Yes, this does help, and you answered my second question in your introduction. You're good! : )<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 11:51 AM, Steve Reder <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:reders@pdx.edu">reders@pdx.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="blue" lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Good questions, Katherine. During our
demonstration project (through Sept 2010), Portland State university is hosting
Learner Web for all users but it will be freely distributed as open source
towards the end of the project so that others can host it as they wish. The
implementing regions in our demonstration project are starting to discuss a
planned national rollout process. Big issues will be deciding how best to
provide needed training and technical assistance to organizational users of the
LW – the external evaluation being conducted on the demonstration project will
help us identify some of the issues to consider in scaling up such training and
assistance. We are developing a whole online library of multimedia videos and
manuals for training purposes. </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Learning plans (remember, these are the
structured units of content for the Learner Web platform) can be designed to
blend the use of Learner Web with live courses in a rich variety of ways. We
expect to have a number of working and evaluated models developed through our demonstration
project.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Hope this helps. Thanks for your questions.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">-Steve</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">
</span></font></div>
<p><b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">
<a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov" target="_blank">specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov" target="_blank">specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a>] <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sunday, November 02, 2008
2:27 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov" target="_blank">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [SpecialTopics 1078] Re:
New Designs in Online and DistanceLearning -- your questions</span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hi
David--</span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. It looks like these programs will be open source. How do
they differ from other programs that are NOT open source? For example, I
worked with a program called Project Connect which provided lessons in English
language, culture and civics. Schools using the program must purchase a
license. Hence, the program is run through the school where there are
designated contacts who can also meet with students and provide a certain
amount of tech support. Are these programs similar? If so,
has there been any feedback from subscription-only program providers?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Are these programs meant to be used in tandem with live
courses? My experience has been that pure distance education
programs do not adequately serve this community for a variety of reasons,
including technological barriers, students' inability to communicate
problems, feelings of being overwhelmed or intimidated, etc. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you! I look forward to the discussion and appreciate the
reminder to ask questions early!</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 11:06 AM, David Rosen <<a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com" target="_blank">DJRosen@theworld.com</a>> wrote:</span></font></p>
<div style="">
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Colleagues, </span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As several people have recently signed up for the upcoming
discussion here, <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Designs in Online
and Distance Learning,</span></b> and since so far I have only received one
question, I would like to repeat my request for your questions for our
guests:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><b><i><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What
questions would you like to ask our guests? </span></font></i></b></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please look at the brief descriptions of the two models that you will
see in my previous email message, included below. The federally-funded <i><span style="font-style: italic;">USA Learns</span></i> 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 <i><span style="font-style: italic;">Learner Web</span></i> 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 <i><span style="font-style: italic;">Learner Web</span></i>,
including two screen capture videos (if you register and log in), will be found
at <a href="http://learnerweb.org/" target="_blank">http://learnerweb.org</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• What would you like our guests to cover or explain in their
descriptions of <i><span style="font-style: italic;">USA Learns</span></i> and
the <i><span style="font-style: italic;">Learner Web</span></i> when we
begin the discussion on November 17th and 18th?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• Do you want to know how <i><span style="font-style: italic;">USA Learns</span></i>
and the <i><span style="font-style: italic;">Learner Web</span></i> became
federally-funded projects, what needs or research base they grew from, or other
things about their history and development?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• 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? </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• If you are thinking about using either <i><span style="font-style: italic;">USA Learns</span></i> or the <i><span style="font-style: italic;">Learner
Web </span></i>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?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Think about why you have subscribed to the Special Topics discussion
forum (or stayed subscribed) for this discussion, what <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span></b> 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 <a href="mailto:djrosen@theworld.com" target="_blank">djrosen@theworld.com</a>.
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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, it's not too late for your colleagues to join this
discussion. To subscribe to the discussion, one can go to: </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one
can stay subscribed for the next discussion.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David J. Rosen</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Topics Discussion Moderator</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com" target="_blank">DJRosen@theworld.com</a></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Oct 29, 2008, at 9:38 PM, David Rosen wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" type="cite">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Topics Discussion Colleagues,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On November 17th we will begin a discussion of USA Learns and of </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the Learner Web. You will find the description for this
discussion below. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Judging by the number of new subscribers, this is a
high-interest topic!</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now is the time to think about why you have subscribed: </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What questions would you like to ask our guests? </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Although your questions will not be posted until the
discussion begins, </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I would like to share them with our guests in advance.
Of course, </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">questions, comments, and dialogue, will also be welcome
during the </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">discussion.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David J. Rosen</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Topics Discussion Moderator</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:djrosen@theworld.com" target="_blank">djrosen@theworld.com</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">New Designs in Online and Distance Learning is a National Institute</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">for Literacy Special Topics discussion that will be held from</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">November 17th through November 21st, 2008. It will focus on two new</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">adult education models: a national learning portal for English</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">language learning at a distance, called USA Learns, and a web-based</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and telephone-based learning support system, called the Learner Web,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">for ABE, ASE and ELL students enrolled in classes to supplement their</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">learning, as well as for those who study on their own. We have four</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">distinguished guests, researchers as well as product developers, who</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">will describe these two models and answer questions.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For USA Learns, our guests are John
Fleischman and Dr. Jerome (Jere)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Johnston</span></font>.
For the Learner Web our guests are Dr. Stephen Reder and</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dr. Clare Strawn. You will find more information about them below.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please forward this announcement to your colleagues who may be</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">interested in subscribing!</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To subscribe to the discussion, one can go to:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one can</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">stay subscribed for the next discussion.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Description of the models</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Learner Web is a learning support system providing structure and</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">resources for adults who want to accomplish specific learning</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">objectives. A learner can access the system through the Internet. In</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">addition to on-line resources, the Learner Web integrates support</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">services from existing local education programs, community based</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">organizations, tutors, and telephone helpers. The Learner Web</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">consists of a Web-based software system that is implemented</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">regionally. The System is organized around Learning Plans. A Learning</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Plan is a set of steps structured around achieving an identified</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">goal. For example, if the goal is to get a GED, the steps might</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">include finding out more about the tests, identifying what skills one</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">needs to brush up on, learning new skills and knowledge, taking</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">practice tests, etc. Each step is matched with online and community</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">based resources and a workspace where learners can take assessments</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or save their work in an e-portfolio. The learner creates a personal</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">profile, may take a short reading assessment and interest inventory,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">chooses a goal from the available list and follows the Learning Plan</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">independently or with a tutor or a teacher. The Learning Plan is</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">dynamically matched by the software to both the learner profile and</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">educational resources. The learner's progress is saved and can be</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">returned to at any time via the internet. Learners can choose to</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">share their workspace with a tutor or teacher.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Learner Web has begun the second year of a three-year</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">demonstration project in seven demonstration regions across the
country.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">U.S.A. Learns is a free Web site designed for adult learners with</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">limited English language skills. Instructional content focuses on</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the language and literacy skills that adults need for everyday</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">survival. While a broad range of adults can use U.S.A. Learns, it</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">has been developed primarily for immigrants who cannot attend</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">traditional classroom programs because of difficulty with schedules,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">transportation, or other barriers. The site includes more than 400</span></font></p>
</div>
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<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">hours of instruction and offers an extensive array of video, audio</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and richly illustrated graphics and images. The site layout was</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">created with the inexperienced Web user in mind, and extensive built-</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in help features are available. U.S.A. Learns can be used</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">independently, but it can also be used in association with a teacher</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">or tutor via an online management system.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background on Discussion Guests</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">John Fleischman</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">With more than 25 years of experience in adult education as a</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">teacher, administrator and project director, John
Fleischman is</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">currently responsible for information and educational technology</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">operations at the Sacramento County Office of Education. John</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">possesses an extensive background with creating and implementing</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">instructional and informational media for use in a variety of</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">educational environments. His present area of focus is on building</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Web-based solutions for education, including data management systems</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and comprehensive online learning resources. Working at the state</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and national level, he provides oversight for a range of technology</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">initiatives including the Outreach and Technology Assistance Network</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(<a href="http://www.otan.us/" target="_blank">www.otan.us</a>) and Strengthening
Programs Through Technology</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(<a href="http://www.adultedonline.org/" target="_blank">www.adultedonline.org</a>).
John is the author of numerous publications</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and is frequently requested as a presenter at both state and national</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">conferences.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jerome (Jere) Johnston
is Research Professor at the University of</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Michigan</span></font>'s
Institute for Social Research. For 40 years he has been</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">studying ways that technology shapes what people learn. In recent</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">years Dr. Johnston has been exploring innovative ways to use</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">technology in adult literacy. He directs the Project IDEAL Support</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Center, supporting 25 states in their efforts to build distance</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">learning programs for adult learners. The Center provides technical</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">assistance to states in the areas of training, research, and policy</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">development (<a href="http://projectideal.org/" target="_blank">projectideal.org</a>).</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stephen Reder is University Professor and Chair of the Department of</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Applied Linguistics at Portland
State University.
His research and</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">teaching interests focus on adult education and the processes of</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">literacy and language development during adulthood. Dr. Reder has</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">served as the Principal Investigator for a number of major projects</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in adult education. Two recent projects, the Longitudinal Study of</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Adult Learning and the National Labsite for Adult ESOL, examine the</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ways adults acquire new literacy and language abilities and the roles</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">which adult education programs and policies play in supporting that</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">development. The results of this research have led to the</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">development of the Learner Web, an innovative online adult learning</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">support system. Professor Reder is the author of numerous</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">publications about his research and its implications for adult</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">education and adult literacy and language development. He has</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">recently completed co-editing a volume with John Bynner, Tracking</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Findings from Longitudinal</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Research. A second book is in progress, Dropping Out and Moving On:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Life, Literacy and Development among High School Dropouts. Dr. Reder</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">actively works with networks of adult education researchers,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">practitioners and policymakers at the state, regional and national</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">levels.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Clare Strawn is Assistant Professor at Portland State
University,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Portland</span></font>,
Oregon, and has been an analyst
on the Longitudinal Study</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of Adult Learning. She is interested in patterns of program</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">participation, the intersection of learning and community</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">development, social capital influences on learning strategies, and</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">technology. She has been a co-developer, with Steve Reder of the</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Learner Web and has been actively involved in the demonstration
project.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David J. Rosen</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Topics Discussion Moderator</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com" target="_blank">DJRosen@theworld.com</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-------------------------------</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">National Institute for Literacy</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Topics mailing list</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:SpecialTopics@nifl.gov" target="_blank">SpecialTopics@nifl.gov</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to <a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics</a></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Email delivered to <a href="mailto:djrosen1@gmail.com" target="_blank">djrosen1@gmail.com</a></span></font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
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<div>
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</div>
<p><font size="1" color="black" face="Helvetica"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica; color: black;"><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
</span></span></div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
-------------------------------<br>
National Institute for Literacy<br>
Special Topics mailing list<br>
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To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to <a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics</a><br>
Email delivered to <a href="mailto:katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com" target="_blank">katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br><font color="#888888">
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt<br>
<a href="http://www.LuxuriousChoices.net" target="_blank">www.LuxuriousChoices.net</a></font></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<br>-------------------------------<br>
National Institute for Literacy<br>
Special Topics mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:SpecialTopics@nifl.gov">SpecialTopics@nifl.gov</a><br>
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to <a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics</a><br>
Email delivered to <a href="mailto:katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com">katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt<br><a href="http://www.LuxuriousChoices.net">www.LuxuriousChoices.net</a><br>
<br>