Montana LINCS Update

11/16/09

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.  Distance Learning Research #5:  Support

 Support

We in the classroom know that our students need teachers as facilitators.  Although students try several modes of independent learning via technology, they still need guidance and support.  That was confirmed in several research studies.

According Silver-Pecuilla and Reder's, convergence on the following items existed in several of the studies reviewed: 

Online learners and teachers need support -- pure online delivery is not best practice for adult literacy and ESOL learners (AlphaRoute, 2003;Daniels, Gillespie, Stites, & Nelson, 2004; FGRD, 1999; NCVER, 2002; Parke & TracyMumford, 2000; Porter & O'Connor, 2001; Stiles & Porter, 2006).  Support could include:

  • a facilitator for students at least some of the time;
  • student-to-student communication;
  • readily available tech support for both teachers and students; and
  • peer group for teachers of distance courses as teachers learn the new medium.

Silver-Pecuilla, Heidi and Reder, Stephen, "Investigating the Language and Literacy Skills Required for Independent Online Learning."  NIFL, October 2009, p.21.  http://www.nifl.gov/publications/pdf/NIFLOnlineLearningReport.pdf

Question: 

What type of support are both you and your distance learning students needing?  

Any thoughts? 

 

2.  Montana ABLE Shop Talk Summary for 11/12/09

Click here to access the Shop Talk Summary.  http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/shoptalk11-12-09.pdf

3.  Montana ABLE Student Highlights

Click here to read about GED graduates persevering in the Bitterroot.  http://ravallirepublic.com/articles/2009/11/10/news/news35.txt

Do you have any other student success stories?  Email them to MTLINCS to be posted on the Student Highlight page at http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/student_highlights.htm .

4.  Web 2.0 Webinar on 11/18 from 4 to 5 EST:  Can Web 2.0 Save Teacher Professional Development?
Click here to register for a free webinar about Web 2.0.

The rise of interactive technology has created exciting new possibilities for teacher professional development, from facilitated online courses to social-learning communities to live multimedia presentations. Many observers now believe that, when used effectively, digital technologies could ultimately break the grip of the one-shot, drive-by workshop in schools and spur the growth of teacher-learning opportunities that are truly collaborative and job-embedded. Yet many questions remain. In this webinar, two experts will address these questions and bring you up to date on the latest ideas and trends in online teacher learning and how you can take advantage of them.

5.  TABE/COMPASS Crosswalk

Click here to see a comparison/crosswalk of the TABE and COMPASS reading, math, and writing scores.  http://www.kyae.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/FD5D355C-B442-45FC-8D41-49AB093632A0/0/concordanttablesTABECOMPASS.pdf

6.  Reading/Writing Resource on the Web

Click here to access The Developmental Educators' Handbook.  This resource provides ideas for writing prompts, public domain novel library, public domain films of classic novels, and much, much more.  http://drugfreereading.com/

7.  Reading and E-books

Click here to read the New York Times article, Does the brain like E-Books?  http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/does-the-brain-like-e-books/

 
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