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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Special Topics Colleagues, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>For those who have just joined us and want to catch
up, and for others who may want to find a particular post, you will
find an archive of this discussion (and all Special
Topics discussions) at <A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/date.html">http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/date.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We welcome your questions and comments on both the
Learner Web (LW) and USA Learns (USAL).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A couple of people have asked how USA Learns
and The Learner Web may be used to count NRS distance learning
equivalents to class time. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with
this, perhaps Sheryl Adler from the U.S. Department of Education could explain
the Department's policy on counting Distance Learning for NRS reporting.
Then perhaps someone from USA Learns and someone from the Learner Web could
describe how parts of each model's curriculum (or in the LW Model, "Learning
Plan") might be awarded equivalent class time -- referring to policy at a
national or at a state level. If this isn't clear yet in the model, what is the
process you envision for getting NRS approval of distance learning
equivalency?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Several people are interested in how the Learner
Web or USA Learns might be used, perhaps in a closed internal system, inside
corrections facilities. If this were possible, it could be a terrific service
for those incarcerated in corrections institutions or county jails. It
would enable inmates to begin to use the model inside and, when released, to
continue their learning on the outside. I imagine there might be a challenges in
transfering the progress records from the closed inside to the open web-based
versions, but perhaps with additional resources this problem could be solved, I
wonder if funding from the recently passed Second Chance Act could
support developing the inside versions and a transition interface
to the open web-based version for released inmates. (See Special
Topics Discussion on transitions from transitions to community, message
918,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/000930.html">http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/000930.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>for a description of the Second Chance
Act.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Several people have commented on the Learner Web's
ability to be regionally (locally) tailored and to include face-to-face as well
as online learning resources. One person has observed that this sounded
complicated, involving local effort and costs. I wonder if Steve or Clare,
or those who are working in Leraner Web regional pilots, might like to comment
on the opportunities and challenges of this _regional_ learning support
model.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Does anyone see ways in which the Learner Web and
USA Learns might be used together, where they add value to each other?
Perhaps our guests would also care to comment on that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David J. Rosen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Special Topics Discussion Moderator</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:djrosen@theworld.com">djrosen@theworld.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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