Hi Martin, 
We use conference calling and are attempting to get SKYPE working. 
emma

Emma Bourassa
English as a Second or Additional Language/ Teaching English as a Second Language Instructor
ESL Department
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road. P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5N3
(250) 371-5895
fax 371-5514
ebourassa at tru.ca


>>> 

From: 	Martin Senger <MSenger at GECAC.org>
To:	The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>
Date: 	18/11/2008 7:47 pm
Subject: 	[ProfessionalDevelopment 2668] Re:[ProfessionalDevelopment2639]Professional Development Challenge?

Pax et bonum David! (peace & goodness)
 
I am currently a co-facilitator of the NW PA Adult ESL Network. We meet
monthly, representing every agency that offers adult ESL in NW PA.
However, several of our members are hours away by car, and even in good
weather (something our area is NOT known for), it can be difficult to
attend meetings face-to-face. We have been looking for an alternative
for some time, and so I would be very interested in a national learning
community to explore other formats. I am also a co-chair for the ESL
Division of PAACE, the Pa. Association for Adult Continuing Education, a
statewide organization.
 
I firmly believe that there is a large and growing disconnect between
the new, younger, tech-savvy generation teachers and the previous
generation. I think the longer we wait to try to find new formats, the
harder it will become to integrate all the teachers into it.
 
Martin E. Senger
Adult ESL / Civics Teacher,
G.E.C.A.C. / The R. Banjamin Wiley Learning Center
Erie, Pa.
ESL Co-Director,
Pa. Assoc. for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE)
-----Original Message-----
From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov 
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of David J.
Rosen
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:56 PM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2658]
Re:[ProfessionalDevelopment2639]Professional Development Challenge?
 
Hello Michael,
 
Thanks for your great post. I wholeheartedly agree with the direction
you are suggesting.
 
Local PD adult ed learning communities and program-based professional
development efforts can now use (usually free) web-based tools to
quickly organize or structure their professional development to meet
their learning community needs. This is one of the most promising and
exciting ways in which to enhance adult ed professional development and,
if organized well, one that can lead to program development too. It
doesn't require new funding, but does require  passion, seriousness of
purpose and, of course, its members' time.
 
National online learning communities are also an exciting concept. They
can use tools such as OfficeZilla, Community Zero, Google Groups, wikis,
and others, and content resources such as the NIFL discussion lists (and
their archives), NIFL collections, the ALE Wiki, the NCSALL Web Site,
and others. These tools make organizing these grioups easy.
 
I wonder if there is a group of subscribers to this discussion list who
might like to form a small national learning community to explore
something in depth, what some might call an online study circle. It
would require that someone step forward to be a convenor, and that there
were half a dozen or so people who cared deeply about learning about the
topic. The National Issues Forum or the Study Circle Resource Center (if
they still exist) have developed proven models for how to do this well
face-to-face. Their models could be adapted easily to an online learning
community. NCSALL developed face-to-face study circles on Persistence,
and Health Literacy, perhaps on other topics. Perhaps these have been --
or could be -- adapted to an online PD study circle. If a group of
subscribers to this list formed an online PD study cirlce, the content
might be: Learning Communities, Program-based Professional Development,
Online Professional Development, or something else they cared about
learning.
 
I am part of an adult ed professional development learning community
called the Second Life Adult Professional Development Explorers (SLAPDE)
group. It's nearly 20 people from around the world who want to learn and
think about how to use Second Life for adult learning Professional
Development. It needs a leader and some focus, but now and then it gets
fired up and we meet and explore things on Second Life. We have a wiki
and a Google group. I would describe us as (a fledgling) online learning
community. Let me know if you are interested in joining.
 
Anyone else have examples of online learning communities in adult ed? Or
face-to-face learning communities? I, for one, would really like to
learn about these if they exist. Maybe others would, too.
 
David J. Rosen
djrosen at theworld.com 
	----- Original Message ----- 
	From: Michael Tate <mailto:mtate at sbctc.edu>  
	To: The Adult Literacy Professional D evelopment Discussion List
<mailto:professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>   to 
	Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:15 PM
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2654] Re:
[ProfessionalDevelopment2639]Professional Development Challenge?
	 
	Jon and Colleagues:  I've been thinking that learning
communities may be a solution to the PD problem.  I doubt that there
will ever be sufficient funding for PD, and if there were, that the
training would always be in sync with the needs of teachers.   My
background in sustainable development leads me to the notion that PD
needs to be guided by a local more knowledgeable teacher around an issue
that all the teachers in the group are interested in and value enough
that they will come without payment.  Technology allows for a learning
community to be made up of members at a distance, and I think the
special topics that are announced on this listserv are examples of
"proto-learning communities".  
	 
	Michael Tate
	 
	From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov 
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Jon Engel
	Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:57 AM
	To: 'The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion
List'
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2645] Re: [Professional
Development2639]Professional Development Challenge?
	 
	From a local adult education program administrator in a state
that does almost nothing to support the adult education enterprise, I
would have to agree with Dan in regard to adequate resources.  PD
becomes a difficult budget variable when dealing with a part time
workforce.  Teachers need to be paid for their commitment to PD
activities, but if they really get involved with PD, it becomes a cost
that is unsupportable at this time-at least in Texas.
	 
	Jon Engel
	Adult Education Director
	Community Action Inc.
	PO Box 748
	San Marcos, TX 78666
	Voice  (512)392-1161 ext. 334
	Fax  (512)396-4255
	Email  jengel at communityaction.com 
	Web www.communityaction.com 
	
________________________________

	From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov 
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Dan
	Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 9:57 PM
	To: 'The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion
List'
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2639] Re: [Professional
Development 2639]Professional Development Challenge?
	 
	Adequate resources to  develop and deliver meaningful PD in a
time of great uncertainty and limited budgets.  Resources include time,
money, and staffing and  administrators  up and down the line that value
true professional development as a means to improve services to
students.  This goes along with the lack of trust in themselves and
trust in their students on the part of many teachers and then to rely on
teacher centered instruction and adherence to the mantra  that
expectations in and of themselves is enough to motivate students to
achieve.  
	 
	Dan Wann 
	Two Leaves Consulting, LLC 
	Indianapolis, IN 
	From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov 
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Kathryn
Land
	Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:29 PM
	To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov 
	Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2639] Professional Development
Challenge?
	 
	What do you feel is the biggest professional development
challenge for adult educators in the next 5-10 years?
	 
	I would be interested in any opinions or thoughts on the top
issues we will face.
	 
	Thanks,
	Kathryn 
	
________________________________

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