How-To's

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AdultEdTeachers.org
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Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
Supports adult education instructors in the effective implementation of technology in the classroom. Links to lesson plans, classroom activities, instructional software, multi-media ideas and tools, and other useful electronic resources. Covers eight program areas: ABE/ASE/GED, disabilities, ESL Citizenship/EL Civics, older adults, parent education, career technical education, and correctional education.
http://www.adultedteachers.org

Assessing Lifelong Learning Technology: A Guide for Choosing and Using Technology for Adult Learning (ALL-Tech)
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R. Stites, National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL), 1998
A guide to technology effectiveness that specifies a variety of different indicators of “engaged” adult learning and provides helpful forms and instructions for using technology. Summarizes obstacles to, and potential resources for, integrating adult education with “high technology performance.”
Download/view: PDF (121KB) | 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

Computers in Action!
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S. Quann and D. Satin
Lesson plans for teachers incorporating computers into their English literacy classrooms. Based on Learning Computers, Speaking English.
http://tech.worlded.org/docs/cia/

CTC Start-up Manual
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Community Technology Centers’ Network (CTCNet), 2003
A tool designed for establishing a community technology center, although general principals may be useful to adult education programs and their partners. Explains how to: identify and recruit key representatives from the community to serve on a steering committee; collect information about the community’s resources and population; develop and maintain partnerships; and provide various services at the center, including a comprehensive adult education program. Other topics include staffing, software selection, outreach, funding, and preparing a business plan.
http://www.ctcnet.org/resources/toc.htm

Harnessing Technology to Serve Adult Literacy
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D. Rosen, Newsome Associates, 2005
Web-based guide, continually updated, focuses on the use of electronic media to address learning and instructional problems. Highlights some common teaching and learning challenges and offers potential solutions submitted by adult education teachers and learners. Topics covered include multi-level teaching resources, web-based teaching tools, lessons on community involvement and voting, housing laws, and many others.
http://www.alri.org/harness.html

Learning Resources
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Literacy Works and Western/Pacific LINCS
Web-based instruction using stories from CNN's San Francisco bureau. Each story offered in its original version, an abridged form, and an outline form. Learners can take part in online vocabulary reinforcement exercises and story sequencing and comprehension activities, and sound off about their feelings on the issue covered in each story.
http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/

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

Promising Practices for Educating Adults at CTCs: Meet Them Where They Are
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America Connects Consortium, Education Development Center, 2003
Written for community technology centers, information may also be useful to computer literacy and other adult education instructors. Reviews existing literature on technology-based education for adults. Identifies promising practices, notes the benefits and challenges of integrating technology in the classroom, and suggests Internet resources and educational software.
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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 Learning with Internet-based Resources: A Set of Lesson Plans and Activities
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S. Cowles, National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), 1997
Short, web-based course useful both for "newbies" and Internet veterans. Offers user-friendly lesson plans and activities on a range of topics such as navigating a site, evaluating a site's information, and using subject directories, search engines, specialized search databases. A wrap-up section called Press Conference includes lessons learned, guidelines for project implementation, and resources for staff development.
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/fellowship/reports/susanc/inthome.htm

textHELP Systems
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Assistive software designed for students with learning difficulties. Various applications offer text to speech conversion, phonetic spell checking, a talking dictionary, pronunciation assistance, document scanning, keyboard and mouse tracking, teacher toolkits, and more. The textHELP programs are compatible with most standard software and demos are accessible online.
Available for purchase from
http://www.texthelp.com/

Under Construction: Building Websites as a Project-Based Learning Activity
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J. Carter with S. Quann, World Education
A guide for instructors interested in building a website with their adult education class to help learners gain the computer and soft skills valued in the workforce. Designed to supplement more detailed instructions provided in website development books and tutorials, which are listed at the end of the guide.
Download/view: PDF (1.4MB)

California Distance Learning Project (CDLP)
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California Department of Education, Adult Education Office
A distance-learning program aimed at adult basic education learners and instructors. Offers learners a series of real-life stories on working, law and government, family, school, health and safety, housing, money, science and technology, services, travel, and nature. Instructors can find information and research on distance learning, links to websites and instructional materials, and professional development resources.
http://www.cdlponline.org/

firstfind.info
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Westchester Library System, NY
An easy-to-navigate online library for low- to intermediate-level adult learners. Topics cover a wide range of information such as computers and technology, parenting, finding a doctor, housing, immigration, jobs and job training, legal issues, and transportation and travel.
http://www.firstfind.info/