1. Contextualized Curricula at the Local Program Level
AEFLA Activities
Contextualized Curricula at the Local Program Level

2. Entrance Ticket
Think of one thing you taught last week and jot it down on a Post-it note.
Set the Post-it note aside until later in the session.

3. Table Talk
Think of a situation where you had the chance to learn through active application of knowledge and skills. What difference did it make to what and how you learned?
[Participants talk amongst themselves; ask for volunteers to share answers.]

4. Introductions
Tricia Fitzgerald, Ohio ABLE Professional Development Network
Keli Pontikos, Parma City School District
Hayley Williams, Parma City School District
Tricia, Keli, Hayley
[Brief introductions]

5. Objectives Participants will be able to:
Explain the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and how it impacts ABLE programs
Define contextualization and identify advantages of contextualization
Describe the instructor and student experience with contextualization
Identify examples of contextualized curricula for different subject areas
Tricia
[Brief review of session objectives]

6. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Reauthorized the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)
Principal source of federal support for ABLE programs.
Assists in the attainment of a secondary school diploma and the transition to postsecondary education and training though the use of career pathways.
Tricia
[Background of WIOA and AEFLA – provides rationale for the session]

7. AEFLA
AEFLA will…
Assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills for employment and self-sufficiency.
Support the educational and skill achievement of parents and family members to participate in the educational development of their children and improve opportunities for families.
Assist immigrants and English learners in improving their English and math proficiency and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Assist incarcerated individuals in strengthening their knowledge and skills to promote successful re-entry into society.
Tricia
[Explain 4 groups AEFLA is designed to assist]

8. WIOA and AEFLA Expectations in Ohio
Instruction should be presented in meaningful contexts.
Teach basic skills through authentic activities.
Present lessons within the context of occupations.
Tricia
[eGuide and Ohio Workplace Education Resource Guide available in Participant Folder on BuckeyeBox]
Guidance for contextualization in Ohio ABLE is provided by the eGuide and the Ohio Workplace Education Resource Guide.
eGuide explains instruction should be as contextual as possible.

9. WIOA and AEFLA Expectations in Ohio
All ABLE programs should provide:
Activities, programs, services designed to help an individual acquire a combination of:
basic academic skills,
critical thinking skills,
digital literacy skills, and
self-management skills.
[eGuide and Ohio Workplace Education Resource Guide available in Participant Folder on BuckeyeBox]
Additionally, the Ohio Workplace Education Resource Guide identifies that all ABLE programs should provide contextualized activities, programs, and services.
But what is contextualization and how can you do it?

10. Contextualized Curriculum
What it is:
Why do it:
A set of teaching, learning, and assessment practices aimed directly at developing the skills and knowledge adults need to deal with specific situations or perform specific tasks.
Flexible and adaptable
Enhances engagement and motivation by providing relevancy to workforce skills
Accelerates the pace of access to college course
Addresses challenges in the design of traditional ABE
Tricia
[Definition and benefits of contextualized curriculum]

11. Contextualized Curriculum
The instructor experience:
The student experience:
Provides opportunities for multiple content connections
Allows new perspectives on content
Increases student engagement
Improves student classroom behavior
Provides real-life context for learning
Allows hands-on application
Related to interests or employment goals
Builds confidence in knowing a more specialized skill
Improves self-worth
Hayley and/or Keli
[Description of contextualized curriculum in action]

12. Contextualized Curriculum at the Local Level
US Department of Labor program
260 urban and rural programs in 46 states
Designed to address the 2.3 million low-income year olds not in education, employment, or training
Hayley and/or Keli
YouthBuild

13. Contextualized Curriculum at the Local Level
Cuyahoga County residents, years old who meet 1 or more criteria:
High school non-completer, veteran, income eligible, in foster care
Provides GED preparation, construction training and pre-apprenticeship, community service and civic engagement, and leadership development.
Hayley and/or Keli
YouthBuild

14. Adding Contextualization to Your Classroom
Relating to what students already know and are familiar with
Experiencing hands-on activities
Applying content and skills in a workplace context
Cooperating comfortably as a team
Transferring what they know to new situations and contexts
Hayley and/or Keli
Not every teacher has a YouthBuild program to participate in so how can you introduce contextualization into your classroom? Follow the REACT strategy when planning lessons.
[Introduce 4 Parma lessons as examples of contextualization in the classroom]
Source: Leghttp://

15. Legos and Effective Communication Skills
Hayley and/or Keli
[image of lesson plan]
Speaker describes contextual elements of lesson.
Elements of REACT in this lesson:

16. Decimals Hayley and/or Keli [image of lesson plan]
Speaker describes contextual elements of lesson.
Elements of REACT in this lesson:

17. Conservation, Transformation, and the Flow of Energy
Hayley and/or Keli
[image of lesson plan]
Speaker describes contextual elements of lesson.
Elements of REACT in this lesson:

18. Introduction to Historical Thinking
Hayley and/or Keli
[image of lesson plan]
Speaker describes contextual elements of lesson.
Elements of REACT in this lesson:

19. Online Contextualization Resources
Tricia
[handout for participants]

20. Exit Ticket
Find your Entrance Ticket and add one way you could contextualize what you taught last week.
Use the REACT strategy for guidance.

21. Participant Folder
Materials used for and during this session can be found online at:

22. Resources
eGuide [PDF file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Ohio ABLE Professional Development Network. (2016, April). Ohio Workplace Education Resource Guide for Adult Basic and Literacy Education [Word file]. Retrieved from
OCTAE: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Models of Contextualization in Developmental and Adult Basic Education [PDF file] (Rep.). (2012, July). Retrieved

23. Resources
Perin, D. (2011, February). Facilitating Student Learning Through Contextualization [PDF file] (Working paper No. 29). Retrieved
YouthBuild. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Exciting New Programs: YouthBuild. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The REACT Learning Strategy - Center for Occupational Research and Development. (n.d.). Retrieved from