Thanks for your questions and your interest in U.S.A. Learns. David had sent us a summary of the questions he received prior to the start of this discussion. I thought I'd try and answer several of them in a "batch" in an effort to reduce somewhat the volume of emails. Let me know if you'd like more information about any of these issues. Here goes....<br>
<br><b><i>I am a retired ABE/ESL program manager. Occasionally individuals come into my life who need ABE/ESL training. Can USA Learns and the Learner Web be used to help them? How? </i></b><br>U.S.A. Learns can be a useful resource for students who need ESL instruction and who have access to a computer with Internet access (at home, in a public library, at a friend's home, work, school, etc.). You can suggest that they use the site for independent English language learning. Or, you might decide to create a class on USAL and have students enroll to work with you (or refer them to a teacher who has a class on the site). The site is currently focused on ESL, but the Practice English and Reading section contains activities that would also be beneficial to ABE students. The stories and activities in this section are designed to build vocabulary and reading comprehension skills.<br>
<br><b><i>What types of orientation do these learning models provide for the learner? </i></b><br>USAL offers an on-line guided registration, including animated help features. Students can listen to the introductory instructions in either English or Spanish. There are animated help features built into the site to explain how to register, complete activities, etc.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote"><i><b>What level of technology is needed for learners to use USA Learns and the Learner Web - including: <br>Basic prerequisite computer skills:</b></i><br>• Mouse (click and scroll)<br>• Keyboard (letters, punctuation, backspace, shift key, space bar)<br>
• Web browser (open a browser, navigate a basic Web site, click buttons and links)<br>• <br><i><b>User's computer hardware/software skills </b></i>:<br>• User's computer requirements: memory, processing, internet connection, etc.) A fast broadband Internet connection (384 Kpbs or faster)<br>
• An up-to-date Web browser with the Flash plug-in<br>• A sound card (Speakers or headphone are necessary; microphone is optional but very useful).<br><div><i><b><br>Do these models use tutors? If so, face-to-face? Online?</b></i></div>
<div> USAL can be used either by students working independently or by students working with a teacher/tutor. That interaction can be entirely online or can be an extension or supplement to FTF meetings or classes. <br></div>
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</blockquote></div><br><i><b>Will many of the resources include audio files?</b></i><br>There is audio throughout USAL, in both the activities and the help features.<br><br><i><b>Do the models include life-skills based topics?</b></i> <br>
USAL provides contextualized instruction and emphasizes topics likely to be important to the immigrant population. Students have told us that they like the fact that they are learning English while also learning about life in the US and issues that they face in their daily lives.<br>
<br clear="all">Let me know if you these answers raise more questions for you or if you just want to explore any of these topics further.<div><br></div><div>Leslie<br>-- <br>Leslie Petty, Ed.D.<br>Associate Director<br>Project IDEAL Support Center<br>
University of Michigan<br>734-425-0748<br>
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