Hello all,
The below message is re-posted from the NIFL Professional development list.
Regards,
Mariann


>X-Original-To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov

>Delivered-To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov

>From: "Marie Cora" <marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com>

>To: "'The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List'"

>	<professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>

>Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 10:10:07 -0500



>Hi everyone,

>

>There's a similar program to Skype called Gizmo

>(http://www.gizmoproject.com/).  They each have a couple of different

>options that make them more or less compatible with your needs.  For

>example, you can only have 5 people join a Skype conference call (unless

>this has changed), but many more can join a Gizmo call.  On the other

>hand, I really like the text feature that goes along with Skype - Gizmo

>does not have this feature (unless this has also changed recently, which

>it may have).

>

>marie cora

>marie at hotspurpartners.com

>

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: Yeager, James M. [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov]

>On Behalf Of Yeager, James M.

>Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 7:40 PM

>To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List

>Subject: RE: [ProfessionalDevelopment] Skype and teacher PD

>

>

>Dear all,

>

>I have never used it in an educational setting, but have considered it

>in the past.  It is an excellent program and is very easy to use.  If

>you have used Instant messenging programs like AOL IM and MSN Messenger,

>you should not have a problem with this program.  I speak with my

>brother in Montana all the time and the lag time is less than a second.

>I even think the quality can be better than some cell phone providers.

>As the distance increases, the quality suffers, but my only experience

>with bad quality was making Skype calls to my brother while he was in

>Iraq.  If the communication is within the states, I doubt there would be

>problems.  And best of all--TOTALLY FREE!!.

>

>www.skype.com

>

>James Yeager

>

>

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of jataylor

>Sent: Thu 3/2/2006 11:03 AM

>To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov

>Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] Skype and teacher PD

> 

>Hi all!

>Please see Jennifer Rafferty's message to the Technology List below. Do

>any of 

>you use Skype or other free online means of voice and video conferencing

>with 

>teachers? If so, how's it working for you? It seems this would be an

>excellent 

>means for small groups of teachers, mentor projects, or teacher networks

>to 

>stay connected with comparatively little expense. According to David

>Collings' 

>message below, the user would require a headset (needed for good quality

>

>sound), a Webcam (if using the video component), a computer, and

>high-speed 

>Internet.

>

>Thanks, Jackie Taylor

>

>>===== Original Message From Jennifer Rafferty

><Jennifer.Rafferty at umb.edu> 

>=====

>Hi, I'm Jennifer Rafferty from the MA ABE DL Project.  In Massachusetts

>we

>have played around with Skype and Gizmo Project in a professional

>setting.

>Notice my choice of words, "played".  Gizmo Project allows a larger of

>number people to participate in a conference call, so we have had up to

>five

>participants from our Distance Learning Advisory Board using the

>software on

>occasion. The purpose of our calls were really just to test the waters

>and

>see if it is a viable option instead of picking up the phone.  It seemed

>that the one participant who was on a dial-up connection had the hardest

>time hearing and being heard when we did our test runs.  We did not use

>the

>videoconference feature at that time so I cannot speak to that.

>I use Gizmo Project on a weekly basis with one of my dl teachers who

>loves

>new technologies as much as I do.    I must say I have seen a bit of a

>drop

>in my monthly phone bill charges as well!  I know that this teacher who

>communicates weekly with me via Skype and Gizmo also uses Internet

>telephony

>with her learners.  She has even used Yahoo messenger to teach math with

>the

>whiteboard that is included in the software program.

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]On

>Behalf Of Lobaccaro Gina (DOC)

>Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 2:41 PM

>To: david at collings.com; The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

>Subject: Re: [Technology] Welcome David and Alex

>

>

>David,

>I use Skype regularly to talk to my brother in law in Hungary and other

>friends all over the world.  I would love the experience of using it in

>a

>professional setting.  I would like to be involved in a Skype video

>conference....

>

>Gina

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]On

>Behalf Of David Collings

>Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 1:30 PM

>To: 'The Technology and Literacy Discussion List'

>Subject: Re: [Technology] Welcome David and Alex

>

>

>Carla, it can certainly seem like a daunting task to put the pieces

>together

>for

>a multi-faceted project like distance learning.  If you have found a

>company

>with experience that you trust to assess your needs, you should be able

>to

>avoid

>some of the learning curve.  Hopefully, our current discussion can take

>away

>part of your pain as well.  Let us know about any issues that apply to

>your

>teachers, learners, and budget.  There are many fine folks on this list

>who

>can

>help with the details.

>

>Videoconferencing is a more specific topic.  The hardware and software

>have

>become much cheaper and easier to use in the past few years.  Most of

>the

>new

>devices communicate over a high-speed Internet connection.  It's

>possible to

>connect with a dial-up user, but the video quality that I have seen is

>so

>bad

>that you won't want to try it.

>

>Some of the most popular videoconferencing devices are made by Polycom

>(polycom.com).  I have not used these, but have seen demonstrations by

>the

>folks

>in California adult education.  ** Marian Thacher, are you out there? **

>The

>Polycom ViaVideo desktop model is in the $500 to $600 range per unit.

>Educational pricing should bring it down a bit more.  The quality of

>these

>units

>is good enough for most educational purposes.

>

>If this is beyond your budget, you might want to try one of the free

>conferencing services.  I know that several of the folks on this list

>have

>used

>Skype (skype.com).  They offer free voice and video calls over an

>Internet

>connection for anyone using their software (a free download).  You

>provide a

>headset (needed for good quality sound), a Webcam, a computer, and

>high-speed

>Internet.

>

>Would anyone like to share a Skype videoconferencing experience?

>

>David C.

>

>________________________________

>

>	From: Carla Watson [mailto:watson.carla at gmail.com]

>	Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 10:33 AM

>	To: david at collings.com; The Technology and Literacy Discussion

>List

>	Subject: Re: [Technology] Welcome David and Alex

>

>

>	Just wanted to throw my name in the hat. This is fantastic

>information.

>We are just beginning to embark on distance education and are working

>with a

>company to meet our equipment needs. I am curious about how best to

>ensure

>that

>our equipment will serve our purposes. We are hoping to start video

>conferencing

>as well as distance learning. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

>

>	Carla Watson

>	Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, Inc

>	Newport, Vermont 05855

>

>

>	On 2/28/06, David Collings <david at collings.com > wrote:

>

>		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

><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 <http://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 <http://www.lacnyc.org/>

>		>

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

>		> National Institute for Literacy

>		> Technology and Literacy mailing list

>		> Technology at nifl.gov

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>please go

>to

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>

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

>		National Institute for Literacy

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>		Technology at nifl.gov

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>please go

>to

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

>

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

>		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

>

>

>

>	--

>	Carla S. Watson

>	Newport Learning Center Interim Site Manager/Special Projects

>Officer

>	Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, Inc.

>	802-334-2839

>

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator, 

>jataylor at utk.edu

>National Institute for Literacy http://www.nifl.gov/

>Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers

>http://www.aalpd.org/

>

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>




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