Dear Fellow Adult Educators, 

I think we shouldn't see the lack of proposals as a sign of lack of interest in work-related basic education.  

The need for high quality basic education services for incumbent workers and job seekers continues to grow.   Virtually every report or conference about worker skill needs describes employers who say they need workers with the kinds of strong basic skills summarized in the Equipped for the Future standards, the SCANS report, and other reports (e.g., ASTD and Hudson Institute in the early 1990s to the more recent reports by the Council for the Advancement of Adult Literacy).  

Many adult education providers continue to develop effective program models customized to particular industries (via career ladder/pathway programs for workers in retail, healthcare, and other industries) and worker populations (youth, older workers, English language learners, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities).    Many of these programs are incorporating educational technologies into their curricula, in recognition of the need for most workers to now be comfortable using computers at work and for their ongoing professional development. 

In two recent conferences in New Jersey, employers from the Transportation/Logistics/Distribution industry described the challenges of having a heavily immigrant warehouse workforce which is blocked from advancement by a lack of English proficiency.  These industry representatives also cited the need for potential workers to have a basic understanding of how the industry works and the benefits and requirements of the many jobs in that industry.   In a state "Governor's Conference on Workforce and Economic Development" that just concluded, panelists representing other industries (including "green" construction) likewise cited the need for workers to have solid basic skills.   This conference also had a well-attended session on Prisoner Re-Entry, in which education (especially a strong "basic" education) was seen as a key to helping people avoid prison and crime by helping them prepare for decent jobs. 

While many of can't afford to go to national conferences these days, we should continue using forums like this Discussion List to share good ideas and make it clear to policy makers that well-designed and well-supported worker education programs have a major role to play in re-building our local, state, and national economies and in re-building our communities. 

Paul Jurmo, Ed.D.
Dean, Economic Development and Continuing Education
Union County College
New Jersey






-----Original Message-----
From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Barbara Smith
Sent: Wed 12/3/2008 8:45 AM
To: workplace at nifl.gov
Subject: [Workplace 1688] Re: why no proposals?
 
HI...With the economy as it is, cuts being made, and no one knowing for sure how it's going to affect their programming and staff... I agree the costs are way too high. Bobbi


>>> "Wrigley, Heide" <heide at literacywork.com> 12/02/08 5:54 PM >>>

Hi, Tonya

The dearth of proposals may have less to do with people's interest in workplace literacy or their finding time to write and more with available resources.

I would have been happy to participate, write proposals and present on a number of topics but was shocked to see how much it would cost to attend COABE

Given competing priorities for conferences and travel next year, COABE didn't make the cut . I was truly shocked to see how expensive COABE has become  when travel, hotel, and conference fees are added up (to say nothing of "opportunity costs" in terms of time away from funded projects).

COAB E 2009 would have been difficult to justify even to myself , so I (and I'm sure others) will need to skip next year.

Best

Heide

Heide Spruck Wrigley
Mesilla, NM

From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Tonya Crum
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 2:07 PM
To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Workplace 1685] Dec 5 - COABE Workplace Session Extended Deadline

COABE 2009:  Adult Education - Absolutely Essential: Winners Circle of Champions

Based on all of the conversations I've been reading and that I heard at the COABE 2008 conference, I know how passionate many of you are about the workforce topic and I wouldn't want those attending the 2009 conference to miss out on the wonderful things we have going on across the country and the world!
I'm on the conference planning committee and we knew how important it was to have workforce well-represented, so we created a specific strand, but now there haven't been many session proposals on the topic, SO - please submit to present or we won't have a good showing and we'll have only ourselves to blame :(
Come on - you've got 3 days!!!  Let's do it!

Thanks,
Tonya

** Deadline extended to December 5th at midnight**

COABE and the Kentucky Association for Adult Continuing Education (KAACE) invite you to submit a proposal for presentation at the 2009 COABE National Conference to be held in Louisville, Kentucky. Conference dates are April 18-22, 2009 at the Galt House Hotel & Suites.

The conference committee is interested in outstanding and innovative practices in all aspects of adult education including basic literacy, basic numeracy, workplace education, workforce development, family literacy, English as a Second Language, community education, corrections education, volunteer recruitment and literacy and other areas.  The program committee is looking for presentations based on successful implementation, current research, and sound best practice.

Kentucky supports the needs of adult basic education through a variety of providers such as school districts, community colleges, community-based and faith-based organizations, local workforce centers, and correctional facilities.  COABE 09 hopes to feature exemplary practices in these delivery systems and provide opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas with participants representing like agencies from around the country.

All presenters must register for the conference.  Proposals must be submitted ONLINE no later than December 5, 2008 at Midnight!!!
http://www.coabeconference.org/call_for_presenters.html



--

Tonya Crum, Director

Workforce Development & Training

KET - Kentucky Educational Television

859-258-7009 office

800-432-0951 x7009 office

859-258-7393 fax

TCrum at ket.org<mailto:TCrum at ket.org>



A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.

-- Thomas Carruthers





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