David:

So now you have taken me out of my comfortable position of lurker,
smack into what will become, no doubt, a lively exchange of ideas,
opinions, and experiences. Thanks David, for inspiring me to get out of
my zone.

For the past five years, I have been working with distance GED
students. The majority of these students participate in what would be
considered a correspondence course.  Most of the contact is through mail
or by phone, with an occasional drop-in tutoring session. Few students
request an online course.  Even those whose initial request for course
information is via online registration, later explain that they do not
have computer access and had used a friend's or family member's
computer to register online.

This experience leads me to believe that the best distance avenue for
the adult literacy population is through the most accessible
technologies- mail, phone, tv/video or radio.  Of course, each of these
has its particular strengths, and matching those to the content areas is
key. But this is a given.  What is really important is the accessibility
issue- it does no good to develop an online course, when no one can
"virtually" get there.  I've learned this from experience. 
There are students who may never own a computer- and I just can't see
leaving them behind because of the lack thereof.  There will be
discussion about doing these students a disservice by not forcing them
to use technology, but many will be exposed to computers in their jobs,
and the options for those jobs will broaden once they complete the GED. 
I don't mean to imply that the correspondence-type course is the only
means to be offered.  We offer the student online instruction as well,
and it is largely the student's choice of medium.

You've provided for quite a broad discussion here.  There is much to
discuss here, but I wanted to dwell on the access issue as a first
response.

Thanks again, David, for the inspiration.
 


Karen Layton, M.Ed.
Instructional Manager, Technology and Distance Education
Center for Adult Literacy & Basic Workforce Development
Northampton Community College
570-688-9173
klayton at northampton.edu