WVIZ/PBS ideastream is pleased to be working with the rest of Ohio’s public broadcasting stations on an initiative called Ohio Ready to Work, a program designed to assist agencies that provide training and education to Ohio’s unemployed and underemployed. Ohio Ready to Work is funded through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This program gives public institutions, like our high schools, libraries, and social service agencies the right to record the programs in the GED Connections series and Workplace Essential Skills series and use them for the duration of the license through January 1, 2012.

GED Connections
WVIZ broadcast: Monday through Friday, 5 to 5:30 a.m.

GED Connections is a flexible multimedia instructional series featuring the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for and pass the GED exam. The GED Connection series combines 39 video programs (broadcast by WVIZ/PBS), 3 student workbooks, and free Internet learning activities, quizzes, and practice tests. Used together or apart these components can make studying for the test exciting, engaging, and effective. Students can view the programs on WVIZ/PBS, record the programs, and use the tapes to study at home. Many local adult education programs, community colleges, one-stop career centers, or libraries have GED Connection videos, books, classes, and teachers available to help students too. At the GED Web site (pbs.org/literacy) students can register for a free portfolio that contains GED practice tests and quizzes with automatic scoring and feedback, plus extensive learning modules for each of the 5 GED subject areas. Online teachers from several states are available to coach adult learners online. Students can order GED Connection workbooks to use at home or ask for them at an adult education center or library near them. Contact the Northeast ABLE Resource Center at 216-261-7076 (800-361-7076) or Cleveland Reads at 216-436-2261.

Workplace: Essential Skills
WVIZ Broadcast: Monday through Friday, 5:30 to 6 a.m.

Designed for adults who are looking for a job or want to improve their skills in order to get or keep a better job, Workplace Essential Skills helps show high school students and unemployed or underemployed adults what to expect from the job application process, what skills and attributes employers look for, and how those skills are put to work in real on-the-job situations. Reading level grades 6-8. (pbs.org/literacy)

For information on preparing to join the workforce, call:
Towards Employment     216-696-5119
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.)    216-566-5445
Employment Connection (Cleveland)    216-664-4673
Employment Connection (Parma)    216-898-8363

Call 216-916-6352 to receive a current broadcast schedule for either of these series.