“The proof of NovaNET’s success
is in the numbers of users who achieve their goal -
whether it be to complete required credits to graduate,
or just to complete some credit lacking before going
to the next grade level, or to earn the credits needed
to achieve an adult diploma. There were 25 diplomas
saved in one period from March to June for graduating
seniors. That is HUGE success. There were 92 people
earning credits to complete grade requirements. There
were 16 adult diplomas given from this program. ALL
of these successes came through NovaNET in the space
of several months. As a goal achiever, it can’t
be beat!”
— Jackie Kearns, Coordinator,
GED/Adult Diploma Program and Manager, Join, Inc.
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Highlights
- With the help of NovaNET, 87 percent of the seniors
who had one semester to make up a credit in order
to graduate finished on time.
- Since implementing NovaNET, Humboldt County School
District has reduced its dropout rate by 7 percent.
Profile
The GED/Adult Diploma is an adult education program
within the Humboldt County School District located in
the city of Winnemucca, a rural area of northern Nevada.
The program enrolls 350-400 students.
All told, Humboldt County Schools enroll 3,650 students
within 12 sites. The ethnic breakdown of the district
is 77 percent Caucasian, 22 percent Hispanic, and 1
percent Native American.
Challenge
Humboldt faced the challenge of providing adult diploma
students with the opportunity to earn credit in all
subjects, as well as the ability to offer credit remediation
to high school students faced with an unfunded mandate.
Goals
Goals for the Humboldt program are to have every in-school
student pass the Nevada State Proficiencies, make credit
remediation available to every student ages 14 to 18,
and to make an adult diploma program available to anyone
aged 16 and above.
Solution
The GED/Adult Diploma program combines adult secondary
education completion with job training for individuals
age 16 and up. On average, there are 150 learners in
the program per year district wide across five sites.
NovaNET comprehensive online courseware was implemented
in 2000 using a combination of Title 1, Federal, and
District Board of Education funds. Money from the Adult
Diploma Program budget was also used for the purchase.
All NovaNET program subjects are used and aligned to
the Nevada State Standards.
Administrators refer in-school students for credit remediation
and those dropping out to the adult program. District
teachers are aware of NovaNET’s benefits and actively
recommend it as a solution for those target student
groups with the greatest need for such a program.
Students enjoy using NovaNET because they can go at
their own pace, repeat processes as needed, and experience
success.
To monitor student progress, the coordinating teacher
collects weekly reports, keeps a grade record, and collects
off-line assignments, grading and reviewing them with
students. Usage summaries come into play for completion
of reports which are required by grants.
To address accountability issues, the supervising teacher
issues a supplement to the student’s transcript
at either the adult center or the high school when the
student completes a credit or half of a credit.
Results
In 2003, as a result of the GED/Adult Diploma program
and the help of NovaNET, 87 percent of the seniors who
had one semester to make up a credit in order to graduate
completed their credit on time. In addition, 17 adults
earned diplomas and were honored at a public completion
ceremony. News of the program results were so positive
that seventy-nine people registered for summer use.
Factors that made the program successful included:
- Positive attitude on the part of the administrators
and coordinators
- Willingness to write funding grants
- Parents’ enthusiasm to follow their students
- Professional concern on the part of the NovaNET
teachers to see the program’s potential and
put it to use
“NovaNET has made teachers at the GED/Adult Diploma
program aware of students’ positive reaction to
electronically delivered learning tools,” says
Kearns.
For more information on how Pearson Digital Learning
can help you achieve results, visit http://www.pearsonedtech.com/
or call 888/627-5327; Canada and other international
locations: 800/400-6192.
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