The New Online Training Program

The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), the agency that paid for the production of the Bridges to Practice materials, plans to put the materials online through its website, so that trainers can add to their knowledge about learning disabilities throughout the year.

The corps of Master Trainers being developed for Bridges to Practice will require frequent updates on legislation, policy issues, research, and new materials that are related to their work. They have experience in training and know the Bridges material well, but they need a way to stay up-to-date on material about learning disabilities.

New trainers will always be needed to replace people who leave, and they need to be able to access training materials and learn the rudiments about training from the website so they can then attend conferences and symposia to increase their skills and fulfill the requirements for Master Trainer over a period of about two-to-three years.

How will the online training be done?
In order to make this training segment as interactive as possible, and to model good teaching and training techniques for adults with learning disabilities, NIFL plans to use audiotapes, videotapes, discussion groups, interactive learning sessions, automated feedback to trainers, text, connections to other websites, and a segment that will allow participants to download the necessary forms that they must submit in order to establish and/or maintain a portfolio that reflects their completed training. This segment may allow for college credit in the future, so the initial planning needs to consider the requirements of the academic world for distance learning.

What are the immediate plans?
Recognizing that not all trainers may have the hardware and software to support all of the above-mentioned devices, NIFL is working with a developer to present a broad picture of the possibilities, but will adapt the materials and support materials for ease of access and use. A gradual building of this site will be required as we add to the materials and gain new trainers from different agencies. The distance learning site will also be able to model the correct methods for teaching students with learning disabilities. This includes many training techniques that are not included in the current training manual and which are being developed through a number of grant programs throughout the country.

Why so much concern about modeling and accessibility?
Accessibility to the website will be an issue as the materials must be developed with a multitude of disabilities in mind so that new partnerships with disabilities organizations will be possible in the future. The site must meet the requirements for the federal government for accessibility. Issues of assistive technology must be addressed as this will be an essential part of the training. Feedback from many individuals is needed to make this an outstanding example of online training.