A Post-Secondary Writing Bridge Program for Incarcerated Learners

A Post-Secondary Writing Bridge Program for Incarcerated Learners

Chiara Benetollo
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 16
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8463-7.ch011
OnDemand:
(Individual Chapters)
Available
$37.50
Current Special Offers
No Current Special Offers
TOTAL SAVINGS: $37.50

Abstract

This chapter discusses a College Bridge Writing Program piloted by the Petey Greene Program inside the Washington D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) Jail. The program is designed to foster racial and social justice by addressing some of the barriers that prevent incarcerated students from accessing higher education, from succeeding in college-level courses, and more generally, from finding meaningful employment. After providing an overview of the structure and the objectives of the course, the author focuses on the challenges posed by the pandemic and on two of the main features that contributed to the success of the program – the use of learning technology and the role of volunteer tutors, who provided one-on-one support to incarcerated students.
Chapter Preview
Top

Program Context

The Petey Greene Program is the largest multi-state provider of tutoring services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated learners in the northeastern United States. The organization was founded in 2008, and for its first five years it remained a New Jersey-based program. An evaluation conducted in 2013 revealed that incarcerated students tutored by PGP advanced one to two full grade levels more than non-tutored students in both math and reading over the course of just one semester (Kowalski, 2013). Following the results of the 2013 study, PGP expanded to seven northeastern states. By 2018, PGP was recruiting 1,000 volunteers annually through partnerships with 31 universities, tutoring 2,200 incarcerated people in 47 correctional facilities.

Key Terms in this Chapter

Synchronous Learning: Real-time online education, usually with a set schedule and required login times.

Technology-Assisted Learning: Instruction supported by technology.

Hybrid Learning: Instruction combining synchronous and asynchronous, remote and in-person learning to varying degrees to meet set objectives.

Asynchronous Learning: A form of student-centered teaching in which students engage at their own pace with material selected and/or created by the instructors.

Complete Chapter List

Search this Book:
Reset