<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">David, </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Excellent point about importing</font><font size=2 face="Arial">
USA Learns and The Learner Web</font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"> into
closed systems such as prisons. There are numerous technical and political
barriers, but none are insurmountable. The Federal Prison System (FPS)
presently downloads its law library updates from an outside vender. Once
a month, FPS downloads new case law, etc. and distributes the new inventory
via an internal network, to all prisons in the system (even to lock down
units like segregation and protective custody). Thus, at least in FPS,
the infrastructure is there. Of course, student records could not be shared
externally while the learner was incarcerated (for security reasons, not
technical), but could be upon release. Transference of electronic records
is a major ReEntry goal of FPS anyway.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I no longer work for FPS, but would
be happy to join up with others to approach the FPS folks about this very
interesting idea. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Thank you, David, for imagining this
for us...</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Bill Muth</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"David J. Rosen"
<DJRosen@theworld.com></b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">11/18/2008 07:22 PM</font>
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<div align=center><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to<br>
specialtopics@nifl.gov</font></div></table>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><specialtopics@nifl.gov></font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[SpecialTopics 1135] Welcome to those
who have recently joined the discussion</font></table>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Special Topics Colleagues, </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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 </font><a href=http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/date.html><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/date.html</u></font></a>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">We welcome your questions and comments on
both the Learner Web (LW) and USA Learns (USAL).</font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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>
<br><a href=http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/000930.html><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2008/000930.html</u></font></a>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">for a description of the Second Chance Act.)</font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">David J. Rosen</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Special Topics Discussion Moderator</font>
<br><a href=mailto:djrosen@theworld.com><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>djrosen@theworld.com</u></font></a>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
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