As educational systems of all stripes alter their delivery of educational content, Northeast State’s Adult Education team flipped the switch to bring online learning to scores of students throughout northeast Tennessee.
“We are doing all we can to help students get comfortable with it,” said Deborah Fillers, director Adult Education at Northeast State. “We are doing whatever works for our students to get involved and not let them feel deserted.”
The nine-week block of spring classes shifted to remote delivery on March 30. The program used the popular Zoom teleconferencing option to host virtual classrooms for adult ed classes. Fillers said approximately 260 students were active in adult education enrollment at Northeast State through April. The program has served more than 600 students since fall 2019.
The Adult Education / High School Equivalency (HiSET™) program covers an eight (8) county service area in northeast Tennessee. The program serves the residents of Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Hancock, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties. While HiSET™ testing is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 outbreak, adult ed staff continues to move forward to prepare students to earn their high school equivalency (HSE) diploma.
The Adult Education program provides educational services to adults lacking a high school diploma. The instructors teach students how to improve subject skills in math, science, social studies, reading, writing, and employability. Students achieve competency in the subjects to earn a diploma and enter the workforce or enroll in college.
The Northeast State Adult Education program serves hundreds of active students .
Fillers said adult ed staff and instructors faced a similar challenge to many in the new socially distant world – the program had never created or delivered online content to students. Now two weeks in, Fillers said most students had adjusted to the new format. She added that the online learning curve included the program’s instructors. Once they grasped how to use the communications technology such as teleconferencing, instructors adapted their teaching methods online for students.
“One instructor learned how to use her iPad as a whiteboard,” said Fillers. “She was thrilled to learn how to do that and she just took it from there.”
Some students reluctant to do group Zoom classrooms meet with instructors one-on-one via the FaceTime videoconferencing app. She also noted challenges did exist for students lacking either internet service or computer access to communicate with instructors.
“We have been taking photos of homework packet information and emailing them for students to complete,” said Fillers. “We are trying to be flexible and do what works from there.”
Northeast State stands as one of 14 service providers designated in by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to coordinate adult education programs in each of the state’s 95 counties. Adults interested in earning the HSE diploma may submit an application to the program. Instructors assess applicants to determine the level of education and subject areas in need of improvement.
TDLWD assistant commissioner Ian White congratulates adult ed program graduate Emory Thornburg at December’s graduation event.
There is no application fee to enroll in the adult ed program. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development-Adult Education Division also issued guidance earlier this spring to waive the initial assessment for students temporarily in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals interested in pursuing an HSE can request information via digital application form by contacting the adult education program at the number listed below.
“All the students who inquire about our services will be contacted and get our online application,” said Fillers. “Our staff will remain online with students while they complete the application.”
As educational systems of all stripes alter their delivery of educational content, Northeast State’s Adult Education team flipped the switch to bring online learning to scores of students throughout northeast Tennessee.
“We are doing all we can to help students get comfortable with it,” said Deborah Fillers, director Adult Education at Northeast State. “We are doing whatever works for our students to get involved and not let them feel deserted.”
The nine-week block of spring classes shifted to remote delivery on March 30. The program used the popular Zoom teleconferencing option to host virtual classrooms for adult ed classes. Fillers said approximately 260 students were active in adult education enrollment at Northeast State through April. The program has served more than 600 students since fall 2019.
The Adult Education / High School Equivalency (HiSET™) program covers an eight (8) county service area in northeast Tennessee. The program serves the residents of Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Hancock, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties. While HiSET™ testing is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 outbreak, adult ed staff continues to move forward to prepare students to earn their high school equivalency (HSE) diploma.
The Adult Education program provides educational services to adults lacking a high school diploma. The instructors teach students how to improve subject skills in math, science, social studies, reading, writing, and employability. Students achieve competency in the subjects to earn a diploma and enter the workforce or enroll in college.
Fillers said adult ed staff and instructors faced a similar challenge to many in the new socially distant world – the program had never created or delivered online content to students. Now two weeks in, Fillers said most students had adjusted to the new format. She added that the online learning curve included the program’s instructors. Once they grasped how to use the communications technology such as teleconferencing, instructors adapted their teaching methods online for students.
“One instructor learned how to use her iPad as a whiteboard,” said Fillers. “She was thrilled to learn how to do that and she just took it from there.”
Some students reluctant to do group Zoom classrooms meet with instructors one-on-one via the FaceTime videoconferencing app. She also noted challenges did exist for students lacking either internet service or computer access to communicate with instructors.
“We have been taking photos of homework packet information and emailing them for students to complete,” said Fillers. “We are trying to be flexible and do what works from there.”
Northeast State stands as one of 14 service providers designated in by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to coordinate adult education programs in each of the state’s 95 counties. Adults interested in earning the HSE diploma may submit an application to the program. Instructors assess applicants to determine the level of education and subject areas in need of improvement.
There is no application fee to enroll in the adult ed program. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development-Adult Education Division also issued guidance earlier this spring to waive the initial assessment for students temporarily in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals interested in pursuing an HSE can request information via digital application form by contacting the adult education program at the number listed below.
“All the students who inquire about our services will be contacted and get our online application,” said Fillers. “Our staff will remain online with students while they complete the application.”
To learn more about Adult Education opportunities at Northeast State, access these contact resources: https://www.northeaststate.edu/Corporate-and-Continuing-Education/Adult-Education/. Telephone, 423.354.5364 or email adulted@northeaststate.edu.
Updated information regarding Northeast State and the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak can be accessed at https://www.northeaststate.edu/Campus-Life/Health-and-Wellness/Coronavirus/.
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