A new program is available to help Pennsylvania residents strengthen their job skills to be competitive in the current employment market. SkillUp® PA uses the Metrix Learning Portal to offer flexible, self-directed, online courses for free. Registration is through the PA CareerLink® website, which presents a great opportunity for programs to reach out to PA CareerLink® partners and to present students with information about PA CareerLink® and the benefits of having an account. This program offers many possible benefits to learners, but we have highlighted a few things to help you utilize it fully.
- There are many courses available and several are free, however the number of opportunities can be overwhelming and some will not be appropriate for our adult education learners. Creating a shorter list of suggested courses could help your students focus on their own goals.
- Some of the courses do have a cost, especially if they include a certificate. It is important that our staff helps students understand the value of employer-recognized certificates over those simply showing completion.
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Think about coordinating with CareerLink® partners to discuss ways that they are using SkillUp® PA that can help build and strengthen partnerships.
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Teaching Tips and Resources |
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The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2021
This Edutopia article contains a curated list of must-read research from this year. Topics include social-emotional learning, classroom management, the 'paper vs. digital' war, and project-based learning. There are links for all of the studies if you wish to dive deeper.
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2021 Career Clusters Posters
The Center for Workforce Information & Analysis is excited to announce the release of the 2021 Career Cluster Posters. These colorful posters, which are designed for anyone looking to join the workforce, highlight top occupations for various educational levels for each of 12 industry clusters. Each cluster poster includes wage information and projected annual demand for the occupations listed. Posters are available as printable PDFs for each of the local Workforce Development Areas (WDAs) as well as Pennsylvania. They are available online through the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis (CWIA) website, under "Products A to Z," at www.workstats.dli.pa.gov.
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Professional Development Opportunities |
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Understanding Pardons in Pennsylvania
On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 9-10 a.m., Tobey Oxholm will introduce supports available to an individual with a criminal record and discuss who is eligible for a pardon. This Student Support Coordinator Networking Session is open to any adult education staff and local partner. Tobey will also share resources that can help adult education practitioners and partners support an individual with a criminal record in reducing barriers and achieving educational and job-related goals. This networking session will be recorded and accessible in the PD Portal for those that are unable to make it to the live event. Pre-registration is necessary. Contact Chrissie Klinger with any questions at cok5111@psu.edu. Please share this Zoom link with other local partners and invite them to join this session.
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Success Sharing Session
Another Student Support Coordinator Networking Session will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, 10-11 a.m. It’s officially the halfway mark for the program year, so it’s a good time to share successes. What successes have adult learners experienced so far this program year? How has co-enrollment with partner programs helped learners succeed? What tools or resources are helping with learner persistence and engagement? What is working well with WIOA partnerships and achieving shared outcomes (educational gains, credential attainment, employment, and employer engagement)? Join this informal networking session to share successes and gain ideas and resources to finish PY 2021-2022 strong. This event will not be recorded, but a summary of the event and resources will be shared in the PD Portal for those that are unable to attend the live event. Pre-registration is necessary. Contact Chrissie Klinger with any questions at cok5111@psu.edu. Please share this Zoom link with other local partners and invite them to join this session.
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Advancing Equity in Career-Connected Education Summit
The U.S. Department of Education's 2022 Advancing Equity in Career-Connected Education Summit will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 12:00-4:00 p.m. This free summit will bring together individuals from federal, state, and local agencies as well as those in higher education, advocacy, and research. Breakout sessions will feature presentations from experts from the field and interactive discussions that cover topics such as applying an equity framework in research and evaluation in career-connected education; strategies and models for equity in student support services in career and technical education and adult education; expanding access to, and opportunities to succeed in, community colleges; and noteworthy strategies and practices for correctional and reentry education programs. Registration is open until it reaches capacity. Learn more and register online.
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Professional Learning for Adult Education and Family Literacy Staff
Staff at PDE-funded adult education and family literacy agencies can view a list of upcoming courses now available for enrollment in the PD Portal. For more information about any of these courses, please visit the PD Portal, open the course catalog, and review the syllabus. If you are interested in enrolling in a course, please consult with your in-house professional development specialist (IHPDS) to determine if the course meets your professional learning goals.
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COABE National Conference Registration is Open
Registration is now open for the 2022 hybrid conference of the Coalition On Adult Basic Education (COABE). It will be held online and Seattle, WA, on April 11-13, 2022. Early bird pricing lasts until 2/15/22. Register online or learn more on the conference website.
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PAACE Conference Registration is Open
The Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education will hold the 2022 conference in Harrisburg, PA, on May 15-17, 2022, and registration is now open. Join colleagues from across Pennsylvania for the premier conference for adult educators and administrators. Specialized strands for administrators, teachers, caseworkers, and tutors will be available as well as networking opportunities. Early bird rates last until January 21, 2022. Register online.
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State and National Adult Education News |
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PSU Study Offers Compensation to Parents
The Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy of Penn State is studying ways to help parents manage finances together with less friction. Little is known about how low- and moderate-income parents manage finances and resolve differences. To learn about this, the Goodling Institute is looking to interview parents with a first child who is under three years old. Participants should be raising their child in coordination with the other parent, whether the other parent is living in the same home or not. Parents will receive compensation at $25 per hour for a 1- to 1.5-hour time commitment. See the flyer for more details.
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Google Certification Scholarships
COABE and Google are partnering together again! New this year, we are offering 200 scholarships valued at $250 each to help adult learners receive Google certification. The certification will take roughly 60 hours to complete, and because there is a whitelist of employers actively looking for individuals possessing the certification, your adult learners have an excellent chance of getting hired right away! Please share this opportunity with your adult learners and encourage them to apply here.
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The job postings below are for adult basic education programs funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and, at least in part, by WIOA Title II funds. You can also find the postings on the paadultedresources.org website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org.
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PA Adult Education Resources |
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Upcoming State and National Conferences |
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State and National Newsletters |
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State and national organizations' newsletters are listed below and may be of interest to you. To receive the most recent editions by email, please subscribe directly to the newsletter.
Families Learning: News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning
Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.
WorkforceGPS, Workforce3 One Features career pathways and workforce development information.
COABE Connections, Coalition On Adult Basic Education Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.
World Education/U.S. Features resources and information from World Education projects including EdTech Center News, The Change Agent, College for Adults, E-Learning, LINCS Region 1 Professional Development Center, National College Transitional Network, and many others.
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