West Virginia Adult Basic Education Program

Background

The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) of the West Virginia Department of Education has developed foundational learning programs to meet the needs of diverse target groups in the state, including:

• Unemployed adults
• High school dropouts
• Institutionalized adults
• Public assistance recipients
• Displaced workers
• Under-skilled workers
• Individuals of limited English proficiency
• Disabled adults
• Residents of domestic violence and homeless shelters
• Adults preparing for college entrance, for job obtainment and/or promotion, or for enrollment in further education or training

The purpose of Adult Basic Education is to:

• assist adults to become literate and obtain knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency;
• assist adults who are parents to obtain the functional skills necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children; and
• assist adults in the completion of a secondary school education

Approach

In terms of Work-based learning specifically, we have found it important to understand thoroughly the particular workplace in question before suggesting any work-based learning solutions. Adult educators often put on their steel-toed boots and hard hats, and walk around the plant floor, observing and listening. This is followed by interviews with key stakeholders (managers, supervisors, employees) to get a better understanding of needs. Detailed job profiling and individual worker assessments are conducted using the ACT WorkKeys tools. Employers appreciate and understand these tools as they are based on clearly defined levels of competence, and not on hard-to-quantify educational grade levels. After this needs assessment is complete, a program is designed for that workplace, based on mutually agreed upon objectives.

Lessons

The important lessons we have learned in our workplace basic skills programs are as follows:

• understand the culture and speak the language of business (refer to trainers, not teachers, and training materials, not curriculum);
• be aware of economic conditions (local, national and international) affecting the workplace in question and its sector;
• be aware of the state of union-management relations;
• make work-based learning programs contextual….base exercises on real requirements of that particular workplace…do not come in with an “off-the-shelf” solution….”getting ready for the GED courses” will not cut it with employers;
• be flexible, offer on-site education programs when it is convenient for the employees, and the employer (this may mean late nights, or early mornings, either before shifts start, or when shifts come off);
• be creative (we have a portable computer lab, consisting of 10 laptops that we drive around the state, setting up temporary computer labs at workplaces to teach basic computer skills…..these can also be set up to do Internet simulations without Internet connections);
• build credibility by having satisfied company clients act as references for your program;
• build your credibility by being tied to your State’s economic development office….be seen as a cornerstone of economic development…this resonates with business.

Dr. Robin Asbury
Director, West Virginia Workplace Education Program

http://wvabe.org

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