10, a higher than normal retention rate -- this could be due to use of technology in the classroom, but I am not sure. I had equally positive results from students matriculating to new levels of literacy and numeracy classes, and students were proud of their success on testing. So now I've been able to purchase 5 refurbished laptops. On the laptops I am loading Steck Vaughn's OPT PC, GED Academy, and WIN software. These laptops will be used in our corrections program to compliment our instructor's classes. Being laptops they will be highly mobile, and we have taken off any communication/internet software. The intent of these computers is to have 5 silos that will help the offenders work towards their educational goals to attain the GED and/or NCRC. I look forward to sharing with you how the program goes! --Barry Burkett Assistant Director Thorn Hill Education Center Frankfort, KY

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I want to thank Barry Burkett for telling his story of using GED Academy and to clarify the title of the post, in case anyone overlooked it because it referenced corrections. The story speaks to successful integration of computer-based instruction in multiple learning contexts: classroom, computer-labs, and distance learning.  And then it forecasts the next phase: laptops in corrections (Barry is a computer refurbishing expert, by the way).  I'm eager to hear how Barry's plans for corrections play out, but I'm really glad to see the insights about how engaging computer-based instruction can help teachers individualize instruction and how students appreciate having more points of view than just their teacher's and the over-all result is a higher retention rate.  Thanks again, Barry. 

Jason Guard, MPA Account Manager and GED and Distance Education Specialist GED Academy and Essential Education Direct:(800)390-9307 Fax:(541)230-1171 jason@passged.com Twitter: @jkguard