SAN DIEGO—The California budget for education has been significantly reduced and remains restrictive, yet San Diego Continuing Education has found a curriculum model to keep a shining light on a student-centered approach to learning, and ultimately on student success.

CONTEXTUALIZED LEARNING

I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education Skills Training) is contextualized learning, or learning in context. For example, to a student in a Nursing Assistant training class, a math problem is more applicable if it is converted from solving non-specific math calculation into a specific math calculation that relates directly to the subject they are learning. When you change the approach from solving a math problem that calculates the answer to “What is 75% of 79?” into a problem that calculates a patient’s new dosage of penicillin when a doctor decreases the 79mg dosage by 25%, the math problem immediately becomes relevant and the student knows how the lesson can be applied in a real-life situation outside the classroom.

I-BEST pairs an adult basic skills instructor with a professional, technical instructor in the same classroom at the same time. The combination of the instructors working together to develop and deliver instruction provides academic and workforce skills that lead students to a living wage job on a viable career path.

“I-BEST represents a fundamental shift in pedagogy for basic skills instruction. Our students are afforded a highly relevant educational experience. This, in addition to the cohort experience, motivates them to be more successful, said Brian Ellison, Ed.D., Vice President of Instruction for Continuing Education.

The potency of contextualized learning is not a secret. Washington State has been using the I-BEST model successfully since 2002; pairing vocational training with contextualized basic skills through a team-teaching environment.

Modeling best-practices from Washington State and using their existing Allied Health program, Anthony Beebe, Ed.D., President of Continuing Education and a team of administrators and faculty and have established an I-BEST model at Continuing Education, the first of its kind in CA.

“I-BEST takes what we have known for centuries about how students learn and brings it to life in the classroom. Students don’t wonder why they are learning something. Instead, students follow the instructor and understand why they need to learn the material,” said Dr. Beebe.

RESULTS

From pre-test to post-test, students have shown an increase of 15% or 1.5 letter grades in as little as six weeks. Additionally, one in every six students moved from below 60% (a grade F) to above 90% (a grade A). “We wanted to build a specific and accelerated the pathway into higher education. The empirical results of our students’ success rates prove that we have done exactly that,” said John Lindem, I-BEST Program Coordinator.

Students were surprised at their own success. “This class helped me ace the TEAS,” said Sarah McKinsey speaking about the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test. Another student, Maria, said, “With I-BEST, I have been able to study both nursing and basic skills at the same time. This means I can find a better job and quicker.”

In addition to the Nursing Assistant training classes, I-BEST is also embedded within the Welding and Structural Fabrication program, and a VESL (Vocational English as a Second Language) Personal Assistant/Caregiver class. Recently, Continuing Education’s I-BEST VESL class was awarded a 2010 Promising Practices Award by the CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems) Awards Review Team, in coordination with the CA Dept. of Education.

FUTURE OF I-BEST AT CONTINUING EDUCATION

“SDCE’s effort to introduce the I-BEST model into the Welding program is based on the need to approach our students in a relevant and pragmatic manner,” said Dr. Ellison. “Our goal is to ensure simultaneously that program competencies are achieved and the student's employment potential is high.”

San Diego Continuing Education offers free Job Training/Certificate Programs at six Continuing Education campuses. Programs cover numerous industries and include Child Development, Culinary, Professional Bakeshop Skills, Office Skills, Computers, Plumbing, and Clothing Construction.

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San Diego Continuing Education is the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District. It was one of the first community college continuing education institutions in California to meet the standards for independent accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. More than 100,000 students are served per academic year at six main campuses in San Diego. Noncredit classes are available at no cost, including online options.

Classes are free because San Diego Continuing Education is part of the California system of higher education. Funding also comes through business and industry partnerships. 

Due to current statewide fiscal constraints, many classes offered by San Diego Continuing Education are at capacity, and many have waiting lists. It is likely that students may not be able to enroll in the class of choice this fall due to these fiscal constraints, and unprecedented student demand. Continuing Education apologizes in advance for any inconvenience students may experience when attempting to enroll, and encourages people to contact their legislative representative when voicing concerns.