Janice Buchwald
Director of GED Instruction
Southwestern Illinois College
Janice Buchwald of Southwestern Illinois College has just completed a one year pilot study with GED-Illinois (GED-i). In this interview, Janice talks about her experiences with GED-i as well as students’ experiences with GED-i. Overall, Janice and her students had positive experiences using this on-line program.
Janice worked in the business arena for many years doing sales, staff development and corporate training. The salary was good, but “her heart was not filled.” She then applied for a job at Southwestern Illinois College. This decision was the beginning of a new life in adult education. She started coordinating vocational classes and teaching job skills and business communication. While teaching Office Technology classes, she recognized that many of her students did not complete high school or have a GED. Her past experience in corporate America made her aware of how difficult it is for individuals to find jobs, even if they have the skills, without a high school diploma or GED. A few years later, the GED Director position became vacant and she applied. That decision brought her to a role in administration and also gave her a new leadership role. Changing careers but maintaining a complementary education role has been very good. She has eight years of experience in adult education. She sums it up in her own words: “I love what I do.”
Janice was introduced to GED-i through a staff development program offered by the Service Center Network. Crystal Hack from the Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) convened an introductory training that captured her interest in on-line preparation. Recognizing that many of her students were keen on technology, she saw a perfect fit. She attended subsequent trainings and shared her excitement with the Dean at her college, Suzanne Dailey. Going into it, they both felt the planning and preparation going in would yield a positive teaching and learning experience for their teachers and students. She had 100% support from her college and administration. Then a real break occurred.
Crystal talked with the administration at Southwestern Illinois College about a partnership program that was going to be based on a competitive application process. She suggested they apply to be part the implementation partnership project. SWIC applied and was chosen to participate as one of four programs who would work closely with the GED-i staff over a one year time frame. They would together share information, training, results in studying the effects upon GED students. The successes, the challenges, and the realizations would become a learning lab. Southwestern joined the partnership and started to build their GED-i enterprise.
The materials and resources used as part of GED-i partnerships are available to all programs based on their needs. Continuous support is provided by CAIT to assist with planning and the opportunity to have mentors work with sites on the classroom implementation process. Janice’s program has three campuses and 25 off site locations. All of the campuses have computer labs as do some of the off site locations. In the beginning they started out with two teachers using the GED-i. The department elected to use a blended approach, which required students to meet four times during the eight week class session and complete lessons and tests on GED-i. At the face-to-face meeting, students completed practice tests and were provided with additional math instruction. This proved to be very successful.
Janice had several observations concerning the type of students most likely to find success with GED-i. She believes that students who can manage their time find more success. Janice believes that “self motivation” is an important trait. She stresses that computer literacy is necessary. These qualities are important but they can be developed with a student’s desire and willingness. Using the blended approach provides the teacher a time to monitor and guide directly. This has proven very successful for the Southwestern Illinois College GED-i program. Students are required to have an orientation and then a minimum of four direct contacts with their teacher. They currently have three teachers using the GED-i and they will have a staff development program before the coming school year for all staff. The results and lessons learned in their one year study will be used to promote and build their program cadre of GED-i faculty.
Her students, many of which were working parents, could study on their own schedule. “One of my students was a new mother. She found that two in the morning was a good time to do some modules.” Having face-to-face meeting contact with students in the classroom as well as reviewing their GED-i progress proved to be very, very successful. Of the eight students that were in this trial study, six passed the GED test. Not only did they pass but one scored a 3000 and another student achieved a score of 2400. In Janice’s opinion, major growth was witnessed in self-esteem by all students as a result of their successes with the GED-i. She witnessed students gaining excitement and enthusiasm for learning on the innovative learning tool. She explains very succinctly. “It works. Try it…It sells itself… Students like it!”
One successful GED-i student that stands out in Janice’s mind is Steven. Steven is a shift worker who was getting pressure from his superior to get his GED. Steven was insecure and lacked confidence when he first approached Janice’s program. He was interested in computers and thought that this could be a good way to work when he was able to find the time. He liked the fact that he would have contact with teachers but felt that he would benefit from being able to do modules (lessons) over several times. Steven completed 80 modules on the GED-i system and passed with a score of over 3000. His self confidence grew in miraculous ways. Janice shares stories of success with a smile in her voice.
Janice Buchwald is a teacher, coach, counselor, and an administrator that cares about her work. Believing that student centered programs is about solutions, she works to discover those solutions. GED-i is one important solution to the students in the Southwestern Illinois College district.
For more information on GED-Illinois, visit www.ged-i.org or the Excellence in Adult Education website at www.excellenceinadulted.com.
