These are the slides from my presentation on the PluggedIn VA program at the 2011 Vision to Practice conference. PluggedIn VA is an innovative transition curriculum that prepares qualified adults for college and workplace success by integrating professional soft skills, digital literacy instruction, and project-based learning with traditional GED prep content. PluggedIn VA students graduate with a GED credential, a Career Readiness Certificate, dual enrollment credits, targeted workplace and technical certificates, and a completed capstone project.

1. A Career Pathway to Tech Sector Employment and Education

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A Career Pathway to Tech Sector Employment and Education

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A Career Pathway to Tech Sector Employment and Education
uç

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A Career Pathway to Tech Sector Employment and Education
uç
Richard Sebastian, PhD
Virginia Literacy Institute
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia

5. g{x fàÉÜç Éy
A Career Pathway to Tech Sector Employment and Education
uç
Richard Sebastian, PhD
Virginia Literacy Institute
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia

6. What’s the Big Idea?

7. What’s the Big Idea?
Create a new educational program that
incorporates 21 st Century Skills into a
traditional GED curriculum to help adult high
school non-completers quickly develop the
technology and workplace skills they need to
succeed in a fast-paced, global economy.

8. Aneesh Chopra

9. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology

10. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology

11. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology
hief Tech nology
White H ouse C
(

12. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology
hief Tech nology
White H ouse C
(
“Identify potential entrepreneurs”

13. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology
hief Tech nology
White H ouse C
(
“Identify potential entrepreneurs”
“Create new tech assessment”

14. Aneesh Chopra
Virginia Secretary of Technology
hief Tech nology
White H ouse C
(
“Identify potential entrepreneurs”
“Create new tech assessment”
“Fill available tech sector jobs at
Northrop Grumman & CGI, Inc.”

15. Alexandria Seaport
Foundation
http://www.alexandriaseaport.org

16. “Through the building and use of wooden boats, the
Alexandria Seaport Foundation helps at-risk youth
turn their lives around and provides families,
community groups, and schools with meaningful
educational, social, and recreational experiences.
Full-time apprentices earn their GED and prepare
for a career in the building trades.”
Alexandria Seaport
Foundation
http://www.alexandriaseaport.org

17. Lebanon, VA

18. Lebanon, VA
Southwest Technology Development Center

19. Lebanon, VA
Southwest Technology Development Center
North
rop Gr
umm
an

20. Lebanon, VA
Southwest Technology Development Center
CG
I, Inc
.
North
r op Gr
umm
an

21. Lebanon, VA
Southwest Technology Development Center
CG
I, Inc
. on
c ati
North E du
r op Gr u lt
umm Ad
an n al
e gio
estR
uthw
So

22. 25% : 18-24 : lack credential
39.5% : 25+ : lack credential
Northrop Grumman : 100+ open
positions

24. PARTNERSHIPS

25. Allen, L.
SW VA Regional Adult Ed

26. Adult Education Partner
Allen, L.
SW VA Regional Adult Ed

27. Fuller, B.
SW VA Community College

28. Community College Partner
Fuller, B.
SW VA Community College

29. Blevins, S.
UVA at Wise

30. Higher Education Partner
Blevins, S.
UVA at Wise

31. Stamper, R.
Office of Adult Education
& Literacy

32. Dept. of Education
Stamper, R.
Office of Adult Education
& Literacy

33. Jackson, K.
Vice President, Broadband Programs
Center for Innovative Technology

34. Government Partner
Jackson, K.
Vice President, Broadband Programs
Center for Innovative Technology

35. PARTNERSHIPS

36. Sebastian, R.
Virginia Commonwealth
University

37. Project Manager
Principal Investigator
Sebastian, R.
Virginia Commonwealth
University

38. Henry, L.
University of Kentucky

39. LEAD Curriculum Developer
Henry, L.
University of Kentucky

40. Leander, K.
Vanderbilt University

41. LEAD EVALUATor
Leander, K.
Vanderbilt University

42. PlugGED In Curriculum

43. GED-CRC
PlugGED In Curriculum

44. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
PlugGED In Curriculum

45. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ fÉyà f~|ÄÄá
PlugGED In Curriculum

46. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
PlugGED In Curriculum

47. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
Ne e ds As
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
sess men
t
PlugGED In Curriculum

48. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
Ne e ds As
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
sess men
t
DIGITAL LITERACY
PlugGED In Curriculum

49. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
Ne e ds As
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
sess men
t
DIGITAL LITERACY
M ic ro s oft IT Ac ade my & IC3
PlugGED In Curriculum

50. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
Ne e ds As
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
sess men
t
DIGITAL LITERACY
M ic ro s oft IT Ac ade my & IC3
21ST CENTURY
PlugGED In Curriculum

51. GED-CRC
VA G ED C o nte nt st a n da rd
s
Ne e ds As
cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ rfÉyàSkills
Pa rt n e rs h ip fo 21C f~|ÄÄá
sess men
t
DIGITAL LITERACY
M ic ro s oft IT Ac ade my & IC3
Partnership for
21ST CENTURY
PlugGED In Curriculum

52. GED-CRC

53. GED-CRC
GED credential

54. GED-CRC
GED credential
Career Readiness Certificate

55. GED-CRC
GED credential
Career Readiness Certificate
Math & Writing

56. cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ fÉyà f~|ÄÄá

57. cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ fÉyà f~|ÄÄá
of Highly Effective
“7 Habits People”

58. cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ fÉyà f~|ÄÄá
of Highly Effective
“7 Habits People”
Workplace/communication
skills

59. cÜÉyxáá|ÉÇtÄ fÉyà f~|ÄÄá
of Highly Effective
“7 Habits People”
Workplace/communication
skills
Business etiquette

60. DIGITAL LITERACY

61. DIGITAL LITERACY
Microsoft IT Academy
MS Digital Literacy
IC3
Help Desk*
MS Certified Application Specialist
(Word/PowerPoint/Excel/Outlook)

62. 21ST CENTURY

63. Capstone Project
Teamwork/Collaboration
Communication Skills
Creativity/Innovation
Research
Applied Technology Skills
21ST CENTURY

65. Proposed Curriculum Design

66. Proposed Curriculum Design

67. So far so Good?

68. Tuesday
5-9:30 p.m.
Math
7 Habits
Writing
The Etiquette Advantage in Business
Capstone project*

69. Wed-
Thur
5-9:30 p.m.
MS Digital Literacy
IC3 prep
Help Desk training
Capstone project*

70. Other
Kick-off
Formal dinner
Job fair
Campus visits
Capstone project presentation
Graduation

71. FUNDING

72. FUNDING
Productivity Investment Fund
$127,00

73. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00

74. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00
Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement &
Development Fund (CEED) $54,546

75. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00
Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement &
te c h n o lo g y in st r u cto rs /m
Development Fund (CEED) $54,546 ate r ia ls

76. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00
Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement &
te c h n o lo g y in st r u cto rs /m
Development Fund (CEED) $54,546 ate r ia ls
VA Department of Education
$48,338

77. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00
Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement &
te c h n o lo g y in st r u cto rs /m
Development Fund (CEED) $54,546 ate r ia ls
VA Departmenteof Education
G ED in st r u cto rs /o u t r a c
h
$48,338

78. FUNDING
Productivity&Investment Fund
nt eva l u atio
n
deve l op m e
$127,00
Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement &
te c h n o lo g y in st r u cto rs /m
Development Fund (CEED) $54,546 ate r ia ls
VA Departmenteof Education
G ED in st r u cto rs /o u t r a c
h
$48,338
$229,884

79. FUNDING (in-kind)

80. FUNDING (in-kind)
MS IT Academy licenses
CIT

81. FUNDING (in-kind)
MS IT Academy licenses
CIT
Southwest Technology Development
Center UVA at

82. FUNDING (in-kind)
MS IT Academy licenses
CIT
Southwest Technology Development
Center UVA at
Media & PR
Charter Media, etc.

83. FUNDING (in-kind)
MS IT Academy licenses
CIT
Southwest Technology Development
Center UVA at
Media & PR
Charter Media, etc.
Incentives
Local businesses

84. RESULTS

85. RESULTS

86. RESULTS
9 students completed the program
3 males/6 females

87. RESULTS
9 students completed the program
3 males/6 females
9 GEDs 9 CRCs (1 bronze/3 silver/5 gold)

88. RESULTS
9 students completed the program
3 males/6 females
9 GEDs 9 CRCs (1 bronze/3 silver/5 gold)
4 IC3 certificates
(5 passed at least 1 certification exam)

89. RESULTS
9 students completed the program
3 males/6 females
9 GEDs 9 CRCs (1 bronze/3 silver/5 gold)
4 IC3 certificates
(5 passed at least 1 certification exam)
7 students enrolled at
Southwest Virginia Community College
(Fall 2009)

90. RESULTS

91. RESULTS
All students earned 24 college credits

92. RESULTS
All students earned 24 college credits
7 students received Alcoa scholarships

93. RESULTS
All students earned 24 college credits
7 students received Alcoa scholarships
Completed capstone project

94. RESULTS
All students earned 24 college credits
7 students received Alcoa scholarships
Completed capstone project
Business attire

95. RESULTS
All students earned 24 college credits
7 students received Alcoa scholarships
Completed capstone project
Business attire
Interview at Northrop Grumman*

99. So, what did you learn?

101. EVALUATION

102. EVALUATION
Classroom Observation

103. EVALUATION
Classroom Observation
Interviews

104. EVALUATION
Classroom Observation
Interviews
Focus groups

105. EVALUATION
Classroom Observation
Interviews
Focus groups
Artifact analysis

106. EVALUATION
Classroom Observation
Interviews
Focus groups
Artifact analysis
Case studies

107. EVALUATION

108. EVALUATION
Difficulty creating an integrated curriculum
-Training issue
-Class took on a “test prep” environment
-Tension between certification focus & designers’ desire for
integration & authentic workplace engagement
-Class lacked programmatic coherence between Tues class &
Wed/Thur class

109. EVALUATION
Difficulty creating an integrated curriculum
-Training issue
-Class took on a “test prep” environment
-Tension between certification focus & designers’ desire for
integration & authentic workplace engagement
-Class lacked programmatic coherence between Tues class &
Wed/Thur class
Focus on discrete skills rather than conceptual
frameworks
-Curricular materials used (MS, IC3) were not integrated
-Instructors lacked integration experience/training

110. EVALUATION
Successes
Program manager successfully created safety nets for students who
dropped out
Consistent student reports of increase in self-efficacy & self-esteem
Capstone project became an agent of change for instructors &
students

111. Capstone project

112. Capstone project

113. Capstone project
The development of a capstone project was
intended to help learners integrate and
apply knowledge and strategies learned
from the PlugGED In core content.

114. Capstone project

115. Capstone project
The capstone project required learners to
•identify a challenging issue within the
community
•locate information from multiple resources
that relates to the challenge
•critically evaluate information that is
relevant to the challenge
•create a solution to the challenge and,
•present the solution in both oral and textual
formats.

116. Capstone project

117. Capstone project

118. Capstone project
The challenge:
Develop 3 eco-friendly outdoor activity areas
for Lebanon Community Fellowship, a local
church that was adding a building to its
current facility.

119. Capstone project

120. Capstone project
•The class chose divided into 3 groups.
•Each group designated a group leader and
was responsible for designing one of the
three lots.
•One student served as overall project
leader.
•The class created a Ning site to
communicate with each other outside of
class and worked with instructors across all
three nights of class to develop the project.

121. Capstone project
Capstone presentation
July 23, 2009

124. Recommendations
• Robust pre-program training with regular
on-going instructor training throughout
class
• Reduce amount of curriculum content
• Emphasis on capstone project earlier in
curriculum
• Involve a strong, hands-on manager with
full buy-in
• Forge strong local partnerships

125. Future plans

126. Future plans
October 2009: Two additional PlugGED In
classes funded
-Lebanon, VA
-Dickenson County, VA
Pilot program in Southeastern KY
PlugGED In included in 3 ARRA grant
applications
Session on PlugGED In at AERA 2010
•

127. Future plans

128. Future plans
•
Questions?

129. Image sources

130. Image sources
Wall Plug Wire: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gatobito/3219725951/ Siddhartha
Phrenology: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60584010@N00/3131238763/ jwebb202
Boat Close-up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nnova/2180787997/ Nicolas Nova
Wedding Handshake: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freakapotimus/376157228/
freakapotimus
Powerstrip Wires: http://www.flickr.com/photos/restlessglobetrotter/2661016046/sizes/
l/ Jason Rogers
Pencil Test: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mammal/178262435/ mammal
Beinvenidos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xctmx/183068542/ National Acrobat
Antique PC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/befuddledsenses/493303882 Mess of Pottage
Chart: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joodles/3215664122/ Jude Hill
Roll of Bills: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/3367543296/ AMagill
Speed Knots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisspurgeon/287134812 Chris Spurgeon
Seattle Woman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/3882187210/
Seattle Municipal Archives
Those Who Get It: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/4027443168/ dullhunk
Colored Cubes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/generated/509789392/ jared
Moon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tryburn/ Todd Ryburn