1. Discovery & Recruitment into Information Vocations and Education
Presentation at the 2016 National College Transitions Network Conference on
Effective Transitions in Adult Education
November 15, Providence (Warwick), Rhode Island
Presenters
Russell Fraenkel, Director Dr. Firasat Khan
IT Career Pathways and Partnerships Professor, Information and Computer Sciences

2. Background on Advance IT Minnesota
Mission, Vision
Activities and Programs
Stakeholders and Partners
See …

3. Audience Analysis and Needs
Getting to know you….
Why did you choose this session?
Any experience with building pathway bridges?
What do you want to walk away with?

4. Purpose and genesis of DRIVE
What is the problem?
Domain understanding:
There is a need to de-mystify what IT education and careers are about.
Lack of opportunities for career-shifters to discover if they are well- suited for an IT career.
Scope understanding: There is also a need to correct perhaps erroneous self-perceptions on what careers one is suited for.
Lack of transitional courses or bridge curriculum, that not only covers a broad array of concepts but also allow for development of rudimentary skills (getting their feet wet).
Very limited opportunities for under-represented populations to explore, embrace and embark on an IT education/career journey.
Can a collaborative solution be developed to address this two- fold problem and grow interest in IT careers?

5. The DRIVE Program – Content and Structure
DRIVE includes three components:
Exploration of basic concepts and skills across four discipline areas (Application Development/Programming, Systems/Network Administration, Security/Information Assurance, and Analytics/Data Science).
Interaction with professionals in various IT/Computing occupations.
Interaction with workforce center staff and traditional college advisors.
The DRIVE program is typically offered as a set of six distinct sessions spread over
3-6 days, over multiple weeks.
See DRIVE Lesson Plans for a deeper understanding of the content …

6. The DRIVE Approach: Talent Development Spectrum for Adult Learners

7. Purpose and Genesis of DRIVE
Initial Opportunity and Focus
Minnesota State Career and Technical Education grant pursued in partnership with three key stakeholders:
Ramsey County Workforce Solutions
Mounds View Adult Basic Education
Minnesota Computers for Schools

8. The first DRIVE Offering – Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and MSP area WF Partners
Successfully earned local funding ($10,000) from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to pilot the new DRIVE approach.
Identified appropriate, interested and capable Workforce and ABE partners in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Created web presence, marketing materials, and the show began …

10. Recruiting for DRIVE
Engaged with workforce and ABE partners on recruitment and logistics.
Interfaced with prospects and interviewed for fit.
Shared some materials ahead of DRIVE and some were re-directed to other opportunities.
Note: 35 initially registered; 19 completed

11. Discussion and Interaction
Challenges of bridging low-skilled adults and career shifters to a new career pathway
What obstacles need to be anticipated and addressed?

12. Preparing………to DRIVE (and avoid undesirable accidents )
Brought together team of instructors from diverse backgrounds to prep and deliver various portions of curriculum.
Built adult learner-focused curriculum, much of it adapted from Advance IT Minnesota’s IT Exploration course.
Worked on building in non-instructional activities, career assessment, and industry/career/academic networking opportunities.
Survey registrants about technology background, educational attainment, and demographic information was used to design more effective teams and tailor instruction/support to the varied audience.

13. DRIVE goes LIVE!

14. Other DRIVE Offerings – BDPA (High School Students of Color)
DRIVE BDPA at Winona State University was offered as an adaptation for a high-school audience at a non-urban university as an event in partnership with BDPA chapters in the Twin Cities and Southern Minnesota.

15. Other DRIVE Offerings – TRiO UpwardBound Program (Urban, under-represented students)
DRIVE Cybersecurity was another adaptation of DRIVE, focused on security skills and careers, offered at Metropolitan State University as part of a six-seek summer camp of the federally funded TRiO UpwardBound Program for underserved polulations.
High School Participants came from the Washington Technology Magnet School in Saint Paul, MN.

16. Sustaining DRIVE
- The range of skills readiness is an ongoing challenge …

17. Sustaining DRIVE…
After the initial offering, the cost for subsequent offerings was estimated to be 25-40% lower depending on whether the location is in the local Metro area or in Greater Minnesota. Advance IT Minnesota plans to fund limited offerings and there is interest in growing this number through federal, state or private funding.
For future DRIVE offerings for adults in transitions, pre-DRIVE individual conversations about readiness and expectations would increase engagement during and after the DRIVE program.
The range of skill and motivation readiness is an ongoing challenge that must be addressed through pre-interviews, and embedding a variety of activities at different levels.

18. Questions/Discussion
What’s next for DRIVE?
How can costs be reduced?
How can support be generated?

19. Contact Information
Dr. Firasat Khan,
Russell Fraenkel,