<div> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Teaching in the corrections environment is also very near and dear to me. I have taught GED classes at Denver County Jail for over 5 years. The nonprofit organization I work for does its best to provide resources, but at the moment the only resources we have are print materials. <br>
<br>
I see three benefits to creating a GED online for corrections. One, students can work at their own pace. Hopefully, the program is learner-centered so they only have to work on the subjects they need. Two, some of my students are not familiar with the computer, which is a handicap when it comes times to apply for a job. Using a computer would give them practice in computer skills as well as GED. Three, many of my students have marginal jobs (I am in the work release program now) and earning a GED enables them to get a "real" job and hopefully, stay out of trouble. Working on a computer may provide more motivation to stay in class or attract students who want a faster paced lesson.<br>
<br>
If we had a national GED program in a secure web environment for corrections, many teachers could work online with the students. All the "brainpower" for targeting their education would not have to be in the building. Outside teachers who love adult learning and online education could be used to create lessons for the students. And they could work with onsite personnel to reach even more inmates.</font><br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div id="sig2882" style="clear: both;"><font>Carolyn Carter<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
The Learning Source<br>
</font></font></div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Upham, Gary <Gary.Upham@maine.gov><br>
To: specialtopics@nifl.gov<br>
Sent: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 5:06 am<br>
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1107] Re: SpecialTopics Digest, Vol 26, Issue 8<br>
<br>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_0_8cf9fd68-827c-4dfa-8a64-cab54c27dc06" style="margin: 0px; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>Good morning. I am the principal at the Maine State Prison, where we<br>
have an active education department but little resources available. I<br>
also am President Elect of the Maine Adult Corrections association. Due<br>
to the nature of this program our access for inmates (which<br>
demographically would have about 25-50% of a population that could use<br>
this program), is not available through the web. How can we access and<br>
is it a possibility to create a special program for this population? My<br>
goal is that all facilities would have access to programs like this in a<br>
secure web environment.<br>
<br>
Thanks<br>
Gary Upham/MSP<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: <a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov">specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a><br>
[<a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov?">mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a>] On Behalf Of<br>
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Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 11:58 AM<br>
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Subject: SpecialTopics Digest, Vol 26, Issue 8<br>
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Today's Topics:<br>
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1. [SpecialTopics 1091] Re: New Designs in Online and<br>
DistanceLearning -- your questions (Steve Reder)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:51:07 -0800<br>
From: "Steve Reder" <<a href="mailto:reders@pdx.edu">reders@pdx.edu</a>><br>
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1091] Re: New Designs in Online and<br>
DistanceLearning -- your questions<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a>><br>
Message-ID: <006701c948d4$b0317e30$<a href="mailto:0502fea9@PSU.DS.PDX.EDU">0502fea9@PSU.DS.PDX.EDU</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br>
<br>
Good questions, Katherine. During our demonstration project (through<br>
Sept<br>
2010), Portland State university is hosting Learner Web for all users<br>
but it<br>
will be freely distributed as open source towards the end of the project<br>
so<br>
that others can host it as they wish. The implementing regions in our<br>
demonstration project are starting to discuss a planned national rollout<br>
process. Big issues will be deciding how best to provide needed<br>
training<br>
and technical assistance to organizational users of the LW - the<br>
external<br>
evaluation being conducted on the demonstration project will help us<br>
identify some of the issues to consider in scaling up such training and<br>
assistance. We are developing a whole online library of multimedia<br>
videos<br>
and manuals for training purposes. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Learning plans (remember, these are the structured units of content for<br>
the<br>
Learner Web platform) can be designed to blend the use of Learner Web<br>
with<br>
live courses in a rich variety of ways. We expect to have a number of<br>
working and evaluated models developed through our demonstration<br>
project.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Hope this helps. Thanks for your questions.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-Steve<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_____ <br>
<br>
From: <a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov">specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a><br>
[<a href="mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov?">mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</a>]<br>
On Behalf Of Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt<br>
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 2:27 PM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a><br>
Subject: [SpecialTopics 1078] Re: New Designs in Online and<br>
DistanceLearning<br>
-- your questions<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Hi David--<br>
<br>
1. It looks like these programs will be open source. How do they<br>
differ<br>
from other programs that are NOT open source? For example, I worked<br>
with a<br>
program called Project Connect which provided lessons in English<br>
language,<br>
culture and civics. Schools using the program must purchase a license.<br>
Hence, the program is run through the school where there are designated<br>
contacts who can also meet with students and provide a certain amount of<br>
tech support. Are these programs similar? If so, has there been any<br>
feedback from subscription-only program providers?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
2. Are these programs meant to be used in tandem with live courses? My<br>
experience has been that pure distance education programs do not<br>
adequately<br>
serve this community for a variety of reasons, including technological<br>
barriers, students' inability to communicate problems, feelings of being<br>
overwhelmed or intimidated, etc. <br>
<br>
Thank you! I look forward to the discussion and appreciate the reminder<br>
to<br>
ask questions early!<br>
<br>
On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 11:06 AM, David Rosen <<a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com">DJRosen@theworld.com</a>><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
Colleagues, <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
As several people have recently signed up for the upcoming discussion<br>
here,<br>
New Designs in Online and Distance Learning, and since so far I have<br>
only<br>
received one question, I would like to repeat my request for your<br>
questions<br>
for our guests:<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
What questions would you like to ask our guests? <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Please look at the brief descriptions of the two models that you will<br>
see in<br>
my previous email message, included below. The federally-funded USA<br>
Learns<br>
will have a national launch in a few days, before our discussion begins.<br>
We'll have an announcement here of the web site so you can look at it if<br>
you<br>
like. The Learner Web is a federally-funded demonstration project,<br>
available only for field testing in several selected regions around the<br>
country in Oregon, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New<br>
Jersey and Washington, D.C. More information about the Learner Web,<br>
including two screen capture videos (if you register and log in), will<br>
be<br>
found at <a href="http://learnerweb.org" target="_blank">http://learnerweb.org</a> <<a href="http://learnerweb.org/" target="_blank">http://learnerweb.org/</a>> <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
. What would you like our guests to cover or explain in their<br>
descriptions<br>
of USA Learns and the Learner Web when we begin the discussion on<br>
November<br>
17th and 18th?<br>
<br>
. Do you want to know how USA Learns and the Learner Web became<br>
federally-funded projects, what needs or research base they grew from,<br>
or<br>
other things about their history and development?<br>
<br>
. Do you want to know how they differ from other online adult basic<br>
education and English language learning models? If so, which kinds:<br>
online<br>
courses, online course management systems, wikis, portals, or something<br>
else? <br>
<br>
. If you are thinking about using either USA Learns or the Learner Web<br>
with<br>
your students, what is the situation you are hoping it will address?<br>
What<br>
group(s) of students, at what level(s) with what needs? What questions<br>
do<br>
you have about the model's usefulness for that situation?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Think about why you have subscribed to the Special Topics discussion<br>
forum<br>
(or stayed subscribed) for this discussion, what you want to get from<br>
it.<br>
Frame a question or questions that will help our guests address your<br>
interest or need. You can send your questions by just replying to this<br>
message or by emailing them directly to me at <a href="mailto:djrosen@theworld.com">djrosen@theworld.com</a>. I<br>
will<br>
share the questions with our guests before the discussion begins, and<br>
the<br>
questions will be posted on or after November 17th. Of course more<br>
questions, observations, and dialogue will be welcome during the week of<br>
the<br>
discussion.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Finally, it's not too late for your colleagues to join this discussion.<br>
To<br>
subscribe to the discussion, one can go to: <br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics</a><br>
<br>
One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one can stay<br>
subscribed for the next discussion.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
David J. Rosen<br>
<br>
Special Topics Discussion Moderator<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com">DJRosen@theworld.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Oct 29, 2008, at 9:38 PM, David Rosen wrote:<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Special Topics Discussion Colleagues,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On November 17th we will begin a discussion of USA Learns and of <br>
<br>
the Learner Web. You will find the description for this discussion<br>
below. <br>
<br>
Judging by the number of new subscribers, this is a high-interest topic!<br>
<br>
Now is the time to think about why you have subscribed: <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
What questions would you like to ask our guests? <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Although your questions will not be posted until the discussion begins, <br>
<br>
I would like to share them with our guests in advance. Of course, <br>
<br>
questions, comments, and dialogue, will also be welcome during the <br>
<br>
discussion.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
David J. Rosen<br>
<br>
Special Topics Discussion Moderator<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:djrosen@theworld.com">djrosen@theworld.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
----<br>
----------------<br>
<br>
New Designs in Online and Distance Learning is a National Institute<br>
<br>
for Literacy Special Topics discussion that will be held from<br>
<br>
November 17th through November 21st, 2008. It will focus on two new<br>
<br>
adult education models: a national learning portal for English<br>
<br>
language learning at a distance, called USA Learns, and a web-based<br>
<br>
and telephone-based learning support system, called the Learner Web,<br>
<br>
for ABE, ASE and ELL students enrolled in classes to supplement their<br>
<br>
learning, as well as for those who study on their own. We have four<br>
<br>
distinguished guests, researchers as well as product developers, who<br>
<br>
will describe these two models and answer questions.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
For USA Learns, our guests are John Fleischman and Dr. Jerome (Jere)<br>
<br>
Johnston. For the Learner Web our guests are Dr. Stephen Reder and<br>
<br>
Dr. Clare Strawn. You will find more information about them below.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Please forward this announcement to your colleagues who may be<br>
<br>
interested in subscribing!<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
To subscribe to the discussion, one can go to:<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics" target="_blank">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
One can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or one can<br>
<br>
stay subscribed for the next discussion.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Description of the models<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The Learner Web is a learning support system providing structure and<br>
<br>
resources for adults who want to accomplish specific learning<br>
<br>
objectives. A learner can access the system through the Internet. In<br>
<br>
addition to on-line resources, the Learner Web integrates support<br>
<br>
services from existing local education programs, community based<br>
<br>
organizations, tutors, and telephone helpers. The Learner Web<br>
<br>
consists of a Web-based software system that is implemented<br>
<br>
regionally. The System is organized around Learning Plans. A Learning<br>
<br>
Plan is a set of steps structured around achieving an identified<br>
<br>
goal. For example, if the goal is to get a GED, the steps might<br>
<br>
include finding out more about the tests, identifying what skills one<br>
<br>
needs to brush up on, learning new skills and knowledge, taking<br>
<br>
practice tests, etc. Each step is matched with online and community<br>
<br>
based resources and a workspace where learners can take assessments<br>
<br>
or save their work in an e-portfolio. The learner creates a personal<br>
<br>
profile, may take a short reading assessment and interest inventory,<br>
<br>
chooses a goal from the available list and follows the Learning Plan<br>
<br>
independently or with a tutor or a teacher. The Learning Plan is<br>
<br>
dynamically matched by the software to both the learner profile and<br>
<br>
educational resources. The learner's progress is saved and can be<br>
<br>
returned to at any time via the internet. Learners can choose to<br>
<br>
share their workspace with a tutor or teacher.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The Learner Web has begun the second year of a three-year<br>
<br>
demonstration project in seven demonstration regions across the country.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
U.S.A. Learns is a free Web site designed for adult learners with<br>
<br>
limited English language skills. Instructional content focuses on<br>
<br>
the language and literacy skills that adults need for everyday<br>
<br>
survival. While a broad range of adults can use U.S.A. Learns, it<br>
<br>
has been developed primarily for immigrants who cannot attend<br>
<br>
traditional classroom programs because of difficulty with schedules,<br>
<br>
transportation, or other barriers. The site includes more than 400<br>
<br>
hours of instruction and offers an extensive array of video, audio<br>
<br>
and richly illustrated graphics and images. The site layout was<br>
<br>
created with the inexperienced Web user in mind, and extensive built-<br>
<br>
in help features are available. U.S.A. Learns can be used<br>
<br>
independently, but it can also be used in association with a teacher<br>
<br>
or tutor via an online management system.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Background on Discussion Guests<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
John Fleischman<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
With more than 25 years of experience in adult education as a<br>
<br>
teacher, administrator and project director, John Fleischman is<br>
<br>
currently responsible for information and educational technology<br>
<br>
operations at the Sacramento County Office of Education. John<br>
<br>
possesses an extensive background with creating and implementing<br>
<br>
instructional and informational media for use in a variety of<br>
<br>
educational environments. His present area of focus is on building<br>
<br>
Web-based solutions for education, including data management systems<br>
<br>
and comprehensive online learning resources. Working at the state<br>
<br>
and national level, he provides oversight for a range of technology<br>
<br>
initiatives including the Outreach and Technology Assistance Network<br>
<br>
(<a href="http://www.otan.us" target="_blank">www.otan.us</a> <<a href="http://www.otan.us/" target="_blank">http://www.otan.us/</a>> ) and Strengthening Programs Through<br>
Technology<br>
<br>
(<a href="http://www.adultedonline.org" target="_blank">www.adultedonline.org</a> <<a href="http://www.adultedonline.org/" target="_blank">http://www.adultedonline.org/</a>> ). John is the<br>
author<br>
of numerous publications<br>
<br>
and is frequently requested as a presenter at both state and national<br>
<br>
conferences.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Jerome (Jere) Johnston is Research Professor at the University of<br>
<br>
Michigan's Institute for Social Research. For 40 years he has been<br>
<br>
studying ways that technology shapes what people learn. In recent<br>
<br>
years Dr. Johnston has been exploring innovative ways to use<br>
<br>
technology in adult literacy. He directs the Project IDEAL Support<br>
<br>
Center, supporting 25 states in their efforts to build distance<br>
<br>
learning programs for adult learners. The Center provides technical<br>
<br>
assistance to states in the areas of training, research, and policy<br>
<br>
development (projectideal.org <<a href="http://projectideal.org/" target="_blank">http://projectideal.org/</a>> ).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Stephen Reder is University Professor and Chair of the Department of<br>
<br>
Applied Linguistics at Portland State University. His research and<br>
<br>
teaching interests focus on adult education and the processes of<br>
<br>
literacy and language development during adulthood. Dr. Reder has<br>
<br>
served as the Principal Investigator for a number of major projects<br>
<br>
in adult education. Two recent projects, the Longitudinal Study of<br>
<br>
Adult Learning and the National Labsite for Adult ESOL, examine the<br>
<br>
ways adults acquire new literacy and language abilities and the roles<br>
<br>
which adult education programs and policies play in supporting that<br>
<br>
development. The results of this research have led to the<br>
<br>
development of the Learner Web, an innovative online adult learning<br>
<br>
support system. Professor Reder is the author of numerous<br>
<br>
publications about his research and its implications for adult<br>
<br>
education and adult literacy and language development. He has<br>
<br>
recently completed co-editing a volume with John Bynner, Tracking<br>
<br>
Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Findings from Longitudinal<br>
<br>
Research. A second book is in progress, Dropping Out and Moving On:<br>
<br>
Life, Literacy and Development among High School Dropouts. Dr. Reder<br>
<br>
actively works with networks of adult education researchers,<br>
<br>
practitioners and policymakers at the state, regional and national<br>
<br>
levels.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Clare Strawn is Assistant Professor at Portland State University,<br>
<br>
Portland, Oregon, and has been an analyst on the Longitudinal Study<br>
<br>
of Adult Learning. She is interested in patterns of program<br>
<br>
participation, the intersection of learning and community<br>
<br>
development, social capital influences on learning strategies, and<br>
<br>
technology. She has been a co-developer, with Steve Reder of the<br>
<br>
Learner Web and has been actively involved in the demonstration project.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
David J. Rosen<br>
<br>
Special Topics Discussion Moderator<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:DJRosen@theworld.com">DJRosen@theworld.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-------------------------------<br>
<br>
National Institute for Literacy<br>
<br>
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To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to<br>
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Email delivered to <a href="mailto:djrosen1@gmail.com">djrosen1@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-------------------------------<br>
National Institute for Literacy<br>
Special Topics mailing list<br>
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Email delivered to <a href="mailto:katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com">katherine.gotthardt@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt<br>
<a href="http://www.LuxuriousChoices.net" target="_blank">www.LuxuriousChoices.net</a><br>
<br>
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</tt></pre>
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