Volume 24 Issue 2 | June/July 2024 | |
Adult Learning Network
The Adult Learning Network is a quarterly publication of the
Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center (AALRC)
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Helpful Training on Implementation of an Integrated Education and Training (IET) Program
Nicholas Ryburn, Director of Adult Education, Northwest Technical Institute
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On August 19, 2016, the Department of Education established regulations in WIOA to require all local providers receiving WIOA Title II funds to offer an integrated and education training (IET) program. IET programs incorporate adult basic education and literacy activities concurrently with workforce preparation activities and workforce training for a specific occupation. In other words, IET programs prepare learners through occupational training that leads to educational and career advancement. Each state is obligated by the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that every local program within its jurisdiction provides an IET program (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 2014).
Northwest Technical Institute began offering IET programs in the 2018 school year. One thing that we learned over the past several years is that teachers who teach in an IET program need training on how an IET is designed for the program to be successful.
LINCS offers a two-hour self-paced course entitled ADVACE Integrated Education and Training (IET): IET Fundamentals. This course is designed to serve as an orientation for new adult education administrators, teachers, and workplace training instructors who are unfamiliar with the basic design of an IET and the resources available to plan and implement an IET program.
Our program requires that all teachers who provide instruction in an IET go through this training and earn the credential at the end of the course. This is a great first step to ensure that your program is offering a successful integrated education and training program. More and more professional development courses are being designed to assist states, program directors and teachers in the subject area of IET programs.
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LINCS Courses is an open-access, web-based learning platform that provides professional development for adult educators and practitioners.
The courses offered through LINCS Courses are freely available to educators. There are over 30 self-paced online courses available for use anytime, anywhere. Each course is virtually facilitated, though registration is required.
To find the average number of hours required to complete each course, please see the descriptions listed below. Note: The courses do not track the amount of time it takes for a user to complete them; rather, the number of hours given for each course is based on a general estimate.
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The City of Bentonville was featured in NWACC Adult Education’s recent
POP UP JOB STOP event. The monthly two-hour POP UP events provide networking opportunities for Adult Education students. HR Managers discuss job opportunities, offer guidance on job search, and meet with students individually.
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Guest speakers Narda Roman, Employee Relations; Matthew Baker, Assistant Manager; Machele Bowen, HR Director are welcomed by Diane Hanna, Adult Education Career Coach in the photo above . | | |
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So Long, Farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!
Dear Adult Education Supporter,
I remember one of my first assignments for the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center was to publish a new edition of the newsletter. Now – over 20 years later – this will be one of my last assignments.
What an interesting ride it was – indeed!
I could fill a book of stories and anecdotes with all different perspectives, emotions, and reflections. But I will keep them for me and with me, because you never know how it will be perceived. One observation I want to share is that I truly am humbled to have worked with you and I am proud of the accomplishments you have achieved. Your dedication motivated me to support you in any kind of way to make your work with your students more successful. I developed a lot of personal friendships with you and I can never say THANK YOU enough for your support and your kindness when my parents passed away in 2019.
I chose to retire before I get too old to explore other interesting pathways. Hopefully, I will find some meaningful things to do for a long time. I am happy to have overlapped with your circle.
I can be contacted at neupolo@hotmail.com.
Thanks, regards and best wishes,
Klaus-G. Neu
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PD Calendar for Upcoming Months | |
Please click button below to access the AALRC Professional Development (PD) Calendar for 2024! | |
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For further information on upcoming COABE Webinars in 2024,
please click below!
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Adult Education Shared Success Story
From the Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus
Adult Education Program
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La Historia de Eneida Johnson
Eneida Johnson was born and raised in Santiago de María, El Salvador, a place full of mountains and beautiful landscapes that she will always hold dear in her heart. Life in this small corner of El Salvador was marked by the warmth of her community and the traditions that made her childhood an unforgettable time.
In 2012, Eneida made a decision that would change her life forever: to emigrate to the United States. With two children and a husband, she left her homeland behind and ventured into the unknown, full of hope and determination. Her initial destination was South Dakota, a place that surprised her with the absence of mountains, so different from those she had known all her life.
The first week in the United States was a whirlwind of emotions. She felt shy and a bit disoriented in a new country, with a different language and culture. But that feeling of uncertainty was soon accompanied by a moment of great happiness and love: in that same week, Eneida married Dennis Johnson, sealing a new beginning for both. Settled in Clarksville, Arkansas, Eneida has seen her children grow up in this new country. The adaptation was not easy, but her love and dedication to her family motivated her to overcome each day. She decided to enroll in an English school, aware of the importance of mastering the language to better communicate with her children’s teachers and help them with their schoolwork.
Learning English was not only a practical necessity but also a personal challenge. Eneida committed herself to improving her writing, reading, and conversational skills. Her effort and perseverance have led her to be able to participate more actively in her children's education and to feel more integrated into her community.
Today, Eneida Johnson is not only a dedicated mother and wife but also an example of courage and resilience. She has turned challenges into opportunities and has built a new life in a country that, although different, has become her home. Her story is a testimony of love, sacrifice, and the constant pursuit of a better future for her family.
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AI In AE
Artificial Intelligence In Adult Education
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AI may sound mysterious and odd if you haven’t tried it, but not only is it fun, it can also be a huge time saver in your classroom. Without setting up an account, I went to ChatGTP https://chatgpt.com/ , clicked on the “Message ChatGPT” box and asked it to “create a lesson plan for fractions for 9th graders” by typing it in and clicking enter, and it quickly created it. Then I asked it to create a 20 question quiz on fractions for the 7th grade. It created the quiz in seconds (with an answer key). That’s just some of the things you can quickly do with AI. Try it out for yourself and learn what AI can do for you in adult education. |  | |
Below are links to some great AI tools that you can use in AE:
Lesson Plan Generator - https://autoclassmate.io/tools/ai-powered-lesson-plan-generator/ - quickly create the days lesson plans.
Magic School - https://www.magicschool.ai/magic-tools - generate multiple choice quizzes with answer sheets, rubric generator, text translator, text summarizer, vocabulary generator and more.
ChatGTP - https://openai.com/ - ChatGTP is considered the best chatbot at this moment. To learn how to use it effectively, see this short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQB9ll3AXfQ
31 Ways You Can Use AI Today (2024 Guide) - https://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/business/how-to-use-ai - well presented with good examples.
*If you think you would be interested in having an AALRC workshop on AI, message Rob Pollan rob@aalrc.org and let him know. It would be helpful if you could be specific of your needs or if you have ideas that could be useful for other in the classroom.
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Autism Speaks: Workplace Inclusion Now
Did you know that only 20% of people with disabilities are employed? Despite possessing skill and motivation, this fact still remains an issue of importance in 2024. Autism Speaks introduces its Workplace Inclusion Now (WIN) program to address this disparity. Autism Speaks created WIN as a workforce development initiative aimed at promoting inclusive hiring practices and fostering a workplace environment where all individuals, including those with autism, can thrive. They have online training courses and tools in order to increase employment opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental differences.
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The Pros and Cons of AI in Special Education
"The Pros and Cons of AI in Special Education" by Alyson Klein explores the potential benefits and drawbacks of using artificial intelligence (AI) in special education classrooms. It highlights how AI can reduce paperwork burdens for teachers, make lessons more accessible to students with learning differences, and assist students with communication challenges, but also cautions against potential privacy concerns, the need for teacher oversight to ensure AI recommendations are appropriate for individual students, and the potential for students to miss out on developing critical thinking skills if overly relied upon. With features insights from educators and experts in the field, including Julie Tarasi, Amanda Morin, and Josh Clark, it’s a worthwhile read!
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Adult Learning Alliance Student and Tutor of the Year Awarded at Annual Luncheon | |
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Literacy Council Directors, Board Members, and staff, along with AmeriCorps Members, came together May 15-17 for the annual conference and luncheon. The conference, held at AALRC, included topics on grant writing, dyslexia, using data to tell your story, cultural awareness in ESL teaching, stress management, student recruitment, and crafting a social media calendar.
Following the conference, attendees were joined by sponsors and supporters of ALA at the Clinton Presidential Library for our annual awards luncheon. Always the highlight of the year!
The Student of the Year was awarded to Janie Chance with the Literacy Council of the Ouachitas. Janie entered the council in July 2023, unable to read any of her assessments. Despite facing challenges such as dyslexia, being hard of hearing which impacted her speech, and a difficult upbringing, Janie has persevered. These adversities have not deterred her but instead fueled her determination to excel in her literacy journey. In eight short months, she has already progressed to Level 3 in Laubach.
The Tutor of the Year was awarded to Tena Rosse. Tena is a former U.S. Navy Hospital Corporal. She taught English in Spain, Italy, and Germany. She serves students in the Crittenden County Literacy Council on top of her responsibility as an ABE teacher in Adult Ed. Teaching basic reading and phonics was out of her comfort zone, so she engaged in multiple hours of online training to support her literacy council students. Personally, Tena struggles with dyslexia which has led to an increased passion to help others with learning disabilities and academic struggles to meet their instructional goals. She celebrates her students at Christmas and birthdays by giving each a personalized gift so that each feels loved and supported.
Other awards handed out were AmeriCorps Member of the Year,
Scott LaFerney, Ozark Foothills Literacy Project; Outstanding Partner Award, Division of Community Correction, Mountain Home Office; and the Excellence in Education Award, Ozark Foothills Literacy Project. Congratulations to all of our award winners!
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Janie Chance (left photo) and Tena Rosse (right photo) with ALA Executive Director Nancy Leonhardt and Vanessa Cash Adams, President of the AR Association of Women Lawyers, sponsor of both awards. | | | | |
