Colleagues,

New Designs in Online and Distance Learning is a National Institute  
for Literacy Special Topics discussion that will be held from  
November 17th through November 21st, 2008. It will focus on two new  
adult education models: a national learning portal for English  
language learning at a distance, called USA Learns, and a web-based  
and telephone-based learning support system, called the Learner Web,  
for ABE, ASE and ELL students enrolled in classes to supplement their  
learning, as well as for those who study on their own. We have four  
distinguished guests, researchers as well as product developers, who  
will describe these two models and answer questions.

For USA Learns, our guests are John Fleischman and Dr. Jerome (Jere)  
Johnston. For the Learner Web our guests are Dr. Stephen Reder and  
Dr. Clare Strawn. You will find more information about them below.

To subscribe to the discussion, go to:

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

You can unsubscribe later by going to the same web page or, if you
prefer, you can stay subscribed for the next discussion.

Please forward this announcement to your colleagues who may be
interested!

Description of the models

The Learner Web is a learning support system providing structure and  
resources for adults who want to accomplish specific learning  
objectives. A learner can access the system through the Internet. In  
addition to on-line resources, the Learner Web integrates support  
services from existing local education programs, community based  
organizations, tutors, and telephone helpers. The Learner Web  
consists of a Web-based software system that is implemented  
regionally. The System is organized around Learning Plans. A Learning  
Plan is a set of steps structured around achieving an identified  
goal. For example, if the goal is to get a GED, the steps might  
include finding out more about the tests, identifying what skills one  
needs to brush up on, learning new skills and knowledge, taking  
practice tests, etc. Each step is matched with online and community  
based resources and a workspace where learners can take assessments  
or save their work in an e-portfolio. The learner creates a personal  
profile, may take a short reading assessment and interest inventory,  
chooses a goal from the available list and follows the Learning Plan  
independently or with a tutor or a teacher. The Learning Plan is  
dynamically matched by the software to both the learner profile and  
educational resources. The learner’s progress is saved and can be  
returned to at any time via the internet. Learners can choose to  
share their workspace with a tutor or teacher.

The Learner Web has begun the second year of a three-year  
demonstration project in seven demonstration regions across the country.

U.S.A. Learns is a free Web site designed for adult learners with  
limited English language skills.  Instructional content focuses on  
the language and literacy skills that adults need for everyday  
survival.  While a broad range of adults can use U.S.A. Learns, it  
has been developed primarily for immigrants who cannot attend  
traditional classroom programs because of difficulty with schedules,  
transportation, or other barriers.  The site includes more than 400  
hours of instruction and offers an extensive array of video, audio  
and richly illustrated graphics and images.  The site layout was  
created with the inexperienced Web user in mind, and extensive built- 
in help features are available.  U.S.A. Learns can be used  
independently, but it can also be used in association with a teacher  
or tutor via an online management system.


Background on Discussion Guests

John Fleischman. With more than 25 years of experience in adult  
education as a teacher, administrator and project director, John  
Fleischman is currently responsible for information and educational  
technology operations at the Sacramento County Office of Education.   
John possesses an extensive background with creating and implementing  
instructional and informational media for use in a variety of  
educational environments.  His present area of focus is on building  
Web-based solutions for education, including data management systems  
and comprehensive online learning resources.  Working at the state  
and national level, he provides oversight for a range of technology  
initiatives including the Outreach and Technology Assistance Network  
(www.otan.us) and Strengthening Programs Through Technology  
(www.adultedonline.org).  John is the author of numerous publications  
and is frequently requested as a presenter at both state and national  
conferences.

Jerome (Jere) Johnston is Research Professor at the University of  
Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.  For 40 years he has been  
studying ways that technology shapes what people learn.  In recent  
years Dr. Johnston has been exploring innovative ways to use  
technology in adult literacy.  He directs the Project IDEAL Support  
Center, supporting 25 states in their efforts to build distance  
learning programs for adult learners.  The Center provides technical  
assistance to states in the areas of training, research, and policy  
development (projectideal.org).

Stephen Reder is University Professor and Chair of the Department of  
Applied Linguistics at Portland State University.  His research and  
teaching interests focus on adult education and the processes of  
literacy and language development during adulthood.  Dr. Reder has  
served as the Principal Investigator for a number of major projects  
in adult education. Two recent projects, the Longitudinal Study of  
Adult Learning and the National Labsite for Adult ESOL, examine the  
ways adults acquire new literacy and language abilities and the roles  
which adult education programs and policies play in supporting that  
development.  The results of this research have led to the  
development of the Learner Web, an innovative online adult learning  
support system.  Professor Reder is the author of numerous  
publications about his research and its implications for adult  
education and adult literacy and language development. He has  
recently completed co-editing a volume with John Bynner, Tracking  
Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Findings from Longitudinal  
Research.  A second book is in progress, Dropping Out and Moving On:  
Life, Literacy and Development among High School Dropouts. Dr. Reder  
actively works with networks of adult education researchers,  
practitioners and policymakers at the state, regional and national  
levels.

Clare Strawn is Assistant Professor at Portland State University,  
Portland, Oregon, and has been an analyst on the Longitudinal Study  
of Adult Learning. She is interested in patterns of program  
participation, the intersection of learning and community  
development, social capital influences on learning strategies, and  
technology. She has been a co-developer, with Steve Reder of the  
Learner Web and has been actively involved in the demonstration project

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
djrosen1 at gmail.com




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