NETWORK DESIGN PROJECT
For COMM 5350, Team 2: MaryAnn Avelar-Flores, Alejandro Flores, and David Garza
Contents
Environmental
and Technological Logistics
Problem
There is a great need for performance based contracts that speaks to the population in need of English acquisition skills addressing the drop out rates and attaining their GED and/or pursuing exit exams that will enable students to acquire state issued certificates.
Needs
While the end results are for learners to have access to post-secondary education, their initial need is to obtain their GED.
60% of the Brownsville population
lives at/below poverty level
50% demonstrated drop out
rate was found in the local school district
There is a great need for
the economically disadvantage people to improve the quality of their lives
by learning new skills, developing new confidence and finding meaningful employment,
however, their fist step is to obtain their GED.
Mission Statement
The mission of
COMM5350-Team 2 is to provide services for Brownsville population
that are designed to eliminate the many barriers that prohibit learners from
successfully completing their educational training and entering the
workforce.
text.
Goals
To provide an individual, self-paced, open entry/exit and computer based basic skills instructional system that utilizes a non-traditional approach to learning. This non-traditional approach enables adults and youths to:
Improve their English speaking/comprehension
abilities
Increase their basic skills
Obtain a GED
Achieve their goals in a minimal
amount of time
Provide job readiness skills
for the learner’s preparation into the job market
This
innovative instructional system enables students to advance from having no
English proficiency to the point where they can pass the GED test in English
and/or qualify for entry into skills or technical training programs for
employment.
Objectives
To deliver computer based
curriculum to clients that are in need of attaining their GED,
Improve their
English language skills using
Obtain a
passing grade on a state-issued licensed exam, i.e. nurse’s aide exam
Set up a network of 50
internet accessible computers with a Local Area Network using Windows NT 2000
Provide staff development
for teachers in the use of computer based curriculum and the job ready skills
Provide a safe and conducive
learning environment that will maximize their employment and educational potential.
Environmental and Technological Logistics
The “Learning Center” will be
located at a centralized location selected by the local workforce development
agency. The center will include a
network of 50 internet ready computers with a local Area network using Window NT
2000. All the computers will be
Pentium III’s, 800 Mhz, CD-ROM,
have a30G hard drive, 10/100 Ethernet Cads and 128M of RAM, sound card
and headphones. A DSL line will be
installed for the network to have Internet services and on-line upgrading
capabilities. All computers will be
networked to the network server and have access to a network laser jet
printer. Fifty computer work
stations with chairs, two teacher’s desks with chairs, TV/VCR combination,
overhead projection equipment and scanners will be provided for the learning
center.
Targeted Population
The population to be served is 50
adults from ages 17 and up that need to improve their English language skills
and or need to have a specific grade level attainment, GED and or pass a
state-issued exam to get a job. All clients will be referred by the local
workforce development agency. The
targeted population will be located in Brownsville, Texas.
Staff
Program Coordinator (One):
Supervise and oversee the operations of the
learning center
Teachers (Four): Texas
Certification required or five years of proven teaching EXPERIENCE. Teachers will provide instruction in Adult
Basic Education, GED, ESL. and Pre-Employment Skills.
Computer Lab Coordinator
(1): The
lab coordinator technician who oversees the daily operation of the learning
center computer lab to ensure that the curriculum is being accessed and trouble
shoot any technical difficulties.
The
learning center will operate eight hours each day, Monday through Friday, from
8:00 am to 5:00 pm. It will serve
25 learners from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and an additional 25 students from 1:00
pm to 5:00 pm. Staff will have
12:00 noon to 1:00 Lunch. No
planning period is required because the curriculum is computer
based.
The
following hardware and software will be required to be purchased by the local
workforce development agency.
Hardware: Pentium III’s, 800 Mhz, CD-ROM, 30G hard drive, 10/100
Ethernet Cards and 128M of RAM, sound card and headphones, Network server
and a network laser jet printer. Fifty
computer work stations with chairs, four teacher’s desks with chairs, TV/VCR
combination, overhead projection equipment and scanners will be provided for
the learning center. Personal
computer for program coordinator for administrative purposes will be provided.
Software: All Computers will run
using Windows NT 2000, Fortress
4.0, US Basics (0-12), Microsoft Office 2000 Premium, McAfee Viruscan, Rosetta
Stone and CCC software.
Site license:
All software will be required to have site licenses.
Budget: Link to 2000-2001 Budget
Program
evaluation will be conducted by the local workforce development agency that has
sub-contracted Team 2 to implement the Learning Center located in Brownsville,
Texas.
Performance
based evaluation will be recognized as clients who have entered the program and
have attained a 2 grade level increase within 60 classroom days and/or attained
a GED, passed their state issued exams, or have been hired to
work.
Team
2 will submit monthly summative reports to the local workforce development
agency (contractor) indicating the status for each client. The overall program will have an annual
formative evaluation 90 days before the contract renewal date is to take
place. Should the contractor not be
satisfied with the performance of Team 2, it will be advised officially 30 days
before the contract expiration date that the contact will not be
renewed.
Last revised: March 14, 2001