Special Topics Colleagues,

Today we begin a discussion of two new online and distance learning models specifically designed for adult literacy education, including ESL/ESOL.  They are the Learner Web and USA Learns. Each has much to offer, but they differ in their design, audiences, and also in their stage of development. USA  Learns, with core funding from the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, launched earlier this month (http://usalearns.org) and is a national adult ESL/ESOL portal. It is available now at no cost to adult learners everywhere.The Learner Web is beginning its second year of a three-year, federally-funded demonstration grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Learner Web is available now only for piloting, and only in certain regions of the country.  I am an advisor to USA Learns, and am a Regional Implementation Advisor for the Learner Web, so I have had the privilege of watching both projects evolve.

We will begin today with a presentation of the Learner Web by Stephen Reder from Portland State University. He will be joined in the discussion by Clare Strawn, a co-developer with Steve, of the Learner Web. Clare is also on the Portland State University faculty. On Tuesday we will have a presentation about USA Learns by John Fleischman, from the Sacramento (CA) County Office of Education. John will be joined by Jere Johnston and Leslie Petty, both from the University of MIchigan.  They will also be joined by Sheryl Adler, from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education as there may be questions about the development of USA Learns which she can best address.

I am delighted that our guests -- and you -- can join us for this discussion. Please feel free to post your questions and comments for our guests at any time this week.

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
djrosen at theworld.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/attachments/20081117/87f774c8/attachment.html