NYS Public Television/Adult Education Collaboration

New York State’s nine public television stations have broadcasted adult education programs for many years. With the transition to digital “on demand” technology, the stations have recognized the opportunity to provide enhanced services to New York State’s adult learners.

Collaboration between two State Education offices the Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development and the Office of Educational Television and Public Broadcasting and the public television stations have enabled the Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS) to add the adult education programs to their highly popular EdVideo Online product. EdVideo Online is a WEB based application, made available to K-12 teachers and students at no cost to the end users. Since July 2006, Adult Education providers have been able to obtain access to EdVideo Online for adult learners.

The Yonkers City School District has developed a product call Career Achieve. This product utilizes adult education programs and interactive digital workbooks. When New York’s public television staff provides training workshops on how to use EdVideo Online to adult education providers, they will provide an introduction to Career Achieve. Included in the introduction will be contact information for how to obtain access to use Career Achieve in the provision of their adult education course work. These workshops will spread the word about EdVideo Online and Career Achieve across the state.

Career Achieve - Web Based Adult Education Distance Learning

Adult Education is integrating technology into distance learning to provide the Adult Education population a web based distance learning program which will address Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, work readiness and life skills.

Career Achieve is the brainchild of Bob Hassinger and the staff of Yonkers City School District and is supported by the Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development. This is an online home study program that provides instantaneous feedback to students on work accomplished and provides a tracking system of time on task. Along with the online curriculum, the program also provides a four week classroom orientation to learn how to use the system, computer skills and other work related skills. A small first pilot of 41 students showed promise with 88% of students receiving educational gain and 65% of students having employment outcomes. Retention of learners in this population has also increased considerably. A second pilot of 132 is currently running.

Career Achieve is going to be an option for students from the Ed Video Online web site.