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The Literacy Center at Ohio University which includes theCentral/Southeast ABLE Resource Center (an Americorps program ofvolunteers who tutor children in schools), Appalachia Reads, andAmerica Reads, was faced with a challenge: how to cost-effectivelyprovide comprehensive tutor training to a large number of smallprograms that are geographically scattered throughout southeasternOhio. Traditionally, training consisted of an 18-hour face-to-faceprogram that required travel to specified sites, an arrangement thatwas time consuming and expensive. In addition, because most literacyprograms require tutors and instructors to be certified, the LiteracyCenter received many requests to provide comprehensive tutor trainingthroughout the year.

JeffFantine, director of The Literacy Center, recently solved this problemusing technology to deliver training across The Literacy Center&rsqou;sservice area. "We decided to use Thinkfinity Literacy Network (LiteracyNetwork)online courses in combination with a six-hour video-conferencingworkshop broadcast to each of the four regional campuses where tutorsand instructors can actively participate. "It is a cost-effectivesolution to providing tutor training in a large rural region of ourstate," states Fantine.

Prior to the video-conferenceworkshop, each participant is required to complete 10 hours of coursesthrough Thinkfinity. The required courses are "Orientation toVolunteering in Literacy," "Principles of Adult Learning," and "GraphicOrganizers: Tools for Instructors and Students."

During theworkshop, participants review the courses and learn the basics of goalsetting, lesson planning, and learning disabilities. Depending on theaudience, training in English-language learning, adult learning, andfamilies and children is also included. After the workshop, eachparticipant is required to complete 6 hours of elective Thinkfinity Literacy Network courses.Once participants complete the 22 hours of tutor training, they receivetheir certification. Julia Riffle, a literacy tutor who participated inthe combined face-to-face workshop/LiteracyNetwork courses states, "I believe Ilearned more in this course and through the Verizon Thinkfinity onlinecourses than I did in my educational program courses attended at auniversity!"

"We have now offered this training approach twicethrough Ohio University, and training evaluations are positive withregard to both content and convenience," Fantine reports."Approximately 60 literacy instructors from the various literacyprograms in southeastern Ohio, including volunteer-based communityprograms, Even Start centers, faith-based programs, community collegeadult education programs, and a large Americorps contingent, have beeninvolved in this training." The Literacy Center will continue to offerthis training next year on a quarterly basis.

Fantine states,"Without LiteracyNetwork, we would never have been able toprovide this type of tutor training to so many in a cost-effectiveway," and looks forward to serving additional programs in Ohio.