The Six Drivers of Persistence quickly became a lens for me to re-examine everything we do: from new student registration and orientation to classroom management to civic engagement and digital storytelling. The research affirmed our long-time practices in promoting community building and student voice and participatory philosophy in our program at Pima Community College in Arizona. It prompted us to make sure we meet these needs of adult learners: Sense of belonging and community, Clarity of purpose, Agency, Competence, Relevance, and Stability.

This research on learner persistence solidified our commitment to leadership development and civic engagement to help students build skills for success in future college and career endeavors. Students (and teachers) reap the benefits when we provide them with opportunities to connect with others through leadership teams and training, take action outside of the classroom, and develop their voice in order to advocate for issues they care about.

1. Applying "Helping Students Stay" Course in the Classroom
2. Creating a Welcoming Community Through Social Gaming in a Library
3. Using Study Circles to Jump Start Professional Learning Communities
4. Building Community and Strengthening Health
5. Adult Education and Economic Inequality

Are you a teacher or administrator engaged in implementing distance education in an adult education agency? The recently revised and updated IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook (2016), addresses both administrative and instructional issues that are at the core of successful distance education. The Handbook is informed by current research and policy guidelines and observations of effective practice documented by IDEAL Consortium members, past and present, and affiliated state leaders.

The Handbook is organized into chapters reflecting important programmatic considerations with an end goal for readers to create or revise a distance education implementation plan for their programs. The chapters follow a similar format:

1. An overview of the topic
2. Implementation recommendations
3. A reflective activity designed to help teachers and administrators plan and implement a new distance education program or improve an existing program

Fully developed versions of the reflective activities referred to at the end of each chapter are available electronically in IDEAL 101: Foundations of Distance Education and Blended Learning, an online course for IDEAL Consortium member states.

In the current revision of the Handbook, the chapters have been updated to reflect changes and innovations in the field, in particular, the emergence of blended learning. Key topics include:

• Recruitment: Identifying and Recruiting Students
• Screening: Determining Who Is Ready for Distance and Blended Learning
• Orientation: Setting Up Learners for Success
• Instruction: Models and Strategies Supporting Involved Instruction and Communication
• Assessment: Student Participation and Progress
• Administrative Issues: Getting Started with Distance Education

What are your learning goals for 2017? Registration is in full swing for courses starting in February. For more information on each course, click on the course title below. Explore the theory and practice of contextualizing instruction for your learners, learn new ways to teach geometry while building numeracy skills, learn ways to help your students their readiness for college, or learn about the role of the navigator in supporting students. For more course options, visit our website: http://elearningpd.worlded.org/

• Contextualized Instruction (2/7-3/28)
• Geometry: Teaching About Shapes and Measures (2/15-3/29)
• College Readiness for Adults: Beyond Academic Preparation! (2/22-4/12)
• Navigating Pathways to Opportunity: Comprehensive Student Supports (2/28-4/11)

View the full catalog including free self-paced courses.