As featured in the MM/WW topic “An Introduction to the Case Management Service Delivery Model for Adult Education” facilitated by Kathryn Hardman on March 1 & 3, 2021.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The case management system was implemented so that instructors, whether working from home or in the centers, could view and enter pertinent information about instructors’ contacts with students via shared Google sheets. A second and equally important reason for the case management system was designating one person per student who was responsible for managing the case and monitoring contact with that student.

The library experience bags were implemented to provide GED® study materials for students to check out from libraries for distance learning.

This innovation also included traveling instructors who would administer GED® ready tests and provide instruction at various community locations. We chose this strategy in order to try to reach as many students outside the learning centers as possible. However, COVID-19 restrictions have kept the traveling instructors from meeting with students in various off-center locations.

One county has held GED® weekends for a number of years and experienced success, so the innovation proposal expanded that strategy to all counties in the consortium.

The tablet program was instituted to provide students access to tech devices for distance learning. The tablets also include internet connection provided through SIM cards.

MASTERY MOMENTS

Instructors appreciated the opportunity to experiment with providing traveling instructors at sites in rural areas in their counties. Some moments that made us proud were related to teamwork. A number of instructors worked together to create the instructional materials that would be used for GED weekends. Other team members compiled and stored GED teaching resources on flash drives so that the brand-new traveling instructors could use those resources with their students.

Remote TABE testing has been implemented.

One positive change from the pandemic is that instructors from each county are taking photos of graduates in caps and gowns and using those for social media posts and outreach. Terry Newquist writes up a first-class feature on each graduate for social media posts. Now, these posts occur more frequently than twice-a-year at formal graduations, and these are some of the most impactful and motivating posts.

Instructors have demonstrated growth mindset by accepting the challenge of learning new technology, programs, and the tracking system; they have changed their entire teaching styles since the spring, and we celebrated their diligence and adaptability.

Results of Product

• As of December 3, 2020, in Laurel County, 19 students had earned their GED credential in FY21.
• As of November 30, 2020, the program had helped 35 students earn an MSG and 37 students earn their GED®s.
• Although we didn’t fully meet our PLC SMART Goal, we finished November at 93% of our goal.
• The library experience bags were checked out or renewed 19 times despite significant library closures.
• Traveling instructors held 51 sessions with students and administered 13 GED Ready tests during FY20 & FY21.

Evaluation of the data is difficult because we cannot compare this year’s data with last year’s due to the impact of COVID-19. Last year 40% of students who attended GED weekend earned their GEDs shortly thereafter. This year 47% of students who have attended GED weekend have earned their GEDs.

View-only copy of Data Tracking Sheet and Impact of the Product

1. Select a provider that will offer the best possible service to your counties. Verizon was the only provider that could provide service to the remote areas of Knox, Whitley, and Laurel counties.
2. Negotiate a month-by-month contract for internet service. At first, Verizon would only offer us a 2-year contract, which was not feasible with KY Skills U funding guidelines. Eventually, Verizon partnered with a non-profit, which allowed us to purchase service on a month-by-month basis.
3. Thirty Samsung tablets through a 3rd party was around $6000.
4. Service with unlimited data through the Non-profit and Verizon runs about $1100 per month for all 30 tablets.
5. We had to buy software (Wandera and Maas360) to manage the tablets and lock out any programs that we don’t want our learners to access. We actually only needed Maas 360.