The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) and Rhode Island PBS Education Services have formed a partnership to launch a groundbreaking pilot project entitled, “Enhancing GED Instruction through the Use of Video-On-Demand.” Headed by RIDE Director of Adult Education Dr. Johan E. Uvin, and Rhode Island PBS Education Services Director Dr. Mara D. Velasquez, the project will train up to 42 GED instructors statewide to use video-on-demand (VOD) technology, and will make the digital content of the 39 episodes of the “GED Connection” series available to their adult education students.

The convenience and accessibility of VOD allows students to view their lessons and complete their assignments at any time and from any computer with Internet access. This flexibility is expected to appeal to members of the GED-eligible adult education population who might otherwise find it difficult to pursue a GED certificate through the more traditional method of classroom instruction.

Making available GED-preparation videos on demand is only the first initiative in a series of technology-based learning options to be established so that Rhode Island adults can build their skills anytime, anywhere. Efforts such as these will enable Rhode Islanders to meet the skill requirements for a new Rhode Island economy.

“This project offers a new learning experience for GED teachers and students alike,” said Bob Fish, president of Rhode Island PBS. “Students will acquire valuable technology skills and build confidence as they learn marketable skills from the GED content. But the GED instructors will be learning as well, improving their own technology skills.”

According to January 2007 statistics from the Office of Adult Education at RIDE, slightly more than 177,000 Rhode Islanders fall into the GED target population. They are 16 years of age or older, are not enrolled in school, have no high school diploma, and may have limited proficiency in English. Of those, nearly 142,000 do not have a high school diploma, and approximately 25,000 lack a high school credential and have limited English proficiency.

The directors and administrators of adult literacy agencies and organizations in the state expressed interest and enthusiasm for the project, seeing it as an important way to expand access to GED instruction.

VOD technology allows instructors to watch video over the Internet. This technology, also known as streaming video, allows large movie files to start faster and run smoother.

Rhode Island PBS currently offers a video streaming curriculum program – with a library of 5,000 full-length and 50,000 clips of national and state education standards-based videos, complete with lesson plans, quizzes and tests – to classrooms and libraries in K-12 schools throughout the state.

Participating instructors will attend three training sessions of four hours each, for a total of 12 training hours. Training sessions are structured for beginner, intermediate, and advanced user levels, as determined by the teachers’ self-evaluation of their technology skills. Teachers who hold elementary or secondary education teaching certificates will receive education credits by participating.

To participate, instructors must teach in Rhode Island, have students currently enrolled in GED classes, and agree to attend the three training sessions. Recruitment for the pilot project is underway and will continue until May 10, or until the 42 training slots are filled. Training sessions will be from May 21 through June 4 at University Hall at Johnson & Wales University in Providence.

For more information or to register for the project, contact Rhode Island PBS Education Services by e-mail at education@ripbs.org, or by phone at 401-222-3636 ext. 382.