University News
CAIT Receives Two Statewide Awards
September 4, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) recently was recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) for its leadership, innovative use of groundbreaking technology and commitment to excellence.
At a statewide adult education administrators meeting held last month in Springfield, CAIT was lauded for two of its many creations: the GED-i, an online adult education curriculum; and the Data and Information System - Illinois (DAISI), a web-based data-collection system for adult education.
"For many years, the ICCB and CAIT have worked together toward a common mission of meeting specific instructional and technology needs of students, faculty and administrators in adult education," said CAIT Director Richard Chamberlain. "Our work together broke ground in the use of distance learning technologies. The awards received by CAIT are recognition of a truly successful partnership between the Illinois Community College Board and our center. The praise belongs to the staff from both ICCB and CAIT who worked so hard to make these projects successful."
In 2000, ICCB and CAIT partnered to plan, develop and deploy GED-i, a statewide online curriculum designed to help adult learners prepare for their General Equivalency Diploma exam. Since its launch in 2001, the GED-i program has branched out from Illinois to serve a national audience, with CAIT collaborating with the states of Washington, Maryland, Minnesota and North Carolina. Currently, there are more than 4,000 students throughout the country enrolled in the GED-i curriculum.
"GED-i has proven to be the turning point for many students," said Kendra Humphreys, adult education program manager, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. "It provides the opportunity for those who face the many challenges of getting an education, raising families, and/or working each day."
As GED-i gained national attention, ICCB again partnered with CAIT to develop DAISI, which allows Illinois adult education providers the ability to track and report funding, class, instructor and student data electronically, while complying with agency policies, rules and regulations. The DAISI system was launched in FY08, after a yearlong pilot program proved successful. Chamberlain explained that DAISI serves as a powerful web-based management tool for both the ICCB and local providers to achieve continuous program improvement in the field of adult education by providing the ability to track performance and accountability in real-time.
"In life and business, true partnerships require hard work, dedication and commitment," said Jennifer Foster, ICCB senior director for adult education and family literacy and state director for GED testing. "At ICCB we recognize and celebrate our partnership with CAIT. These awards highlight their demonstrated dedication, commitment, innovation and flexibility in the collaborative projects with ICCB."
CAIT, with a track record of more than 20 years, is at the forefront of distance education and web development. Among CAIT's clients are Illinois and Washington D.C. departments of Children and Family Services, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, McDonald's Corporation, School District of Philadelphia, Illinois Century Network, the United States Department of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
For more information on CAIT's services, visit cait.org.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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