For the past few months I have been working on a project in coordination with the Secretary of Technology’s office (yes, Virginia has a Secretary of Technology) to make a series of popular GED programs available to subscribers of digital cable. Previously, these programs, part of the GED Connection series produced by PBS and Kentucky Educational Television, were broadcast, one episode at a time, on PBS stations at odd times–5:30 am on Sunday for example. Now, Cox and Comcast cable subscribers can access all 39 programs anytime they want. The partnership has gotten some good press–pretty unusual, I think, for adult education. Governor Kaine put out a press release and a brief televised promo on the initiative, and the project got some ink from the Richmond Times Dispatch:
The partnership between the Virginia Department of Education, Comcast Cable and Cox Communications was announced yesterday by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Nearly one in seven adults over age 18 in Virginia lack a high-school or equivalent diploma, said Julie Grimes, Education Department spokeswoman.
The most common obstacles to getting a GED are scheduling conflicts, transportation to and from classes and lack of availability of child care or the inability to pay for it, experts say. In a statement, Kaine said the on-demand service “provides convenience and flexibility for adults who want to increase their income potential by earning a GED.”
On-demand adds to the ways people can study for GED certification and builds on the state’s Race to GED program, said Randall Stamper, communications specialist at the education department’s adult education office. Race to GED seeks out folks who may need just to brush up on certain skills before testing, to help them earn certification faster.
People can take classes at adult learning centers, cram via the Web or watch scheduled programs on Public Broadcasting Service stations. The on-demand option lets people watch half-hour lessons — 39 of them — at any time.
Of course, not all adults in need of a GED subscribe to digital cable, but at least this project makes these programs available to those that do. And hopefully the success of this partnership will lead to other coordinated projects between adult education and the business community