[NLA] Specialization in Adult Education (a little long)

[Debbie Yoho]

Andrea asks:  "How would you specialize the field?  An interesting idea."

To tell the truth, I'm thinking out loud and haven't conceived of a
structure for this yet.  But I think it could start by people on this list
sharing what they do well, and why they do it well--and never mind NRS
standards.  What we do best in my particular non-profit private program is
connecting with adults who have been turned off by traditional approaches,
and who want truly individualized attention.   We do this well because we
have a well-trained volunteer corps, and we think of volunteers as vital,
not ancillary.  I think there will always be a need for this specialized
service, whether an adult is at the beginning literacy level or is enrolled
in higher education and wants support to achieve there. Our "best
customers" want validation and affiliation, direction and then a sense of
personal achievement.  Individual attention is too expensive to hire.

What our public school district adult ed programs do well is offering a
"second chance" for a traditional credential--a GED or diploma.  They do
this well because they are part-and-parcel of the credential-awarding K-12
system, and they work best with adults who want that credential and who
expect and/or tolerate an educational environment similiar to K-12.  Their
"best customers"  are neither beginning literacy learners nor lifelong
learners.  Their goals require the credential. 

Our technical colleges prepare individuals for specific careers with the
specific skills necessary for specific tasks.  They do this well because
they are focused on the demands of employers. Their best customers want to
please employers. 

Perhaps the structure that I am wondering about might be one where each of
the three programs, in this example,  concentrates on doing better and
better what we already do well rather than on growing programs just to
increase enrollment.  And perhaps there are other customers out there, with
needs that aren't being met.  Perhaps time, energy and research should be
directed at identifying  "markets" and additional providers of services for
those markets. For example,  I notice in David's post from the Occupational
Outlook Handbook that the need for adult educators to meet the demands of
the retiring baby boomers is expected to increase.  What are those demands?
As I speculate about that in my mind, I am doubtful that my program could
meet those demands well.  Instead, ElderHostel seems to have the approach
for this "market". 

I wish all providers were free to focus on the customers' "hearts' desire",
in a way that would help some to figure out what those desires are (if they
need help to do so.) Perhaps there needs to be a "broker" who has no
investment in the health of any of the providers, but only in making sure
the learner/customer gets to the right services at the right time and
place.   I wish I were free to send the credential customer to the
traditional adult ed system without shooting myself in the foot, and I wish
the other providers would find out who wants individual attention and send
them to me, which they don't. I wish I were free to work with individuals
through a holistic and interdisciplinary approach,  with the necessary
support services from mental health, for example, without sending the
learner through a human service maze.  

Dare I write it?  Well, that's what this list is for.....maybe what we need
is an adult education voucher system, after all. What if an adult had the
opportunity make an informed decision to determine how best to spend that
voucher, and then a range of service providers to choose from, all the very
best at doing what they do?  I wonder if we would even need accountability
measures in such a system?  After years and years of criticizing the
business model, I can hardly believe it:   I see myself wondering if
something from my time spent with Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce is
rubbing off, after all.    

 
Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health  and
Executive Director
Greater Columbia Literacy Council
921 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net



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