By "useable" I meant the words, phrases and content were designed for 
readers/users in 6-12 and not developed for younger ages/grade levels.  
Adult learners could benefit from using the software and not be offended, 
like many school age software programs are designed directly towards k-
2nd/younger children.
Mary Sampson
Susan Jones <SUJones at parkland.edu> said:


> What do you mean by "useable?"  

> 

> The Skillstutor is definitely usable, but it didn't meet our needs because 

the content is arcane and sometimes even the questions are phrased so that 
the target audience was obviously children. 

> 

>  

> 

> Susan Jones

> Academic Development Specialist

> Academic Development Center

> Parkland College

> Champaign, IL  61821

> sujones at parkland.edu

> Webmastress,

> http://www.resourceroom.net

> http://bicyclecu.blogspot.com

> 

> 

> >>> <msampson at austincc.edu> 11/27/2007 8:46 AM >>>

> When I looked at the NovNet website it was geared towards 6-12 and useable 

> by adult students.  The software would be a good investment for any adult 

ed 

> program if they have the computer hardware to support it.  

> Mary Sampson

> Susan Jones <SUJones at parkland.edu> said:

> 

> > When I cruised to the website I was struck by the fact that it's for 

> students in grades 6-12.

> > 

> > We just did a trial of myskillstutor and it was simply too geared to the 

> younger audience to meet our students' needs... and it had just enough 

> little glitches in it, too.  WHat's the content in NovaNet like?  Is the 

> reading at 6-12 grade level (which *would* meet our needs)?

> > 

> > Susan Jones

> > Academic Development Specialist

> > Academic Development Center

> > Parkland College

> > Champaign, IL  61821

> > sujones at parkland.edu 

> > Webmastress,

> > http://www.resourceroom.net 

> > http://bicyclecu.blogspot.com 

> > 

> > 

> > >>> "Eric" <stadnik at wildblue.net> 11/24/2007 2:24 AM >>>

> > >From Ruth Stadnik:

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > In answer to Mary's question, I have had very consistent success with my 

LD

> > adult ed students and ESL students using an online program called NovaNet

> > from Pearson Digital Learning.  I've discovered this by accident and

> > observation over the 10 years I have used the program.

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > When I have had students who struggled with reading skills, I have found

> > that with the NovaNet program as a delivery system, it frees me to work

> > one-on-one with the students who need help.  Often I learned later, when 

I

> > reviewed their records, that they were RSP students.  Strangely enough, I

> > have always required 80% or above on all lessons and post-tests using

> > NovaNet.  In order to achieve the 80%+ the students must take notes.

> > Repeated exposure to the information in the lessons comes from this 

> process:

> > 

> >  Reading

> > 

> >  taking notes

> > 

> >  answering questions

> > 

> >  referring to their notes for the answers they don't remember

> > 

> >  reviewing

> > 

> >  taking the post-test

> > 

> >  retrieving the info from their notes to apply what they have learned

> > 

> >  then reviewing what they have missed

> > 

> >  Re-taking (a different) post-test if necessary, or re-studying the 

lesson

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > This process actually gives them 8 reviews of the material, much more 

than

> > they would get by the usual methods.  One of the beauties of the program 

is

> > that each time it will give different practice questions in the lessons 

and

> > different test questions, so they really need to understand the material 

in

> > order to apply their learning to answer the questions at the 80%+ level.

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > I believe that no one can memorize everything there is to know anymore.

> > Using the process mentioned above, my students learn how to record and

> > retrieve information effectively and apply the information to solve 

> problems

> > or respond to questions.  If they don't pass the post-test, NovaNet's

> > prescriptive curriculum suggests which lessons they need to re-study.  I 

go

> > over the tests with the students as often as I can, though they can also

> > review on their own, highlighting the evidence for the answers in their

> > notes.  Then together we choose which lessons to re-study, or whether to

> > just re-take (a different ) post test.

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > The result is earned success at a high "mastery learning" level.  This

> > success builds confidence.  I teaches effective study skills.  Students

> > learn how much work it takes to get a "B" or "A" and that it is possible 

if

> > they apply themselves.  They also quickly learn to organize their notes 

for

> > efficient retrieval.  They find that they can even learn (the other 20%)

> > from their mistakes.  I can work with them one-on-one if they don't

> > understand part of a lesson or if they need to have test questions 

> explained

> > in a different way after trying on their own.

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > The best part is that the NovaNet curriculum is so rich and deep, that I 

> can

> > use it for Diploma Completion (all HS subjects), GED Preparation, ABE, 

and

> > High School Credit recovery simultaneously.  It is completely 

> individualized

> > for each student.  The "hands-on" nature of the online instruction keeps

> > students highly engaged for hours.  ADD students can use earphones to 

> listen

> > to music while they study-2 hours later you'll still see them sitting 

there

> > and much (documented) work will have been accomplished.  If your 

computers

> > have the capability, other adaptations may be possible (contact Pearson 

for

> > more info).

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > Many teachers and schools are shy about using technology to enhance

> > education, for fear of losing their accustomed role in teaching.  I have

> > received students who have obviously been greatly helped by the special

> > education they have achieved.  My experience is that my role as a teacher

> > changes to one I have always dreamed of-the ability to help every student

> > with what they need, when they need it, and to let them proceed at their 

> own

> > pace on the material they need most to learn.  Using technology as the

> > delivery system frees the teacher to respond to the needs of ALL students

> > with the material as a focus-and with immediate positive and negative

> > feedback, no papers to correct, and an excellent reporting system from 

> which

> > to document progress (pre-test and post-test on each module) and grades.

> > Multiple teachers can be spread across different programs or groups of

> > students and different coverage times, rather than different "classes."

> > (While you're at it, check out Write to Learn-a writing program that also

> > corrects students' writing and gives thought-provoking reading prompts-

also

> > from Pearson).

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > In Adult Ed we have to think of who are students are-everyone who has 

> fallen

> > out of school for various reasons.  They have had up to 12 years of

> > traditional teaching methods.  Isn't it time we tried a different 

> technology

> > with them?  

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > Ruth Stadnik

> > 

> > Healdsburg Adult Education

> > 

> > Healdsburg, CA

> > 

> > rstadnik at husd.com 

> > 

> >  

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > Eric Stadnik, Instructor

> > 

> > Business Office Technology

> > 

> > Santa Rosa Junior College

> > 

> > 1501 Mendocino Avenue

> > 

> > Santa Rosa, CA 95401

> > 

> > Office (707) 527-4815 

> > 

> >      Cell (707) 486-4075

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or 

present

> > are certain to miss the future."

> > 

> > ~ John F. Kennedy

> > 

> >  

> > 

> > ----------------------------------------------------

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> > Learning Disabilities mailing list

> > LearningDisabilities at nifl.gov 

> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities 

> > Email delivered to msampson at austincc.edu 

> > 

> 

> 

> 

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> 

> 

> 

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