Hi,
I would like to know how I could get the information to the parents of the students at school?  I am at an elementary school in DC and I am sure that we have parents who could benefit from this.  Is this program set up for the individual or is it based on a model to augment formal programs?  If it is available for the individual then I might be able to arrange for parents to take the course during the school day at our school.
Thanks.
Belinda Omenitsch

________________________________

From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of David Rosen
Sent: Sun 11/2/2008 11:06 AM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1073] New Designs in Online and Distance Learning --your questions


Colleagues, 

As several people have recently signed up for the upcoming discussion here, New Designs in Online and Distance Learning, and since so far I have only received one question,  I would like to repeat my request for your questions for our guests:

What questions would you like to ask our guests? 

Please look at the brief descriptions of the two models that you will see in my previous email message, included below. The federally-funded USA Learns will have a national launch in a few days, before our discussion begins. We'll have an announcement here of the web site so you can look at it if you like.  The Learner Web is a federally-funded demonstration project, available only for field testing in several selected regions around the country in Oregon, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. More information about the Learner Web, including two screen capture videos (if you register and log in), will be found at http://learnerweb.org <http://learnerweb.org/> 

* What would you like our guests to cover or explain in their descriptions of USA Learns and the Learner Web when we begin the discussion on November 17th and 18th?
* Do you want to know how USA Learns and the Learner Web became federally-funded projects, what needs or research base they grew from, or other things about their history and development?
* Do you want to know how they differ from other online adult basic education and English language learning models? If so, which kinds: online courses, online course management systems, wikis, portals, or something else? 
* If you are thinking about using either USA Learns or the Learner Web with your students, what is the situation you are hoping it will address? What group(s) of students, at what level(s) with what needs?  What questions do you have about the model's usefulness for that situation?

Think about why you have subscribed to the Special Topics discussion forum (or stayed subscribed) for this discussion, what you want to get from it. Frame a question or questions that will help our guests address your interest or need. You can send your questions by just replying to this message or by emailing them directly to me at djrosen at theworld.com. I will share the questions with our guests before the discussion begins, and the questions will be posted on or after November 17th. Of course more questions, observations, and dialogue will be welcome during the week of the discussion.

Finally, it's not too late for your colleagues to join this discussion. To subscribe to the discussion, one can go to: 
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics
One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one can stay subscribed for the next discussion.

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
DJRosen at theworld.com



On Oct 29, 2008, at 9:38 PM, David Rosen wrote:


	Special Topics Discussion Colleagues,

	On November 17th we will begin a discussion of USA Learns and of 
	the Learner Web. You will find the description for this discussion below. 
	Judging by the number of new subscribers, this is a high-interest topic!
	Now is the time to think about why you have subscribed: 

	What questions would you like to ask our guests? 

	Although your questions will not be posted until the discussion begins, 
	I would like to share them with our guests in advance.  Of course, 
	questions, comments, and dialogue, will also be welcome during the 
	discussion.

	David J. Rosen
	Special Topics Discussion Moderator
	djrosen at theworld.com

	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	New Designs in Online and Distance Learning is a National Institute
	for Literacy Special Topics discussion that will be held from
	November 17th through November 21st, 2008. It will focus on two new
	adult education models: a national learning portal for English
	language learning at a distance, called USA Learns, and a web-based
	and telephone-based learning support system, called the Learner Web,
	for ABE, ASE and ELL students enrolled in classes to supplement their
	learning, as well as for those who study on their own. We have four
	distinguished guests, researchers as well as product developers, who
	will describe these two models and answer questions.

	For USA Learns, our guests are John Fleischman and Dr. Jerome (Jere)
	Johnston. For the Learner Web our guests are Dr. Stephen Reder and
	Dr. Clare Strawn. You will find more information about them below.

	Please forward this announcement to your colleagues who may be
	interested in subscribing!

	To subscribe to the discussion, one can go to:

	http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics

	One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one can
	stay subscribed for the next discussion.

	Description of the models

	The Learner Web is a learning support system providing structure and
	resources for adults who want to accomplish specific learning
	objectives. A learner can access the system through the Internet. In
	addition to on-line resources, the Learner Web integrates support
	services from existing local education programs, community based
	organizations, tutors, and telephone helpers. The Learner Web
	consists of a Web-based software system that is implemented
	regionally. The System is organized around Learning Plans. A Learning
	Plan is a set of steps structured around achieving an identified
	goal. For example, if the goal is to get a GED, the steps might
	include finding out more about the tests, identifying what skills one
	needs to brush up on, learning new skills and knowledge, taking
	practice tests, etc. Each step is matched with online and community
	based resources and a workspace where learners can take assessments
	or save their work in an e-portfolio. The learner creates a personal
	profile, may take a short reading assessment and interest inventory,
	chooses a goal from the available list and follows the Learning Plan
	independently or with a tutor or a teacher. The Learning Plan is
	dynamically matched by the software to both the learner profile and
	educational resources. The learner's progress is saved and can be
	returned to at any time via the internet. Learners can choose to
	share their workspace with a tutor or teacher.

	The Learner Web has begun the second year of a three-year
	demonstration project in seven demonstration regions across the country.

	U.S.A. Learns is a free Web site designed for adult learners with
	limited English language skills. Instructional content focuses on
	the language and literacy skills that adults need for everyday
	survival. While a broad range of adults can use U.S.A. Learns, it
	has been developed primarily for immigrants who cannot attend
	traditional classroom programs because of difficulty with schedules,
	transportation, or other barriers. The site includes more than 400
	hours of instruction and offers an extensive array of video, audio
	and richly illustrated graphics and images. The site layout was
	created with the inexperienced Web user in mind, and extensive built-
	in help features are available. U.S.A. Learns can be used
	independently, but it can also be used in association with a teacher
	or tutor via an online management system.


	Background on Discussion Guests

	John Fleischman

	With more than 25 years of experience in adult education as a
	teacher, administrator and project director, John Fleischman is
	currently responsible for information and educational technology
	operations at the Sacramento County Office of Education. John
	possesses an extensive background with creating and implementing
	instructional and informational media for use in a variety of
	educational environments. His present area of focus is on building
	Web-based solutions for education, including data management systems
	and comprehensive online learning resources. Working at the state
	and national level, he provides oversight for a range of technology
	initiatives including the Outreach and Technology Assistance Network
	(www.otan.us <http://www.otan.us/> ) and Strengthening Programs Through Technology
	(www.adultedonline.org <http://www.adultedonline.org/> ). John is the author of numerous publications
	and is frequently requested as a presenter at both state and national
	conferences.

	Jerome (Jere) Johnston is Research Professor at the University of
	Michigan's Institute for Social Research. For 40 years he has been
	studying ways that technology shapes what people learn. In recent
	years Dr. Johnston has been exploring innovative ways to use
	technology in adult literacy. He directs the Project IDEAL Support
	Center, supporting 25 states in their efforts to build distance
	learning programs for adult learners. The Center provides technical
	assistance to states in the areas of training, research, and policy
	development (projectideal.org).

	Stephen Reder is University Professor and Chair of the Department of
	Applied Linguistics at Portland State University. His research and
	teaching interests focus on adult education and the processes of
	literacy and language development during adulthood. Dr. Reder has
	served as the Principal Investigator for a number of major projects
	in adult education. Two recent projects, the Longitudinal Study of
	Adult Learning and the National Labsite for Adult ESOL, examine the
	ways adults acquire new literacy and language abilities and the roles
	which adult education programs and policies play in supporting that
	development. The results of this research have led to the
	development of the Learner Web, an innovative online adult learning
	support system. Professor Reder is the author of numerous
	publications about his research and its implications for adult
	education and adult literacy and language development. He has
	recently completed co-editing a volume with John Bynner, Tracking
	Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Findings from Longitudinal
	Research. A second book is in progress, Dropping Out and Moving On:
	Life, Literacy and Development among High School Dropouts. Dr. Reder
	actively works with networks of adult education researchers,
	practitioners and policymakers at the state, regional and national
	levels.

	Clare Strawn is Assistant Professor at Portland State University,
	Portland, Oregon, and has been an analyst on the Longitudinal Study
	of Adult Learning. She is interested in patterns of program
	participation, the intersection of learning and community
	development, social capital influences on learning strategies, and
	technology. She has been a co-developer, with Steve Reder of the
	Learner Web and has been actively involved in the demonstration project.


	David J. Rosen
	Special Topics Discussion Moderator
	DJRosen at theworld.com




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