| There’s the Bookmobile, Bloodmobile,
and now there’s the SkillMobile—a state-of-the-art
online training center on wheels coming to a community
near you!
Unveiled following the Council on Postsecondary Education
meeting in May, the two SkillMobiles are “bringing
training and education to the people,” said Dr.
Cheryl King, associate vice president for the Council
on Postsecondary Education and commissioner of adult education
for the Department for Adult Education and Literacy.
“From the hills to the hollows and from the cities,
towns and farms, the SkillMobiles are allowing access
to technology and learning opportunities, no matter where
you live in Kentucky,” added King.
Formerly mobile training units used primarily for workplace,
the SkillMobiles were retrofitted and renamed to broaden
their appeal. The units feature a comprehensive selection
of online curriculum and state-of-the-art technology including
desktops, flat panel displays, printers and wireless Internet
access.
In partnership with the Kentucky Virtual University,
the SkillMobiles utilize the Kentucky Virtual Adult Education
website, at www.kyvae.org, to access online curriculum,
24x7 technical support and library resources. The website
was developed by KYVU for the Department for Adult Education
and Literacy.
“This technology is bridging the gap among adult
learners, employers, our instructors and adult learning
centers across the state. Being able to utilize the expertise
of the Kentucky Virtual University to make it happen has
opened adult education to the world,” added King.
The SkillMobiles are available to businesses and adult
education initiatives on a first-come, first-serve basis.
That is an important caveat considering SkillMobiles are
already booked 75 percent of the year, according to Jim
Thompson, Skill Branch supervisor for the Cabinet for
Workforce Development. Thompson was recently awarded Workforce’s
Golden Key Award for exemplary efforts in upgrading the
units.
Commissioner King expects to soon add a third unit to
the fleet. “Hopefully, by having three on the road
we can better meet needs all across the Commonwealth,”
she said.
Asked if she had anything to add, King beamed, “The
SkillMobile is probably the best example we could ever
hope for to bring postsecondary education, workplace education
and adult education together. We’ve just put it
on wheels and made it accessible. What a combination!”
To find out when a SkillMobile will be in your area or
to discuss training at your workplace, contact Jim Thompson
at 800/928-7323 or jimr.thompson@mail.state.ky.us
For more information about Kentucky Virtual Adult Education,
call 1-877-740-4357 or visit the website at www.kyvae.org.
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The Council on Postsecondary Education coordinates change
and improvement in Kentucky's public colleges and universities.
Kentucky Virtual University, a unit of the Council, is
the state’s official virtual campus. Registration
for the fall term is now in process at www.kyvu.org.
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