Joann Robb, Moderator
Arden Scholles and Dr. William H. Beisel, Resource Delegates
Workgroup Members:
Theresa Butler, Marianne Edwards, Patricia Marmaduke, Vincent Novak, Anne Riegler and John
Smith
Introduction:
The continuing Education Workgroup met on a regular basis over the
course of three months. Our meetings began with discussions of "who" needed to
be served and "what" services needed to be developed. We also attempted to learn
as much as possible about what opportunities were currently available.
Initially, we spent considerable time discussing technology and how it
would play into the future of continuing education. We struggled with imagining 25 years
into the future—especially in terms of technology. In our attempt to focus our
discussion, we identified three different groups that needed to be considered in
continuing education:
- Adults who are not in the workforce through their own choice—ranging from retirees
to stay-at-home moms.
- Adults who lack the basic skills to enter the workforce.
- Adults who are employed and seeking to enhance their employment skills.
In the end, we agreed on an inclusive vision and readily identified the
tactics which would make that vision a reality.
Vision:
In the year 2025, all segments of the Akron community will have
opportunities for intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual growth and economic
self-sufficiency.
Tactics:
- Assure that all citizens have access to the latest technology including the support
needed to use the technology.
- Expand availability of day care/elder care where continuing education opportunities are
provided.
- Provide opportunities that enhance the quality of life (hobbies, recreation,
"fun") as well as expanding intellectual development.
- Partner with business and industry to design opportunities for the unemployed and
underemployed to learn skills needed to develop economic self-sufficiency.
- Provide opportunities for the unemployed/underemployed to gain proficiency in basic
skills such as reading, mathematics and computer literacy.
- Offer easy access to web-based training supplemented by video conferencing and
face-to-face delivery.
- Integrate employment-training initiatives with identified business clusters—create
regional training programs focusing on the clusters.
- Assure that all segments of the community have input into the development and
implementation of programs/services through periodic surveys and representative advisory
boards.
- Provide broadband fiber access or its equivalent to all households.
- Create a marketing/communication plan making use of various tools—web, print, mail,
mass media—to alert the community to opportunities for continuing education.
Resources:
We learned that there are currently many resources, both human and
financial, expended on continuing education in the greater Akron area. Although these
resources are considerable, they do not appear to be well coordinated. At least part of
the solution to providing resources for continuing education relates to better
coordination. Exactly who or how that coordination can happen in not clear to us. However,
we recognize the importance of taking advantage of what exists before creating new funding
streams. Our recommendations focus on developing that coordination.
- Establish a clearinghouse of all area providers of adult education to coordinate
delivery of existing services—both job-related and recreational—to maximize
efficiency, minimize cost and assure convenient access by all.
- Develop a range of funding strategies—including existing revenue sources,
self-supporting programs, reduced fees structure—to enable all citizens to
participate regardless of ability to pay.
- Make use of existing public facilities to provide continuing educational experiences for
the entire community at locations convenient to their homes.
