Montana LINCS Update

Montana LINCS Update

1/18/10

Greetings from Montana LINCS

Problems with the links in the email?

Go to the Email Archives in the upper left-hand corner on the home page at http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/index.htm

1. MTLINCS Survey – Deadline Friday, 1/22/10

Click here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PW88B27 to access a brief, nine-question online survey regarding MTLINCS services. The survey will remain open until Friday, January 22. All responses are private. IP addresses are not tracked. All of the results along with responses to MTLINCS Musings will be shared.

2. WIA Reauthorization Community Conversations Summary to Be Posted within a Week

3. MABLE ConnectPro Meeting

Click here for more information.

http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/Calendar.htm

4. Distance Learning Research #7: Learning from the Field – Math, Science, ESL, and TECH Websites

Learning from the Field

1. MATH and SCIENCE: Here’s a terrific site with free videos for you math and science folks: Khan Academy at http://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy

The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere.

We have 1000+ videos on YouTube covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, chemistry, biology and finance which have been recorded by Salman Khan.

2. MATH: The Construction Math Toolbox http://www.rtc.edu/CCE/Resources/Products/MathToolBox/Default.aspx combines industry-required math lessons with supplemental academic and career guidance information. It was developed at Renton Technical College as a part of its Transition Math Project. The toolbox provides instructional tools and ideas, worksheets, additional web links, and other teaching aids that connect mathematical concepts in the context of construction. The material is applicable to ABE/GED and transition classes.

3. ESL: Super, upbeat site to practice listening skills! Go to http://www.eslvideo.com/ and click on Quizzes.

4. TECH TIPS: 24 “Techy” Tips for Not So “Techy” Teachers at http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ah72qvg2hjwz_19gzmxjdfk

Do any of you have any other websites you use that you feel might be of benefit to other Montana ABLE practitioners? If so, please share those links!

· Email: Click here to email MTLINCS. OR

· Blog: Click here to post on the DL Blog.

Communication

You may also want to click here to check out the article on e-School News: “Strong Communication Key to Online Learning”.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/10/06/strong-communication-key-to-online-learning/

5. Math

An interesting PowerPoint by Tom Mecham, the GED Chief Examiner for Massachusettes, entitled Retooling the GED Math Classroom for College Success was sent during the Transitions Discussion. Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/Retooling_GEDmath.ppt to check out his ideas even though they may be in relationship to the GED and the ACCUPLACER test. Is there any comparison to the COMPASS?

6. Math and Numeracy Discussion List

The Math & Numeracy Discussion List (NEW!)

PLEASE SIGN UP NOW!

On behalf of the National Institute for Literacy I’d like to extend an invitation to join the new Math and Numeracy Discussion List. The list is moderated by Brooke Denney from the Adult Education Program at Cowley College.

The purpose of this list is to provide an on-going professional development forum where adult educators, advocates, researchers, policy makers, adult education providers, and others can discuss mathematics and numeracy issues in adult basic education and GED programs. This list promotes the sharing of information, research, expertise, and resources on topics such as motivation and math, math skills for GED completion and transitions to post-secondary and workplace settings; common math and numeracy instructional issues; technology in math education; and current on-line numeracy or math classes being piloted in ABE/GED settings. The list will share information and resources on these and other related topics so that participants can increase their breadth and depth of understanding of adult numeracy and mathematics issues.

7. Reading: Assessment Strategies and Reading Profiles (ASRP) Discussions - First Discussion Begins on January 26

In July 2009, a World Education team that included John Strucker, Steve Quann, Sally Waldron, and Ros Davidson (and, yes, MTLINCS) completed extensive updates and revisions to the National Institute for Literacy’s popular Website, Assessment Strategies and Reading Profiles (ASRP). In addition to providing useful information and free resources on reading assessment and reading profiles, the site has a unique interactive feature that allows teachers to match their adult learners' test scores to research-based adult reading profiles and then to receive instructional suggestions based on the matches.

To publicize the newly-updated Website, World Education and the Institute will sponsor four special discussions (described below) on the Institute’s LINCS Discussion Lists. Each discussion will be led by one or more prominent researchers in that topic area who will be joined, in most cases, by practitioners with expertise in that area.

Below is the schedule for the four special ASRP discussions. To join any or all of the four special discussions, as well as the regular LINCS Discussion Lists, go to:
http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html

January 26, 2010
New Developments in both Individual and Large-Scale Adult Literacy Assessments
Guest-discussant: John Sabatini (ETS)
Moderator: Marie Cora
Discussion List: Assessment

March 22, 2010
Reading and Writing Skills of ABE Transition Learners
Guest discussants: Cynthia Zafft (World Education), Lauren Capatosto (Harvard Graduate School of Education, MA), and Sally Gabb (Bristol Community College, MA)
Moderator: Ellen Hewett
Discussion List: Transitions to Post-secondary Education

April 12, 2010
The Literacy Development of ESL Beginners: Observations and Analyses from the NCSALL ESL Laboratory Classrooms
Guest discussant: Kathy Harris (Portland State University, OR)
Moderator: Miriam Burt
Discussion List: Adult English Language Acquisition

June 21, 2010
Reading Patterns and Profiles of Adult Literacy Participants
Guest discussants: Daryl Mellard (Kansas University) and Daphne Greenberg (Georgia State University)
Moderator: Daphne Greenberg
Discussion List: Reading and Writing Skills

8. Transitions - NIFL Webcast - Achieving Student Success: Transitions to Post-secondary Education

Achieving Student Success:

Transitions to Post-secondary Education

January 20, 2010 @ 1:00 pm EST

Information and Registration

http://www.nifl.gov/webcasts/10Transitions

9. Transitions Ideas for Communication

For those of you interested in Transitions, MTLINCS has posted a PowerPoint created by the Kentucky Jefferson Publish Schools and Adult and Continuing Education for 2009 COABE: Creating a Successful Transitions/Concurrent Enrollment Program in Ten Easy Steps. Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/COABE_teneasy_steps.ppt to check out some of their ideas.

P.S. Remember -- if you are having trouble with the links in this email, go to the Email Archives at the top of the MTLINCS homepage at http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/ . Also if you no longer wish to receive this mailing, please let me know! Thanks!

Norene Peterson
Adult Education Center
415 N. 30th
Billings, MT 59101
norenehp@bresnan.net