When metal doors slammed shut behind them years ago, many inmates left a world in which few had access to computers, the Internet was new, and there was no e-mail, no Facebook, no Google.

They may have served their time, but before they can rejoin society as productive citizens, these individuals must learn to survive in a high-tech world, where employment applications are mostly online, where basic skills and computer skills are a necessity.

Dr. Constance Banks, academic and vocational school principal for Michigan’s Mound and Ryan Correctional Facilities and her staff of 14 teachers are charged with helping these men prepare to make it in a world that has been digitally transformed.

Besides limited computer knowledge, most of their students also have academic deficits. And they live in an environment where information about their educational level is one of the few areas where they still have some privacy. Protecting that privacy is a big deal, indeed.

Despite all the obstacles, Banks and her teachers have learned how to protect privacy, and work individually with each learner although they are always in a group and each must be supervised at all times.

"We have found software that allows our teachers to monitor the progress of each of her students and make individual recommendations about their work," Banks says. "The teacher can gauge each student’s pace, see what each is working on and how far they have gotten."

Built-in assessments tell the teacher if a learner does not grasp the concept and needs additional help. But the teacher can often discover this before a student even takes a test because the teacher can monitor how long it is taking for a student to complete a section.

This feature saves pride and prevents frustration—two keys to success for any student.

"This takes the embarrassment out of the learning process," Banks says. "They don’t have to worry that they are not keeping up with others or that others will know they are having problems. Some are fast; others are slow. They would all say they are geniuses. This takes a lot of fear away and saves pride."

Although Banks doesn’t have statistics, anecdotal evidence says it is working. Interest in the classes has grown to where there is now a waiting list.

"We could never serve all the men who want take the classes," Banks notes.

For those fortunate enough to go through these classes, a job can be waiting on the other side, says Banks. Several inmates have completed the classes and then gotten computer jobs when they were released.

For more information, contact Dr. Banks by e-mail at Bankscc@michigan.gov.