Belinda,
U.S.A. Learns is primarily designed for individual, independent learners,
but it is also possible for teachers or tutors to use this as with a group
of students. It is available free to anyone with computer and Internet
access.   You could certainly make it available to parents of the children
at your school to access whenever they wanted.  As we were testing the
usability of the site with adult learners, we found a great deal of interest
among our testers in getting other family members to use the site.

There is one important caveat, however.   The wide bandwidth requirements
for U.S.A. Learns make it unsuitable for use in classrooms or computer labs.
Even with a fast Internet connection in the school or lab, simultaneous use
by just a few learners could slow the program to a crawl and make the
learning experience frustrating.

Leslie

On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 6:55 PM, Omenitsch, Belinda (ES) <
belinda.omenitsch at dc.gov> wrote:


> 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

>

>

>

>

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

>        National Institute for Literacy

>        Special Topics mailing list

>        SpecialTopics at nifl.gov

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

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

>        Email delivered to djrosen1 at gmail.com

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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

> National Institute for Literacy

> Special Topics mailing list

> SpecialTopics at nifl.gov

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

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

> Email delivered to lpetty at twmi.rr.com

>




-- 
Leslie Petty, Ed.D.
Associate Director
Project IDEAL Support Center
University of Michigan
734-425-0748
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/attachments/20081118/16235b00/attachment.html