Thanks, Sherri.  I tried to describe in my initial response how a "learning
support system" like the Learner Web differs from other types of online
products.  You can also find some information about that on the project
website, www.learnerweb.org <http://www.learnerweb.org/> .  We hope that a
variety of organizations will develop Learning Plans for various
life-skills.  As developers of the Learner Web platform, we want to
encourage and support others to develop content for it.  That is already
happening in the areas of family literacy and college transition, for
example.  Anyone interested in possibly developing Learning Plans in other
areas should contact me (reders at pdx.edu).

 

-Steve

 

  _____  

From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Durman Sherri L.
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:31 AM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1083] Re: New Designs in Online and DistanceLearning
--your questions

 

Yes, I want to know how they differ from other online adult basic education
and English language learning models?  How does this work with adults?  Will
you be covering life-skills based topics?

 

Sherri 

 

  _____  

From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of David Rosen
Sent: Sun 11/2/2008 9:06 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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Email delivered to djrosen1 at gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

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