Good day, workplace literacy members,
 
Some of the NIFL moderators are trying out bundling the announcements
for upcoming discussions, and, since you have expressed that bundling
resources works well for you, and because there are so many
announcements of discussions taking place in the next two weeks, I am
bundling the following announcements.  The first section gives a general
overview of the discussions, and Part II includes all of the details.
Note that some announcements refer to the attachments to this e-mail and
some announcements include links to background materials. 
 
The first announced discussion about ESL and Workplace will surely be of
interest to many of you.  Remember that you can join a list for the
duration of a discussion and then unsubscribe once the discussion
concludes, if you want to. 
 
Donna
 
Donna Brian, Moderator
Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Center for Literacy Studies at The University of Tennessee
djgbrian at utk.edu

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

PART I:  Overview

 

 1) Topic: ESL and Workplace List Discussion  

Where Held: Adult English Language Learners List

When: April 16-20, 2007

To participate, subscribe: 

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Englishlanguage

List Moderator: Lynda Terrill, lterrill at cal.org 

 

2) Topic: Using Data for Program Improvement  

Where Held: Assessment Discussion List

When: April 16 - 20

Preparation: See attached Power Point

To participate, subscribe:  

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Assessment

List Moderator: Marie Cora, marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com 

 

3) Topic: Discussion on Hand-Held Devices in the Classroom 

Where Held: Technology & Literacy Discussion List

When: April 17-19

To participate, subscribe:  

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Technology

List Moderator: Mariann Fedele, MariannF at lacnyc.org 

 

4) Topic: Planning Health Literacy Awareness Events  

Where held: Health & Literacy Discussion List

When: April 23-27, 2007

To participate, subscribe: www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy

List Moderator: Julie McKinney, julie_mcKinney at worlded.org 

 

 

PART II:  THE DETAILS

 

1) Topic: ESL and Workplace List Discussion Where Held: Adult English
Language Learners List

When: April 16-20, 2007

To participate, subscribe: 

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Englishlanguage

List Moderator: Lynda Terrill, lterrill at cal.org 

 

Discussion Announcement

 

Dear subscribers,

I am happy to announce that next week, April 16-20, 2007 Miriam Burt and
Sharon McKay, my colleagues at CAELA, will facilitate a discussion on
issues related to adult ESL and workplace education. 

 

The goal of this focused discussion is to spark a sharing of ideas and
information among the group, especially between those many of you on the
list who have been involved in immigrant workplace education since the
early 1990's (or before) and those who are newer to Immigrant workplace
education. 

 

For more information and background resources for the discussion, please
see below.

 

Lynda Terrill

Adult English language discussion list, moderator lterrill at cal.org 

 

Background 

 

Although the terminology (e.g., VESL. workplace, workforce), venues, and
funding sources may change, the need for effective classes and programs
targeted to meet the needs of immigrant workers and their employers has
remained the same since the early 1980's.  As immigrants join the
workforce, especially in areas experiencing new and rapid growth in
immigrant population such as Georgia, Nebraska, South Carolina,
administrators, teachers, and employers are asking for help. At least
some of the answers can be found by searching the archives from earlier
workplace initiatives.

 

Possible questions to begin the discussion

*           What are some of the issues related to improving Immigrant

workers English language skills? 

*           What are some of the lessons learned from earlier workplace

initiatives? 

*           What are effective ways of planning, implementing, and

evaluating adult ESL workplace programs? 

*           How can one get workers, employers, and instructors all on
the

same page-so everyone knows what outcomes to expect from the class? 

*           What curricula, books, and other resources work well in

immigrant workplace classes? 

 

Background Reading

 

To set the stage for next week's discussion, please consider reading one
or more of the following short articles:

*           Issues in Improving Immigrant Workers' English Language
Skills 

http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/Workplaceissues.html 

*           English That Works: Preparing Adult English Language
Learners

for Success in the Workforce and Community            

http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/Englishwks.html 

*           What are factors to consider when planning for, setting up,
and

evaluating a workplace program for immigrant workers? (from Ask CAELA,

December, 2006)            http://www.cal.org/caela/ask_caela/ 

 

Facilitators

Miriam Burt has worked in the field of adult ESL instruction since 1975.

She has taught, trained teachers, written curricula, and directed
programs both in the United States and abroad. From 1990-1994, she was
the director of the Skills Enhancement Training Program (SET) of the
Food and Beverage Workers Union Local 32 & Employers Benefits Fund, a

U.S.-Department-of- Education-funded workplace-education program that
provided instruction in basic skills, GED, ESL, and communication skills
to cafeteria worker in Washington DC. She has provided technical
assistance to workplace ESL programs in several states including Texas,
where she was an advisory board member for Adult Bilingual Center
Institute, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide educational
services to dislocated workers in El Paso. She has also provided
training to trainers and training directors of the International
Laborers Organization. She is on the advisory board for the Project on
Employers, Immigrant Workers, Intermediaries and Skills Training, The
Center for Workforce Success, National Association of Manufacturers.

Her

publications on the immigrant workplace education include briefs (Issues
in Improving Immigrant Workers' English Language Skills <
http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/Workplaceissues.html> ,

 

Evaluating Workplace ESL Programs

<http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/Burt.html> , and
Assessing Workplace Performance Problems: A Checklist) <
http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/cheklst.html>  and
monographs (A Guide for Providers: Engaging Immigrant Seniors in
Community Service and Employment Programs <
http://www.seniorserviceamerica.org/news/cal_guide.html>  and Workplace
ESL Instruction: Interviews from the Field <
http://www.literacynet.org/eslwp/home.html> .) 

 

Sharon McKay has twenty years experience in adult ESL instruction with
the Arlington Education and Employment Program (REEP) in Arlington,
Virginia.  In addition to teaching general ESL, TOEFL prep, and family
literacy, Sharon worked as an ESL instructor and site coordinator in
workplace programs conducted in hotels, property management companies,
landscaping, hospital  and retirement centers. She wrote and
collaborated on multiple curricula and her TESOL Masters' paper is on
the topic of curriculum development for Workplace ESL. She contributed
this work under a national demonstration grant developed to connect
workers with ESL literacy instruction. Sharon is the co-author of the
workforce text with video series, English Works! (Addison Wesley).

 

=======================================================

 

 

 2) Topic: Using Data for Program Improvement Where Held: Assessment
Discussion List

When: April 16 - 20

Preparation: See attached Power Point

To participate, subscribe:  

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Assessment

List Moderator: Marie Cora, marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com Discussion
Announcement 

 

Dear Colleagues, 

 

I'm pleased to announce the following Panel Guest Discussion, which will
be held during the week of April 16 - 20.

 

Topic: Using Data for Program Improvement 

 

Guests will discuss the work they have done in using data to improve the
quality of adult literacy programming.  We will hear about the use of
data in small and large programs, as well as at the state and national
levels.  Panelists are interested in your questions and eager to hear
about your use of data, as well as share their own experiences, so
please ask questions and share your stories.  

 

Recommended preparations for this discussion 

 

Please use the following guiding questions to help you share how you use
data in your program (or classroom), or how you would like to:

*           Do you use data in your program?  What type?  How?  What
have

been the results? 

*           What information (data) would you like to track and why?  

*           What data would you like to learn how to use? 

 

Resources of interest:

Using Data Effectively by Donna Cornellier:  see attached Power Point
Presentation.

 

This PowerPoint outlines a basic framework for identifying, using, and
monitoring data; excellent guiding questions are provided as well as a
case study for practicing the application of the framework.

 

NRS Publications on data

 

http://www.nrsweb.org/pubs/ 

 

This site has a wealth of resources including the NRS Implementation
Guidelines; NRS Tips offering information on building data systems, and
setting goals and standards; and  Training Guides that provide practical
information and tools that can be used to build and use data systems

effectively.    

 

Learning to be an NRS Data Detective

 

http://www.nrsweb.org/reports/StateDataDetectives.aspx 

 

This training explores how an effective data detective: 

*           Understands the process and psychology of data collection; 

*           Examines data including assessment, goal setting, and
follow-up

data; 

*           Asks further questions of the data; and   

*         Makes changes in processes and policies to improve data

quality and program services. 

 

NRS State and Local Report Cards

 

http://www.nrsweb.org/reports/insights/report_cards.aspx 

 

Report cards can be a powerful and effective tool for accountability and
program improvement if properly used and implemented. There are many
types of report cards, but for the purposes of NRS, our focus is on
report cards that assess performance. Report cards that allow meaningful
evaluation have the following characteristics: 

 

*         Include outcome and other data, 

*         Provide a basis for evaluation of that data, and 

*         Present contextual data or interpretive information that aid

interpretation and promote understanding. 

 

Report cards can be used in several different ways to 

 

*         Evaluate program quality, 

*         Promote program improvement, and 

*         Inform and advocate for the program. 

 

Guest Participants: 

Toni Borge is the director of the Adult Education & Transitions Program
at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has a
master's degree in educational administration. Toni is a member of the
TESOL task force that is advising the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, Office of Citizenship, on redesigning the citizenship test
that is being piloted in 2007.  In May, Toni will present a TESOL
Virtual Seminar entitled "Assessment and Learning: Balancing Program
Performance and Instruction" in which she will discuss effective ways to
manage and balance instruction to meet state and national performance
standards.

 

Dr. Larry Condelli is a managing director of the Adult Education and
Literacy Program in the Education and Human Development Division at the
American Institutes for Research. His work includes research on adult
ESL students, accountability, and conducting professional development
and technical assistance for adult educators. He recently directed the
What Works Study for Adult ESL Literacy Students, the first large-scale
empirical study of the effectiveness of instructional practices for
adult ESL students, and is currently directing a study of the impact of
explicit literacy instruction on low-literate adult ESOL learners for
the U.S. Department of Education.  He is also the project director for
the National Reporting System and was instrumental in developing this
national accountability system for federally funded adult education and
literacy program. Dr. Condelli's other projects include development of a
performance-based reading assessment for low-literate adults for the
National Assessment of Adult Literacy, funded by the National Center for
Educational Statistics. He is a staff development and data consultant
for the states of Alabama, California, Georgia and Utah and provides
training and technical assistance to adult education staff in several
states. Dr. Condelli holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of
California.

 

Donna Cornellier is the Project Manager for the student level data
system in Massachusetts.  In this role, her responsibilities include
managing the System for Managing Accountability and Results Through
Technology (SMARTT) development team; designing NRS training materials,
and providing training and technical assistance to the local programs on
using NRS data for program improvement. Presentations included how
assessment data is tracked in the student level database and what
reports are available to help programs implement the NRS policies.

Formerly she was the Director of a local ABE program in Massachusetts.

She holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Management. 

 

Ajit Gopalakrishnan is an Education Consultant with the Connecticut
State Department of Education's Bureau of Early Childhood, Career and
Adult Education. He manages adult education projects in the areas of
statewide assessment, data management, program accountability, and
technology.

 

Rosemary I. Matt has recently been appointed to the newly developed
position of NRS Liaison for New York State.  In this role, her
responsibilities include NRS training, data management, and desk
monitoring of all New York State programs.  Prior to this position,
Rosemary has been in education throughout her career, first as a
secondary education mathematics teacher for fifteen years and then as
the director of the New York State staff development consortium in the
mid state.  

 

Karen Mundie has been an adult education professional for over thirty
years. She is the associate director of the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy
Council, a large community-based education organization (42 professional
staff members, 550 volunteers, and 2000 students). She is also the
director of the Southwest Professional Development Center, where she was
the lead trainer in the area of using data for decision-making for three
years.  Karen is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for
Adult and Continuing Education (PAACE) and was Pennsylvania's
Outstanding Adult Educator for 2005. She holds two masters' degrees from
the University of Virginia. 

 

Joanie Rethlake, native Texan, is the state director for adult education
for Texas LEARNS, the state office for adult education in Houston, Texas
and has responsibility for administering the state's adult education
program and directing the technical assistance and professional
development offered to adult education and family literacy programs
across Texas.  Formerly, she was the director of adult education at
Harris County Department of Education and past president of the Texas
Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE). 

 

Sandy Strunk is Program Director for Community Education at Lancaster
Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13. In this role, she provides leadership for
several educational programs including Adult Basic Education, the Adult
Education Southeast Professional Development Center, Early Reading
First, English as a Second Language, Family Literacy, Head Start, Organ
and Tissue Donation Awareness Education and Workforce Education. Sandy
has been an adult education practitioner for over twenty years. She is a
past president of the PA Association for Adult Continuing Education,
provided leadership to Pennsylvania's adult education program
improvement training system for six years (1997 - 2003) and continues to
provide leadership for Pennsylvania's family literacy program
improvement initiative (SEQUAL). She serves on the advisory board of the
Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy and is particularly
interested in educational interventions that focus on the family unit. 

Sandy has a B.S. in education from Lock Haven University and a M.Ed. in
Training and Development from Penn State University.

 

Luanne Teller is the Director of Massasoit Community College's Stoughton
ABE (ESOL) and Transitions to College Programs.  She was involved in
establishing and developing of both programs.  Prior to these positions,
she was the Coordinator of an Office Skills Job Training Program, which
provided employment skills training to empower women to transition off
of public assistance into full-time careers.  She holds a degree in
secondary education (French and Spanish).  She has served on a variety
of board and committees, as both a volunteer and elected official. 

She

is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Plymouth
County United Way.  She has extensive experience using research data and
communicating with a wide range of constituencies to develop effective
program plans, and to promote the commitment to continuous improvement.

 

Marie Cora

marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com

NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator 
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment

Coordinator, LINCS Assessment Special Collection 
http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/ 

 

=======================================================

 

 

 

3) Topic: Discussion on Hand-Held Devices in the Classroom Where Held:
Technology & Literacy Discussion List

When: April 17-19

To participate, subscribe:  

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Technology

List Moderator: Mariann Fedele, MariannF at lacnyc.org 

 

Discussion Announcement 

 

Dear Technology List Colleagues, 

 

This January the Tech list went through a process of identifying
discussion topics we would like to explore this year. Many of you had
requested a discussion on the use of cell phones, hand-held and
portabledevices (like Palm Pilots) in education settings. 

 

As such, I am very happy to announce that the Technology list will be
engaging in a special discussion on the use of hand-held and portable
devices in the classroom. Marilyn Williams, an instructor who
participated in a practitioner research project on the use of hand-helds
to support student learning will join the tech list to share her three

 

years of experience in integrating this technology in to her classroom.

 

 

Marilyn, will join the Tech list from April 17th through April 19th. 

More information will come in the days leading up to the discussion but

 

for now, please save the dates. 

 

Following is a brief introduction that Marilyn asked me to share with
you all: 

 

Bio: Hi there! My name is Marilyn Williams and I am a middle school
teacher in Eugene, Oregon. I've been involved with a number of research

 

projects through the University of Oregon and have enjoyed finding new

 

ways to incorporate technology into my classroom. Although I'm
definitely not a 'technie' I've been using handheld computers for the
last few years and have found them to be a fantastic way to boost
student involvement and learning. 

 

 

Discussion: As educators, we are always striving to better meet the
needs of all our students. In my inclusion language arts/social studies

 

classes, I have found that using handhelds helped to do just that. I was
so excited to see how this technology motivated my students as well

 

as allowed them be more successful in their reading and writing. I'm
looking forward to discussing this technology application with you. 

 

Regards, 

 

Mariann 

 

 

Mariann Fedele

Associate Director,

NYC Regional Adult Education Network

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

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

 

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

 

=======================================================

 

4) Topic: Planning Health Literacy Awareness Events Where held: Health &
Literacy Discussion List

When: April 23-27, 2007

To participate, subscribe: www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy

 

List Moderator: Julie McKinney, julie_mcKinney at worlded.org 

 

Guest: Helen Osborne, founder of Health Literacy Month and author of the
"Health Literacy Month Handbook: The Event Planning Guide for Health
Literacy Advocates"

 

Discussion Announcement

 

October is Health Literacy Month, a time when health literacy advocates
around the world promote the importance of making health information
understandable. This annual event actually started with a posting Helen
Osborne made to the Health & Literacy Discussion List in 1999.

 

Now is the time to start making your plans for Health Literacy Month
2007. Helen will join us for an informative discussion about how you can
help raise local awareness about health literacy this October.

 

Helen has recently completed the "Health Literacy Month Handbook: The
Event Planning Guide for Health Literacy Advocates" and will share some
of her expertise in this type of event planning including creating a
vision, building a team, running events, and measuring success. We hope
that this discussion will be a forum for health literacy advocates
everywhere to exchange ideas, share resources, and learn from one
another. 

 

About the Guest Speaker:

 

Recognized as an expert in health literacy, Helen Osborne M.Ed., OTR/L
helps health professionals communicate in ways patients and their
families can understand. She is president of her own business, Health
Literacy Consulting, based in Natick, Massachusetts. Helen is also the
founder of Health Literacy Month - a worldwide campaign to raise
awareness about the importance of understandable health information. 

 

Helen speaks, consults, and writes about health literacy. She is in her
eighth year as a columnist for the Boston Globe's On Call magazine,
writing about patient education and healthcare communication. In
addition to the new Health Literacy Month Handbook, Helen is also the
author of several other books including the award-winning Health
Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message
published by Jones & Bartlett. To learn more about Helen's work, please
visit the Health Literacy Consulting website at www.healthliteracy.com.

 

Recommended Reading:

 

Health Literacy Month Website

http://www.healthliteracy.com/hl_month.asp 

 

This website includes a searchable database of Health Literacy Month
events as well as a form to submit how your organization is
participating. The website has resources including a free downloadable
Health Literacy Month logo.  

 

In Other Words...It's Time to Get Involved in Health Literacy Month

 

http://www.healthliteracy.com/article.asp?PageID=3752 

 

Published as a column in "On Call Magazine", this article by Helen
Osborne outlines some basics of getting involved in Health Literacy
Month.

 

In Other Words...Why Health Literacy Matters

 

http://www.healthliteracy.com/article.asp?PageID=3791 

 

This article includes accounts from patients, providers and policy
makers of why we all need to address health literacy.

 

In Other Words...Measuring the Effectiveness of Health Literacy
Interventions

 

http://www.healthliteracy.com/article.asp?PageID=3753 

 

This article focuses on why it is important to measure the effectiveness
of your health communication efforts. 

 

 

We hope you can join us for this discussion! Please forward this
announcement to all your colleagues and friends interested in learning
more about awareness-raising events.

 

=======================================================

 

Keep up the good work.  Let me know when we can help.

 

NAEPDC

A Natural Resource For Adult Education State Directors and their Staff
Members Dr. Lennox L. McLendon, Executive Director lmclendon at naepdc.org 
www.naepdc.org 202.624.5250

202.624.1497 FAX

 

 

 

 

 

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