Special Programs: Project Ideal

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, Adult Education Section (DWE, ADS), is developing and implementing a distance learning project as part of a 14 state consortium, Project Ideal. The Project Ideal, Distance Learning Experiment is a opportunity for the five pilot sites to develop virtual classrooms using "Workplace Essential Skills" (WES) and/or "GED Connections" (GEDC) on-line instruction, videos and textbooks. For the adult learner at a distance, who needs alternate instruction, the Adult Education Section is supporting five "virtual classrooms" as part of the continuum of services to offer instruction to learners who have barriers to enrolling in traditional classroom programs. These learners interact with on-line materials from their homes, libraries, local partners or any other Internet access point. Local partners, such as a public library or video store, provide a variety of support to pilot proposals such as promoting and publicizing the availability of Workplace Essential Skills and/or GED Connections distance learning programs, supporting self-service adult learners by having the WES and/or GEDC videos available on-site, and providing access to the Internet.

The purpose of these virtual classrooms is to provide basic educational services to a segment of the population currently in need but not being reached. Training for the pilot sites has included how to create and maintain a virtual classroom; how to plan to ensure proper access, consisting of an online course for both the administrator and teachers; student orientation that includes how to use the technology and how to learn at a distance; and instructor training on how to create a classroom environment at a distance and how to use the instructional package.

A key part of Project IDEAL is setting up distance learning experiments in our state that provide opportunities for teachers and administrators to learn about distance education-who is best served by learning at a distance and what is required to deliver instruction in this fashion.

For more information on the Arkansas Project IDEAL contact Carol Adams at carol.adams@mail.state.ar.us

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