When Geari Viney, a doctoral candidate in the College of Education's learning design and technology (LDT) program, sent out a call seeking volunteers for a COVID-19 training initiative, the LDT community answered.

"The response was immediate," Viney said. "More than 30 students and alumni responded to the request to help meet the demand for online instructors as schools and other organizations transitioned to distance learning."

The community engagement initiative will be offered through a partnership with DiverseNote Mobility, a national career technical education training program that provides access to training, credentials and career opportunities in high-tech, high-growth careers. The program will provide about 2,000 high school students in Michigan, California, New Jersey and New York with access to math, science and English tutoring and more than 20 career and technical education classes. In addition, a series of general education courses covering topics such as interpersonal communication, interviewing, college readiness and entrepreneurship will be available to students and their parents.

"We are proud that our students and alumni stepped up to volunteer for this initiative," said William Hill, assistant dean of the Division of Administrative and Organizational Studies. "It not only gives them an opportunity to illustrate the knowledge and skills they gained in the LDT program and adds to their professional experience and expertise, but it also provides our program with the chance to help address an urgent community need."

The curriculum, PowerPoint presentations and other course materials will be supplied by DiverseNote Mobility. All enrolled students will have access to the internet and laptops.

Facilitators, who began training earlier this month, will deliver three hours of instruction per class each week to classes of 15 students. Each course will last four to eight weeks, depending on the program, and will be offered April 30 through July 2, or longer if needed.

Tekisha Lee, chief executive officer of DiverseNote Mobility, praised the quality of volunteers who attended orientation and training.

"Participants were enthusiastic, committed and ready to assist," said Lee. "I am grateful for the support of the learning design and technology program and look forward to working with its students and alumni."

Learning design and technology program alumnus Scott Winter (M.Ed. '19), said he was proud to support the partnership.

"I am more than happy to share my skills with learners during the current health crisis," he said. "DiverseNote Mobility not only provides students and their families with a supportive learning environment and invaluable opportunity, but the company is also addressing a critical need that is easy to support. I'm looking forward to sharing my instructional design skills with their students and expect to learn as much from this unique learning experience as they do."

For more information about the Learning Design and Technology program or the partnership with DiverseNote Mobility, contact Geari Viney at dz2126@wayne.edu or 313-577-0210. To learn more about DiverseNote Mobility, visit diversenote.com/mobility or send an email to mobility@diversenote.com.