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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Greetings, Holly. Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.... For those that I can't answer, I'm sure some of my colleagues will chime-in.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">You ask how personal experience in online learning was tapped as we explored models for online learning. Most of the development team have some experience in taking online courses and all have experience in developing online content. In my shop (Sacramento County Office of Education) we have used a variety of learning management systems including WebCT, Blackboard and Moodle. And most all of us are seasoned users of various other Internet-based synchronous and asynchronous technologies. All of these technologies were considered as we thought about the design for U.S.A. Learns. The development team felt that the most important criteria was keeping things simple for users... an intuitive interface, clear menu structures, flexibility with accessing course content, context-based help, and "clean" screen
designs. We looked at dozens of the commercial and open source learning management systems but none had what we believed was the right look, feel, and set of tools. For these reasons we decided to develop our own customized system to deliver the content. </font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">You also asked about possible use of social networking, avatars, or simple content authoring. The larger vision for U.S.A. Learns is to develop a true adult education portal. Given the reality of time and financial constraints, we have developed a comprehensive ESL online curriculum that is coupled with a very simple management system. My vision of a larger system (a true portal) would include communication and collaboration tools, a variety of structured course content, a learning object repository, personalization and customization of content, teacher content authoring capabilities, etc. </font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Please let me know if you'd me to elaborate on any of the above.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">John</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;"><b><a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a> on Sunday, November 02, 2008 at 9:06 AM -0800 wrote:</b></font></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+2" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:17pt;color:#000000;">Hello David, all, </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+2" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:17pt;color:#000000;">Bring on the guilt! I'm very intrigued by The Learner Web and USA Learns projects (especially USA Learns).  I've just made time to read through FAQs and explore the Learner Web site.  </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+2" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:17pt;color:#000000;">Concerns I have stem primarily from direct learner support (effectiveness/meaningful learning/encouragement) and funding.</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+2" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:17pt;color:#000000;">I am a hands-on learner, and feel I need to explore the site as a learner would before I can formulate more questions.  Now, I'm a bit confused.  </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+2" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:17pt;color:#000000;">As an online learner (I've completed many courses through many online mediums -- WebCT, D2L, Yahoo groups, Moodle, more -- and am presently completing a master's online).  Through these experiences, and as a facilitator for online classes of my own planning, I know that some courses can feel like "going through the motions" (and satisfying required 'evidence' of participation in educational opportunities) and yet not really propel one to meaningful learning; others can be incredible life-changing experiences.  Except for a few cases, it is also my belief that blended/hybrid models engage and promote retention, motivation, meaningful learning MUCH more than 'solo' pure online efforts. </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">• Do you want to know how <i>USA Learns</i> and the <i>Learner Web</i> became federally-funded projects, what needs or research base they grew from, or other things about their history and development?</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Definitely, yes. I'm interested in knowing whether the developers' personal experience in online learning was tapped as models were explored</b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Have all of the developers themselves been online learners -- synchronous, asynchronous, team/group projects or solo, self-paced or timelined, etc.?</b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="padding-left:12px;text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">• 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? </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>a comparison chart would be useful for reflection.  But every online learning adventure I've been on has been different.  There are SO many 'little things' that affect positive outcomes.  </b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>I'm an advocate for Moodles, or other platforms that allow photos (or other avatars of choice) so that each communication with another person 'feels' more personal.  Will either USA Learns or the Learner Web include a feature like this?</b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Will social networking components be built into either USA Learns or Learner Web?</b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="padding-left:12px;text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">• If you are thinking about using either <i>USA Learns</i> or the <i>Learner Web </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?</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>I use WiZiQ (interactive whiteboards/web-based classrooms) and Moodles.  In what ways will these programs offer the same options, in which ways more options, in which ways less?  Presently, I'm facilitating private tutoring -- Basic Literacy, Pronunciation, Citizenship, Writing, Reading comprehension, Listening and Speaking, Idioms, "USA culture and history", using Drama in ESOL, GRE prep, TOEFL prep, business English -- a wide range!  </b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>I'll be actively following this discussion.  </b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>As always, thank YOU, David, for all your efforts and contributions,</b></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Holly</b></font></span></div>
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