Continuing Education Institute – Massachusetts

Background

The Continuing Education Institute Inc. (CEI) of Watertown, Massachusetts is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 to develop innovative education and training programs for adults in the workplace who need basic English and academic skills. Over 9,000 adults have participated in these programs, which are offered through both public and private institutions. CEI has extensive experience in preparing educationally disadvantaged adults for employment and for advanced educational opportunities, offering the CEI Adult Diploma Program, English as a Second Language, Information Technology Literacy, and targeted workplace training.

CEI has received three grants from the U.S. Department of Education National Workplace Literacy Program. In 1999 CEI was one of 20 model programs from throughout the country selected at the Summit 21st Century Skills for 21st Century Jobs as an exemplar of best practices for workplace education and training. The CEI Adult Diploma Program at Polaroid was studied in the Harvard research project, Toward a New Pluralism in ABE/ESOL Classrooms: Teaching to Multiple “Cultures of Mind.”

Approach

When we go into a workplace to set up a basic education program, we form an “Involvement Team,” which includes key stakeholders in the organization (employees, management, supervisory personal), and one of our education consultants. This team decides on what the workplace education project goals are to be, and, just as importantly, how these will be measured to evaluate progress. On this latter point, it should be noted that any projects using funds from the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund must have an evaluation plan. Along with improvements in learner test scores, we try to get businesses to also think about how a work-based learning program can also help them reach important business objectives such as decreasing employee turnover, a better safety record, less waste, less mistakes, increased yields, etc.

Thoughts on ROI

We need to set some parameters around the term "return on investment." I always saw this term used with regard to workplace education / literacy programs since businesses are accustomed to looking at costs, expenditures, and "return on investment" when determining whether or not to set up an educational or training program. Many government sponsored or funded programs have goals and objectives that are written with percentage changes which often can be calculated in the end. For example, if a business can reduce employee turnover as a result of the establishment of a workplace education program, every one benefits. The employee learns to read, write, speak, and understand better, and the business saves money. In the process, the work environment should have improved since the company gains a better understanding of the workers and the workers feel appreciated because the company has decided to invest in them by giving them the classes that they need.

For years I have believed that the workplace is a perfect venue for basic education classes. Our potential students are already there as are facilities for a class. In order to make this happen we, the adult educators, have to learn the language that business speaks. In order for the workplace education program to succeed, the needs of the adult learner also have to be addressed. Having a curriculum that deals solely with the office or shop floor will not work since the students may have other more pressing needs which have to be included. However, by showing such things as reduction in scrap or waste, lowering of employee turnover, reduction in customer complaints due to confusion on the telephone, and decrease in accidents, we can speak of return on investment. In the end, the learners benefit the most since they now have better skills that can lead to a diploma or degree and ultimately more money and a better life for them
and their families.

Dr. Lloyd David
President / Executive Director
Continuing Education Institute/CEI

http://www.ceilearn.com

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