How-To's

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Basics of Adult Literacy Education: An Online Course for Adult Literacy Instructors
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Designed especially for new adult literacy instructors, this course introduces some basic principles and practices in adult literacy education. Five modules cover the adult learner; orientation and assessment; curriculum; instructional techniques; and the adult literacy classroom. Pre- and post-surveys and worksheets are included to chart learning, with additional materials referenced in each module.
http://www.c-pal.net/course/index.html

Captured Wisdom on Adult Literacy
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North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), 2000
Seven examples of how to use technology effectively to enhance adult education. In vignettes, educators and learners present practical activities to foster the integration of technology into the classroom.
http://www.ncrtec.org/pd/cw/adultlit.htm

The Lesson Plan Builder
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Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
Intended for new and experienced teachers, provides online lesson plan template that includes goals, objectives, resources needed, warm-up/review, introduction, presentation, practice, evaluation, application, and more. Self-created lesson plans can be printed or stored on the site for future use. Also features tools for creating assessments. Free registration for users required.
http://www.adultedlessons.org/login.cfm?fuseaction=login

Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS)
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National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)
Comprehensive adult literacy site identifies professional development resources for teachers and administrators, some of which include instructor guides and other training materials on a variety of topics. Online discussions let users ask questions of experts in the field. Special Collections offer other resources, including lesson plans, to support adult educators. Hot Sites, which promotes online tools that NIFL has identified as valuable, include some related to professional development.
http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/

LiteracyLink
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Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
Funded by the federal government’s Star Schools Program, LiteracyLink provides instructors and adult learners access to distance education resources such as the Pre-GED Connection and GED-Connection. These tools contain practice tests, learning modules, Internet activities/quizzes, workbooks and TV programs geared toward those preparing for the GED.
http://www.pbs.org/literacy/

Professional Development Kit: Multimedia Resources for Adult Educators (PDK)
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National Center for Adult Literacy (NCAL)
Provides a framework that supports teachers' efforts to examine and develop their practice in the areas of adult basic education, high school credential programs, and EL/ESL. Kit includes 8 hours of video with interviews of learners, teachers, researchers, and administrators. Site also offers discussion boards, teacher portfolios, data collection suggestions, action plan infrastructure, and a guide that includes applications of theory.
http://literacyonline.org/HTMs/project_pdk.htm

Standards for Teachers of Adult Learners
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Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Provides background on the development of standards for English literacy teachers that are being overseen by a TESOL-created task force. Draft standards for planning, instructing, assessing, language, learning, identity and setting, content, and “developing professionalism” can be viewed. A final product is undergoing revision and review.
http://www.tesol.org/assoc/alstandards/index.html

Surfing for Substance
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E. Hacker and M. Capehart, Literacy Assistance Center
Developed as a resource for introducing literacy teachers to using the Internet as an instructional resource. Organized into six sequential steps that cover the benefits (and difficulties) of using the Internet for instruction, how to lay the groundwork for staff training, what teachers need to know, how to select and evaluate sites, how to create web-based lesson plans, and how the Internet can be used for staff development. Most sections include lesson plans.
http://hub1.worlded.org/docs/surfing/

Teaching and Training Materials
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National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL)
Designed for instructors and professional development staff working in adult basic education. Materials include GED lesson plans and information about the impact of the GED on the economy, an inquiry guide for evaluating adult education programs, and step-by-step instructions for facilitating a multi-session "study circle" on performance accountability (application of research).
http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=25

Teaching Reading to Adult English Language Learners: A Reading Instruction Staff Development Program
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Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), 2005
Developed with a U.S. Department of Education grant, this manual is divided into three sections: Facilitator Guide, Facilitator Notes, and Participant Handouts. Each section provides tools to conduct four field-tested staff development workshops on the foundations of reading in a second language. Includes information on reading instruction methods, handouts, student activities and assignments, workshop evaluation forms, and reading materials.
Download/view: PDF (6.7MB)

A Demand-Side Strategy to Meet Indiana's Workforce Basic Skills Challenge
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Prepared by FutureWorks for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 2005
Builds on the Employer-Driven Workforce Literacy Project conducted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness about the literacy levels of Indiana's incumbent workforce. Summarizes literature and data on workforce literacy needs, highlights promising program models, assesses Indiana's current workforce programs and resources, presents results from a business survey, and offers recommendations for meeting workforce preparation needs. Suggests that employers can help address critical skill shortages by developing employer-driven training programs.
Download/view: PDF (1.3MB) | HTML

California Adult Literacy Professional Development Consortium
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Funded by the California Department of Education Adult Education Office, this site serves as a professional development tool for administrators and instructors in California. Presents research publications, links to organizations and other resources, information about workshops, online courses, an online newsletter, and a calendar of events sponsored by California’s 10 regional professional development centers. Also includes online resource guides for new instructors, ESL instructors, health literacy instructors, administrators, and grant writers.
http://www.calpro-online.org/default.asp

Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
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California Department of Education, Adult Education Office
An interactive online community that facilitates the use of technology as a collaborative tool and supports the implementation of instructional technology. Links to research documents and reference libraries, legislative information on California and the federal government, educational grants, an adult education dictionary, discussion groups, and other helpful resources for providers in California and other states.
http://www.otan.us

Practitioner Research as Staff Development: A Facilitator?s Guide
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The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center, 2003
Describes how practitioner research can be used as a staff development tool. Online guide provides implementation instructions and materials for using this approach.
http://www.valrc.org/publications/research/index.htm

SABES ABE License Support: An Opportunity for Professional Growth
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System of Adult Basic Education Support (SABES), Massachusetts Department of Education
Provides instructors and administrators with a list of helpful published documents, a few of which are online, for each state standard that relates to instructors. While the standards were developed for Massachusetts, many themes have universal appeal (such as using research on adult learning theory to design effective instruction, or interacting effectively with learners of all backgrounds). Also provides other instructional and professional development resources.
http://www.sabes.org/license/resources.htm