Slide 1

Start By Connecting ParticipantsIntroduce yourself to your neighbors:NameOrganizationHow has your organizations practices changed over the past 5 years?What important issues is your organization currently facing?What is a key innovation you have witnessed recently?

Developing CreativeVolunteer Roles that Fulfill Our Core Brad Hasskamp, ABE Policy & Operations Specialist, Minnesota Department of EducationStrategic InnovationStart By Connecting ParticipantsIntroduce yourself to your neighbors:NameOrganizationHow has your organizations practices changed over the past 5 years?What important issues is your organization currently facing?What is a key innovation you have witnessed recently?

Brad HasskampABE Policy & Operations SpecialistMinnesota Department of Education

Background2002Volunteer ESL TeacherNeighborhood House2002-2003EFL TeacherBibo Middle School(Shenzhen, China)2003-2006ESL/ABE/Childrens Literacy Program ManagerNeighborhood House2006-2010ABE Learning Centers ManagerMinnesota Literacy Council2007-2010Professional Development AdvisorSt. Paul Community Literacy Consortium2006-2010Board MemberLiteracy Action Network

How would you define

Creativity is thinking up new things.Innovation is doing new things.- Theodore Levitt

5 Innovation StrategiesInnovation any new idea by definition will not be accepted at first. It takes repeated attempts, endless demonstrations, monotonous rehearsals before innovation can be accepted and internalized by an organization. This requires courageous patience.- Warren Bennis

What sparks innovation?

Innovation comes from failure.Innovation comes from our needs to survive & improve.Work individually or in small groupsAnalyzing your organization

ProgramOrganizationConsortiumLevels of ExpectationsStateFederalLevels of ExpectationsExpectationsPoliciesLaws

Best PracticesExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Communities with low student numbers and low needStruggling with student retentionTeachers struggle with technologyLow student literacy gainsNeed:Increase student retention and literacy gainsIdea:Use volunteers in areas of low need to tutor students on distance learning curriculum

Distance Learning Outreach SitesExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Struggling with student retentionTeachers struggle with technologyStudents want to work on distance learning curriculumNeed:Serve students onlineIdea:Volunteers serve as online tutors helping students via Skype

Online TutorsExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Low student literacy gainsStruggling to effectively serve students who are deaf and/or have disabilitiesProgram resources are low/insufficientNeed:Better serve students with disabilitiesIdea:Work with a graduate school to have a class/group research international, national, and state data and practices

Educational Research ProjectsExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Too many students in the classStudents want to gain work experienceStudents levels and needs vary greatlyNeed:Serve smaller groups of students without turning lots of students awayIdea:Have a graduating/former student tutor a beginning-level group

Student VolunteersExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Volunteers from a local business are only willing/able to volunteerAnd?Need:Articulate the needIdea:Whats your idea?

One-Day Only! VolunteersExamples of Innovation with VolunteersIssues:Identify key issues

Need:Articulate a primary need

Idea:Whats your idea?

Your own scenario

Vision without action is merely a dream.Action without vision just passes the time.Vision with action can change the world!- Joel Arthur BarkerQuestions?What additional questions do you have?

For More Information22Policy Play #1Which volunteers are required by MDE-ABE policy to receive training?

2Policy Play #1All ABE volunteers who:Directly tutor or instruct students; & Generate ABE contact hours independent from a classroom teacher.

Policy Play #3How long is the training volunteers receive at the beginning of their service, according to MDE-ABE policy?

1Policy Play #3The pre-service training is

hours

12Policy Play #4Do volunteer classroom assistants working under the direct supervision of a teacher need to be trained?

1Policy Play #4according to MDE-ABE policy but

Policy Play #5Do volunteers need the pre-service training if they are working with students when the teacher is not in the building?

1Policy Play #5according to MDE-ABE policy

Policy Play #6Do volunteers need the pre-service training if they are responsible for a class of students and under only minimal teacher supervision?

1Policy Play #6according to MDE-ABE policy

Policy Play #7Do volunteers need to be trained if they are taking a group of students to another room to work with them?

1Policy Play #7according to MDE-ABE policy as long as

Policy Play #8Do volunteers need to be trained if they are only doing student intakes?

1Policy Play #8according to MDE-ABE policy but

Policy Play #9Do volunteers need to be trained if they are only working with programming not receiving state or federal ABE funding?

1Policy Play #9according to MDE-ABE policy

Policy Play #10Which 4 types of certification or experience can make an ESL volunteer exempt from the states pre-service training requirement?

4Policy Play #10ESL volunteer exemptions:TEFL/TESL CertificateCollege degree in ESL or LinguisticsCurrent Minnesota K-12 LicenseOver 400 hours of documentable ESL instruction (paid or volunteer) in comparable programs

Policy Play #11Which 3 types of certification or experience can make an ABE volunteer exempt from the states pre-service training requirement?

3Policy Play #11ABE volunteer exemptions:Current Minnesota K-12 LicenseCurrent Minnesota ABE LicenseOver 400 hours of documentable ABE instruction (paid or volunteer) in comparable programs

Policy Play #12What 5 topics must be covered in a pre-service volunteer training, according to MDE-ABE policy?

5Policy Play #12Required Pre-Service Topics:Initial & Ongoing AssessmentGoal Setting & Follow-UpWorking with TextsLesson PlanningWorking with Adults

Policy Change DiscussionProposed Pre-Service Topics:Accountability & AssessmentGoal Setting & Follow-UpWorking with Texts & Curriculum ResourcesLesson PlanningWorking with Adults

Policy Play #13Volunteers must receive pre-service training within what time from their volunteer assignment, according to MDE-ABE policy?

1Policy Play #13Volunteers need to get trained within

months

3Policy Play #14Where can volunteers get pre-service training, according to MDE-ABE policy?

3Policy Play #14Minnesota Literacy Councils Main OfficeLocal sites that bring in MLC trainersPrograms that get their training certified by the MLC & by the MDE-ABE office

Policy Play #15Are volunteers required to receive ongoing training?

1Policy Play #15according to MDE-ABE policy

Policy Play discussionPrograms cannot count ABE contact hours for students who have not made a level gain in 30 months. Some programs use volunteers to work with these students. Is this a best practice? How would you balance an effective use of resources and using the best resources for the students that need it most?

Policy Play #16Volunteers must receive what amount of ongoing training, according to MDE-ABE policy?

1Policy Play #16Volunteers need

hours of ongoing training annually

2Policy Play #17Can school districts use unlicensed volunteers and count ABE contact hours?

1Policy Play #17according to MN State Statute and MDE-ABE policy, BUT

Policy Play Total Score

PointsCategory24Policy Wonk30