The Use of Technology Based Education for Basic Skills in Job Corps

In this report, an Outcome Performance Analysis, the researchers systematically document and analyze the use of Technology Based Learning (TBL) across the entire network of Job Corps centers, reporting on the process by which TBL has been selected, the challenges faced during implementation, and those best practices for TBL identified by the instructors, managers, and directors. The data collected for this study come from three sources: 1) a web-based survey administered to every Job Corps center around the country, 2) semi-structured interviews with Job Corps center staff at seven sites, and 3) focus groups conducted with students at those same seven sites.

• To what extent have Job Corps centers implemented or planned for TBL for remediation: Most Job Corps centers are currently using TBL resources in some capacity in the context of remedial education.
• What factors do centers consider when selecting TBL resources: The TBL selection and decision- making process is typically handled internally at the center, driven by either the preferences of the academic manager or a “bottom-up” process based on instructors’ preferences. Among centers that are managed by a common operating firm, the selection process is sometimes driven by efforts to share best practices among sibling centers.
• What TBL resources and strategies are currently in use for remediation: The use of TBL for remediation is widespread across Job Corps centers (86 percent). Reflecting the flexibility with which centers are permitted to operate, the list of software resources currently in use is quite diverse, and centers’ approaches to implementation vary.
• How satisfied are center directors and managers with the effectiveness of TBL: Based on our survey results, centers that currently use TBL for remediation tend to find that it is either as effective as or more effective than traditional instructional methods.
• How do instructors and students perceive TBL instructional resources: Staff and students shared mixed opinions of TBL resources when interviewed during the study team’s site visits, but most opinions of TBL were positive. Instructors appreciate the extent to which some TBL resources can facilitate personalized instruction and allow for flexibility in the classroom to provide one-on-one attention to students in need of instructional assistance. Likewise, many students find that TBL can be more engaging, particularly when it involves more competitive learning games, and allows them to work at their own pace.
• To what extent do centers have the capacity to implement TBL resources: Considerably more challenging than these student- or instructor-specific issues are the institutional and capacity challenges facing many centers. Most report significant barriers associated with the cost to purchase equipment, security requirements associated with using software, reliability of internet connectivity and bandwidth, and compatibility between existing hardware and software resources.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2018
• Author(s): Z. Epstein, P. Cropper, A. Glosser, D. Robinson, L. Rosenthal, R. Webster, V. Benson
• Funding Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies