Volume 4, Issue C ::: December 2000
Technology-Based Projects and Resources for Adult Basic Education
by Janet C. Smith
A wider variety of technology-based projects and
resources are available for teachers and adult learners in adult basic education
(ABE), English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and preparation for tests
of General Educational Development (GED) than ever before. Adult learners
continue to benefit as technology is
increasingly incorporated into teaching and learning at all levels. The
technology in these projects can be used as part of the curriculum, as the
delivery mechanism for the curriculum, as a complement to the curriculum, or as
an instructional tool.
This brief article presents some selected projects and resources that can be useful to learners, teachers, and administrators alike. It is not a comprehensive listing, given the vast number of projects/resources that exist today. The selection priorities for the first table included presence on the Internet, broad scope, some level of interactivity, ease of use, and reasonable cost (if not free). The second table includes video, CD-ROM, and print series combinations that are not currently available over the Internet, but widely in use and highly regarded. Some of these plan to have Internet accessibility shortly.
Web-Based Projects and Resources
Learning Resources,
CNN San Francisco
Web Site: http://literacynet.org/cnnsf
Audience:
Learners & Teachers
(ESOL, GED)
Description: This
web site offers students an opportunity to read and react to news stories,
both past and present. It includes a searchable index of articles, each
available in three levels of text (outline, edited, full). In addition,
several are supported with multimedia extensions; for example, each story
is also available in audio and video format. Each article is followed by
six short-answer activities that provide immediate evaluative feedback.
There is also an opportunity to respond to materials via e-mail. A brief
teacher's page describes the objectives, lessons, and materials.
Dave's ESL Cafe
Web Site: http://www.eslcafe.com
Audience: Learners & Teachers
(ESOL)
Description: This
comprehensive web site includes numerous interactive elements for
teachers and learners such as chats, electronic discussion lists, idea
exchanges, discussion forums, job information, quizzes, and more.
Randall's
ESL Cyber Listening Lab
Web Site: http://www.esl-lab.com
Audience: Learners & Teachers
(ESOL)
Description: This
web site focuses on listening skills, a relatively underdeveloped
area on the Internet. It offers audio exercises at varying levels of
difficulty, which are coupled with quiz-type activities. It provides
learners with a way to improve listening skills outside of the classroom.
Mindquest
Web Site: http://www.mindquest.org
Audience: Learners & Teachers
(ASE)
Description: This
online program is designed for adults and young adults who want to
complete a regular high school diploma, issued by a public high school. It
includes customized courses developed for online education, interactive
teaching and learning with strong teacher support, and portfolio-based
learning and assessment. Free to Minnesota residents, available to others
for a fee.
Cyberstep
Web Site: http://www.cyberstep.org/
public/cyberstep.htm
Audience: Learners & Teachers (ABE)
Description: This
project is developing standards for the development of web and
multimedia instructional resources for adults functioning at low literacy
levels. Based on these standards, the five Cyberstep partners will create
new products for adult learners. will provide multimedia instructional
materials targeted to adults functioning at low literacy levels. See
box on page 26 for more information.
LINCS
(Literacy Information and Communication
System)
Web Site:
http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/index.html
Audience: Learners, Teachers,
Administrators (ABE, ESOL, workplace, and general literacy for all)
Description: This
web site features multimedia curricula developed by practitioners, special
collections
on major literacy topics, the latest literacy-related research and
statistics, opportunities for communicating with colleagues directly and
through online discussion groups, and peer-reviewed sites.
PBSLiteracyLink
(PBS Adult Learning Service, NCAL, Kentucky Educational Television, and the
Kentucky Department of Education)
Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/literacy
Audience: Learners (GED,
Workplace), Teachers & Administrators (Professional
Development)
Description: Online
literacy instruction and staff development system incorporating online technologies (through the Internet), video
technologies (digital, closed-circuit, broadcast, and satellite), and
computer technologies (including digitized audio and video,
computer-generated graphics, interactive multimedia, and text).
Online
master's degree program in Adult Education,
Penn State World Campus
Web Site: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/
pub/adm/facts/adted_facts.shtml
Audience: Teachers & Administrators (Professional
Development)
Description: 33-credit
online master's degree in adult education. Each course is taught
using a blend of Web technology, print, and other media to provide an
effective balance of flexibility and interaction.
Video, CD-ROM, and Print Series-Based Project / Resources
ALMA
(Adult Literacy Media Alliance) and TV411
Web Site: http://www.tv411.org/alma.html
Audience: Learners & Teachers (pre-GED)
Description: This
is a series of literacy videos, and accompanying print materials designed
for use by individuals in their homes, in literacy classes, as well as in
community settings such as libraries, health clinics, employment centers,
churches, and banks in urban and rural regions throughout the country. The
Starter kit includes 13 TV411 video cassettes and 10 print packages, each
containing 13 TV411 Workbooks and one User's Guide. (Internet component
planned.)
Connect with
English
Web Site: http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/esl/connect.mhtml
Audience: Learners & Teachers (ESOL)
Description: This
video and print series is designed as a complete ESOL course in
secondary, adult education, college, corporate, and community
organizations, as a supplemental classroom resource for school, business,
and community organizations, or as a self-study course for ESOL students
at home or at work.
On
Common Ground, PBS
Web Site: http://www.Intelecom.org/courseinfo.asp?id=20
Audience: Learners & Teachers (high-level ESOL, citizenship courses)
Description: Video
and print series to be used as an introductory course in civics and
government; a resource for civics, government, history, contemporary
studies, political science and citizenship courses; and a resource in
courses with ESOL learners. Uses situations that would take place in a
typical American city as citizens deal with everyday life. Includes 15
half-hour programs, print worktexts, and teacher's resource books.
Crossroads
Cafe
Web Sites:
http://www.Intelecom.org/
courseinfo.asp?id=10&submit1=GO and
http://ecatalog.thomsonlearning.com/125/
Audience: Learners,
Teachers, & Administrators (ESOL/ESOL,
adult and family literacy, basic skills [pre-GED], workplace/
vocational ESOL, correctional
education programs)
Description: This
video and print series tells the story of an ethnically,
culturally, and linguistically diverse group of people who work at and
patronize a cafÈ. It includes instructional segments on culture and
language, workbooks and photostories for learners, transcripts and
resource books for teachers, assessment packages, and a partner guide with
activities for native speaker friends, relatives, or tutors.
Captured Wisdom: Stories of Integrating Technology into Adult Literacy
Instruction
Web Site: http://www.ncrel.org/cw/al/
Audience: Teachers &
Administrators (Professional Development)
Description: This
is a series of multimedia CD-ROMs on best practices of integrating
technology into ABE/GED/ESOL instruction.
The videos of actual classes are complemented by questions raised
by adult education practitioners and answered by the cooperating teachers,
ensuring that the resource will address the concerns that teachers may
have about using technology with adult learners.
About the Author
Janet C. Smith is editor, web manager, and a
project manager at National Center on Adult Literacy/International Literacy
Institute, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania. She produces publications and is responsible for the LITERACY.org
website. Her most recent project was the International Literacy Explorer
website/CD-ROM.