I want to echo Alex's thanks and welcome all list readers to this discussion.
Please jump right in with your comments or questions.

I will address the topic of students entering an online system.  The adult
learners who enter our Delaware online programs are assessed for their academic
level using the TABE, SelectABLE, and ABLE-3 tests.  The results of these tests
determine whether someone is a candidate for one of our three programs.  These
include ABE-At-A-Distance (ABEAAD), GED, and Diploma-At-A-Distance (DAAD -
receive a high school diploma).  All students new to our online programs must
enroll in a course on computer literacy unless they have received a high school
credit for this.  These courses last ten weeks for DAAD students and five weeks
for ABEAAD students.  Our GED students enter a self-contained online system.  We
use the one from McGraw-Hill Contemporary.

We do not use any sort of computer skills assessment prior to enrollment in a
program.  Do others use this?  If so, does it seem to screen out most of those
who are unprepared to work in an online environment?

David Collings

-----Original Message-----
From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf
Of Alex Quinn
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:53 AM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Technology] Welcome David and Alex

Thanks for the introduction Mariann.  Over the course of the next few days we'd
like to generate a discussion about the uses of media and emerging technologies
in adult education.  We thought a good starting point would be to look at what's
being used now.

We received the following question in advance:

"I am interested in learning about the different programs/curriculums used for
distance learning for GED students.  Who are the best students to use them?
What kind of instruction is needed with these programs?"

An excellent resource to answer this question is Project IDEAL
(http://www.projectideal.org).  Project IDEAL has been working with several
states over the last few years to help them develop effective distance
education programs for adult learners.   One of the many publications
available on their website is the "Handbook of Distance Education for Adult
Learners."  There is a good discussion in the handbook about the skills required
for a student to succeed in a distance learning program.  Some of the
characteristics they mention are the ability to work independently, familiarity
and level of comfort with the technical tools required, well organized, and
self-motivated.  Most of all, the material should be matched academically to the
student's ability.

There is another good resource on the Project IDEAL website, a Working Paper,
"Exploring Distance Education Curricula for Adult Learners." This paper gives a
nice overview of the more commonly used distance education curriculums.

What have other's experiences been working with GED distance education.
What has worked for you?

Alex Quinn 


On 2/28/06 9:53 AM, "Mariann Fedele" <mariannf at lacnyc.org> wrote:


> 

> Hello technology list colleagues,

> 

> I would like to welcome David Collings and Alex Quinn to the NIFL 

> technology and Literacy Discussion list as our guest moderators to 

> lead a discussion on current and emerging uses of media in adult basic 

> education instruction in the classroom and at a distance.

> They will be leading the discussion beginning today and through this 

> Friday, March 3rd.

> 

> David Collings is the Technology Coordinator for the Adult and  

> Community Education Network in Delaware - the unit responsible  for 

> support of adult education teachers, learners, and  administrators 

> throughout the state.  He is also Chair of the Adult  Literacy and 

> Technology Network - a national organization which  promotes the use of

instructional technology.

> 

> David has worked in adult education for eighteen years and has  

> presented on distance learning and technology at national conferences 

> in each of the past ten years.  These include  conferences of the 

> American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the 

> Commission on Adult Basic Education, the Correctional Education 

> Association, and the Adult Literacy and Technology Network.  Prior to 

> his role with Delaware adult  education, David was Project Manager for 

> PBS LiteracyLink, a partnership which developed instructional content

comprised of video, print, and Web components.

> 

> Alex Quinn is the Executive Director of the Adult Literacy Media 

> Alliance (ALMA), a project of Education Development Center.  ALMA 

> produces multimedia curricula on basic reading, writing, and math 

> skills, as well theme-based curricula on topics such as health 

> literacy, financial literacy, and family literacy.  ALMA is the 

> producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series, TV411, seen on 

> public television and cable stations around the country, and an 

> extensive web site for adult learners and their instructors, www.tv411.org.

> 

> Alex is the principal investigator for a National Science Foundation 

> project - Tune In To Math - involving the production of television, 

> print, and web materials on basic math topics as well as extensive 

> distribution and outreach collaboration with public televisions 

> stations.  Alex has led several multimedia projects at ALMA including:  

> development of a DVD-based financial education curriculum, in English 

> and Spanish, produced in partnership with Bank of America;  Health 

> Smarts While You Wait, a multimedia health literacy curriculum 

> designed to be delivered in hospital and clinic waiting areas; and, as  

> part of the American Film Institute's Enhanced TV Workshop, an 

> interactive television prototype on math basics designed for distribution on

advanced cable television platforms.

> 

> Welcome Alex and David and thank you for joining us!

> 

> Regards,

> Mariann

> 

> 

> 

> Mariann Fedele

> Coordinator of Professional Development, Literacy Assistance Center 

> Moderator, NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> 32 Broadway 10th Floor

> New York, New York 10004

> 212-803-3325

> mariannf at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Technology and Literacy mailing list

> Technology at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology


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