Contact LR/RI
| The Rhode Island Adult Education Professional Development
Center produces a bulletin roughly every
two
to three weeks in order
to inform area practitioners of news, events, and calls for participation and also as a forum for posing questions, issues and discussion topics. The current bulletin is posted below. To read previous bulletins, go to Bulletin Archives. To receive the bulletin via email, contact LR/RI. To learn more about professional development opportunities, please contact the RI AEPDC at (401) 456 -2838 or (401) 863-2839 January 31, 2008 Bulletin #260 Dear Colleagues, New Year's Greetings. As always, calls for
participation, resources, employment and conference
opportunities. To post notices, please contact the RIPDC at the
phone or email above.
Janet Isserlis
ESOL share Tuesday, February 26 at 3:30 pm, Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue, Providence. Focus on incorporating information about voting and political processes in the classroom. (hint: one great resource is available at http://www.nelrc.org/VERA/index.htm) This is an open discussion group – practitioners with an interest in adult ESOL are all welcome. upcoming events: The New Practitioner Orientation (NPO) is designed to provide an overview to the adult education system, its policies and priorities, to practitioners new to the field and/or new to Rhode Island. Two-day sessions are offered for staff working 15 hours or more in adult education programs, and one-day sessions are offered for part-time (up to 15 hours) staff. Topics include accountability, assessment, characteristics of adult learners and practitioners, systems and structures and policies relevant to adult education. two-day sessions: Fridays: February 29 and March 14, 9:30 am – 4 pm one day session: Saturday, March 22 9:30 am – 4 pm To attend an NPO session, please contact janet_isserlis@brown.edu. Workforce development trainings: Case Managers, Job Developers, Workforce Trainers/Coordinators/ Directors - All Practitioners with direct responsibility for helping adult learners prepare for the workforce, take advantage of this exciting learning experience to sharpen your skills and reconnect with your passion for your work. These workshops will be held at the Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, (401) 739-5440 Problem-Solving for the Job Developer / Coach Thursday, January 31, 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. Case Management for Employment Outcomes Thursday, February 21, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. A Successful Transition into Employment (Helping Learners Prepare) Thursday, February 28, 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. To register for a workforce development session, or for more information, please contact Jessica Ortiz at (401) 456-2838; jortiz@ric.edu Call for participation: RI Adult Education conference, May 23, 2008 On May 23, Rhode Island will host its sixth annual State Adult Education Conference, supported by the RIDE Office of Adult Education. We write to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to facilitate a workshop, roundtable or panel at the conference. The full call is online at http://www.brown.edu/lrri/conference08.html  Educational Workshop Opportunity - Rhode Island Parent Information Network, 175 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 http://www.ripin.org To schedule RIPIN Workshops, call Suzanne Tobin 401-727-4144 x123 or 800-464-3399 x123 (toll free in RI) To view schedule of workshops: http://www.ripin.org/workshops.html Basic Rights in Special Education February 5, 2008 10:00 – 12:00 pm Pre-registration deadline: January 31, 2008 The ABC’s of IEPs April 2, 2008 10:00 – 12:00 pm Pre-registration deadline: March 25, 2008 Basic Rights in Special Education May 14, 2008 10:00 – 12:00 pm Pre-registration deadline: May 7, 2008 Workshops will be held at RI Parent Information Network 175 Main Street, Pawtucket ~seating is limited pre-registration is requested to reserve seating- For more information or to pre-register Please contact Suzanne Tobin at 401-727-4144 x123 or tobin@ripin.org For a copy of a PDF flyer in Spanish or in English, please send email to janet_isserlis@brown.edu The Learning Disabilities Work Group is in the process of collecting ideas for the successful teaching of adults who have low literacy skills. We welcome your ideas for strategies, materials, lesson plans and resources that have been useful to you in teaching adults who are reading in the EFL levels 1 and 2. Please send your ideas to Nancy Fritz at Nancy@gencenter.org and she will share them with the LD group. from Thursday Notes, January 24, 2008 DAS Stanley Moderates College Issues Forum Deputy Assistant Secretary Pat Stanley moderated the second OVAE-sponsored Issues That Matter community college forum in New Orleans on Jan. 23. 20 community college presidents and chancellors of institutions that have pioneered integrating developmental education and workforce development participated. OVAE built the series of forums around issues that community college leaders identified to promote discussion of challenges faced by many institutions across the country. More forums are scheduled for March in Denver, and April 21 in Austin, Texas. Stanley also delivered the keynote at the American Association of Community Colleges Workforce Development Institute in New Orleans today. OVAE Seeks State Issues for Spring Regional Meetings OVAE is seeking input from the states on key issues they face and will use them in regional discussions at the National Conference for State Directors of Adult Education in New Orleans this spring. States say they are challenged by whether to continue local grants in place for more than five years because the federal law providing adult education funding still awaits reauthorization. Other issues suggested by the state directors include: extending state plans to reflect current activities, the emerging role of adult education in developmental education and postsecondary transition, changing populations of students to be served (including increases in limited English proficient adults and high school dropouts), and the effect of shrinking funds on program services. States still can add issues to the menu by sending them to Daniel.Miller@ed.gov Is That A Real GED? The General Educational Development Testing Service (GEDTS) warned this month that real GED credentials cannot be earned through correspondence courses or on the Internet. GEDTS has received complaints from students who paid high fees to take fake GED tests and had not earned the credential accepted by hiring personnel, colleges, and military enlistment personnel. Real GED tests can be taken only in person at official GED testing centers . http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GEDTS  from Thursday notes, January 31, 2008 President Creates Council on Financial Literacy President Bush signed Executive Order 13455 on January 22 establishing the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy in the Department of the Treasury to assist the American people in understanding and addressing financial matters. The 19 members of the council will be appointed by the president from “providers of, consumers of, promoters of access to, and educators with respect to financial education and financial services.” The council is expected to improve financial education efforts for youth in school and adults in the workplace. It also will strengthen and coordinate public and private sector financial education programs. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080122-1.html Washington's Online College Enrollments Jump 75 Percent The number of students taking online classes in Washington state jumped 75% in just four years, with almost 70,000 community college students enrolled in such courses in 2006-07. The trend is being set largely by community colleges because they serve nontraditional students who need an easier, more flexible way to earn degrees. North Seattle Community College’s online credits earned last fall were the equivalent of 450 full-time students. This is the highest percentage of FTE generated by online credits of any Seattle community college, although the college has the smallest full-time equivalent totals. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348198_online22.html Can an Investor Buy A Community College? What could become a policy issue affecting the community college sector is developing in Arizona where, according to Inside Higher Ed, a private investor offered about $400 million to buy the online operations <http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/01/23/rio> and enrollments of Rio Salado College. About half of the 60,000 students at the community college study only online. Officials at the Maricopa County Community College District, where Rio Salado is located, are considering the offer. Inside Higher Ed says the investor would pay $5,000 per enrolled student (or $400 million, whichever is more) for the college, its online learning system, curriculum and faculty. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/01/23/rio learning opportunities The webinar, From Assessment to Practice: Research-Based Approaches to Teaching Reading to Adults Part 2: Specific Instructional Strategies for Fluency and Vocabulary, originally broadcast on January 11, is now online: http://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=lobby.jsp&eventid=99451&sessionid=1&key=F96E6D1F52AD318FD743192F8AD4C799&eventuserid=13958378 online learning opportunities: Influencing the Federal-Level Budget and Appropriations Process: Simple Strategies for Maximum Impact February 4 - March 3, 2008 No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. Judge Gideon J. Tucker, 1866 Congress recently made significant cuts to adult literacy and Even Start funding. Adult learners deserve better. You know more about adult literacy than those who make the policy decisions; how can you share what you know to bring about change? In just a few weeks, the President releases his 2009-2010 budget request. Legislators base their funding decisions on what they know about your program’s services and on the stories they hear from learners who benefit. How do they get this information? You tell them! Students tell them! YOU CAN influence legislators and mobilize community support: two critical activities for getting your services to the people who need them. Course Description This interactive course is for adult education and literacy practitioners, volunteers, administrators, board members and others who want a refresher on federal-level advocacy in time to respond to the President’s budget proposal and to teach others how to get involved. Objectives · Review what you CAN do to influence public policy, even if you can't lobby · Take part in this year’s national federal-level letter writing campaign · Interact in Internet teleconferences with national advocates · Get materials you need to teach your staff or community about ways to get involved · Get national advocates; support as you mobilize those around you Course Dates: February 4-March 3, 2008; Course Webinars on February 18, 2-3 pm EST and March 3rd, 2-3 pm EST Facilitator: Jackie Taylor, chair, Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers, professional development editor, ProLiteracy America Course Guest: Art Ellison, state director of adult education (NH) and chair, policy committee, National Council of State Directors of Adult Education Registration Fee: $159 For additional course and registration information, go to http://www.newreaderspress.com/default.aspx?cat=prof&hid=282&pid=PLAAD20 Questions? Please call 315-422-9121 ext. 283, or email prodev@proliteracy.org and – to learn more about advocacy in Rhode Island, and to receive updates about advocacy activity, please contact janet.isserlis@gmail.com ProLiteracy has expanded its online courses for ESOL instructors. The first course, Creating Engaging ESOL Activities Using Computers I, will begin February 11. The course description is included below, and complete course and registration information is available at: http://www.newreaderspress.com/default.aspx?cat=prof=289=PLAEL10-F ProLiteracy will offer several other courses for ESOL instructors and tutors throughout the spring. For more information: http://www.newreaderspress.com/downloads/product_support/Fall07FOCSchedule.pdf Please feel free to call (888)528-2224 ext. 283 with any questions. Jane Greiner, Professional Development Coordinator, ProLiteracy America http://www.proliteracy.org jgreiner@proliteracy.org 315.422.9121 ext. 283 Creating Engaging ESOL Activities Using Computers I , Course Facilitator: Diana Satin Course Dates: Feb. 11 - Mar. 7, 2008 Course webinar March 7, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EST) Course materials available Feb. 4 Course Description Good news! Research shows that interesting, engaging learning activities using productivity software increases students' motivation and helps them learn English for all the reasons they come to our classes. In addition, it's a fact that more and more jobs require computer skills. Students who can use computers effectively expand their career options in countless ways. Through this course, you will integrate computer software into your ESOL instruction. You'll identify the steps necessary to incorporate computer software applications into lesson plans, including analyzing specific language and computer skills. You will finish the course having developed, tested, and refined a learning activity for your own classroom. You will: 1. Describe the benefits and challenges of using word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software in ESOL instruction. 2. Evaluate student use of productivity software 3. Analyze learning activities for language and computer skills 4. Convert a classroom activity to one that includes productivity software, test it with students, and evaluate the activity Course Format and Schedule: facilitated, online - During this two-week course you will engage in self-paced activities and readings, as well as asynchronous discussions with the facilitator and course participants. The course will close with a scheduled webinar on March 7, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EST). Course Fee: $199 (ProLiteracy America members receive a 15% discount.) Space is limited, so please register early. To register, go to: http://www.newreaderspress.com/default.aspx?cat=prof=289=PLAEL10-F Questions? Please call (888) 528-2224 ext. 367, or e-mail prodev@proliteracy.org. National Priorities Project analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Numeracy, critical thinking and technology: have a look http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home online discussion: Discussion Announcements The Family Literacy Discussion List will host the following discussion from February 4-8: Comprehension Monitoring Strategies for Adult Readers. Guest Moderator Susan McShane is a Reading Initiative Specialist at the National Center for Family Literacy. She has more than 20 years of experience in adult education and family literacy. She has taught adult reading students in an adult basic education reading program, a private community-based organization, and a community college developmental reading program. In her current position, she authored a book for adult education instructors, Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers, developed with funding from the National Institute for Literacy. As project manager for the Kentucky Adult Education Reading Pilot Project, she provided training and assistance to facilitate adult education teachers' implementation of scientifically based reading instruction. Joining Susan in the discussion will be Donna Elder, a Reading Specialist at the National Center for Family Literacy. Donna served as a reading coach for the Kentucky Adult Education Reading Pilot Project, assisting adult education instructors in the implementation of reading strategies, materials and activities to improve reading instruction and learner outcomes for participants in the project. Discussion Questions 1. What comprehension monitoring strategies do you use with your adult learners? Have you ever tried any of those mentioned on pages 80 -82 of Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers (which is available free at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications.html ). What worked, what didn't? 2. How do you as instructors introduce/make the case for comprehension strategy instruction with adult learners who may consider themselves to be competent readers? 3. What strategies do you, as a reader, use? How can you become more aware of the strategies you are using automatically, so you can teach them to others? Suggested Reading Pages 80-82 (Comprehension Monitoring), Chapter 7, "Comprehension Strategy Instruction," Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers. Research-Based Principles for Adult Basic Education Reading Instruction by John Kruidenier. The publication is available free from http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications.html National Institute for Literacy Webcast: From Assessment to Practice: Research-Based Approaches to Teaching Reading to Adults, Part 1: Instructional Strategies for Alphabetics and Reading Comprehension. Both the webcast and the PowerPoint slides are available at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/assesspractice/webcast0928.html. National Institute for Literacy Webcast: From Assessment to Practice: Research-Based Approaches to Teaching Reading to Adults Part 2: Specific Instructional Strategies for Fluency and Vocabulary. January 11, 2008. Webcast / PowerPoint slides available at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/assesspractice2/webcast0111.html. Assessment Strategies and Reading Profiles (ASRP): Research-based assessment practices for the adult education classroom Web site at http://www.nifl.gov/readingprofiles/ Gail J. Price, Multimedia Specialist, National Center for Family Literacy gprice@famlit.org To subscribe to the list, or read its archives, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/familyliteracy - and another discussion to be held during the week of February 4: - Strategies for Innovation in Community College ESL Guest Participants: JoAnn (Jodi) Crandall Professor and Director Language, Literacy and Culture Ph.D. Program, Director, Peace Corps Master's Intl Program in ESOL/Bilingual Education, University of Maryland Baltimore County and Forrest P. Chisman Executive Vice President CAAL (Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy) Recommended preparations for this discussion: Passing the Torch: Strategies for Innovation in Community College ESL (Executive Summary) by Forrest P. Chisman and JoAnn Crandall CAAL February 20, 2007 16 pages http://www.caalusa.org/eslexecsummary.pdf Passing the Torch: Strategies for Innovation in Community College ESL (Full Report) 163 pages http://www.caalusa.org/eslpassingtorch226.pdf Excerpts from the Executive Summary of Passing the Torch: [Adult education English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction is an essential national education service, but the outcomes of most ESL programs are by no means as great as they should and can be – in terms of learning gains, retention, and transitions to further education… p. 4] […According to the NRS, the overwhelming majority of ESL students enter programs at the two lowest levels, and NRS reports that only about 36 percent of ESL students advance one level per year. Longitudinal research prepared for CAAL by two community colleges indicates that only a small percentage of ESL students are enrolled in programs for as long as four semesters (the equivalent of two years or less) – either consecutively or at any time. As a result, few ESL students experience significant learning gains from adult education ESL programs. Moreover, only about 10 percent of non-credit ESL students make transitions to credit ESL, and an even smaller percentage make transitions to college academic or vocational programs. p. 5] [The problems of learning gains, persistence, and transitions clearly call for serious attention. Fortunately, at least some community colleges and other ESL providers have devised innovative and effective strategies to address them. This report is based on a two-year study of ESL service at community colleges by the Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy (CAAL). The study draws on the authors’ extensive knowledge of and exposure to dozens of community colleges and ESL programs through other studies, but it is based primarily on an in-depth examination of the innovative strategies adopted by five community colleges identified by ESL experts and their peers as exemplary in their provision of adult ESL service... p. 5] PATHWAYS & OUTCOMES: Tracking ESL Student Performance http://www.caalusa.org/pathways-outcomes/pathways-outcomesfull.pdf by Steven Spurling, Sharon Seymour, and Forrest Chisman CAAL January 2008 This report is a longitudinal study of adult ESL services at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF). Its primary aim is to help those who plan and design community college ESL programs assess and develop effective services. But it will also help those who offer adult ESL services in other institutional settings, and policymakers and funding organizations. The authors note that CCSF's ESL program has features in common with many other community college programs, and point to the model's importance because so many ESL professionals across the country consider it to be "exemplary." It is both "a typical case and a best case of adult education ESL in the United States." This groundbreaking report contains a wealth of highly detailed research information and analysis. It may well be the most comprehensive, in-depth research ever conducted on any adult ESL program. It is based on College records tracking all students over a seven-year period who first enrolled in CCSF's credit and non-credit ESL programs in 1998, 1999, and 2000. More than 38,000 non-credit and some 6600 credit ESL students make up the "cohort" that was examined. The primary focus is on persistence, learning gains, and transition to credit studies, and on the success in credit courses of non-credit ESL students. Major attention is given to the various features of CCSF's ESL program that affected student outcomes and pathways -- such as terms and hours of attendance, and program design and policy. CCSF's substantial data on "stop-outs" is also presented and analyzed in depth. The report is organized to serve the needs of various kinds of readers. Related resources of interest: Challenges in Assessing for Post-Secondary Readiness Policy Brief by Daryl F. Mellard and Gretchen Anderson Division of Adult Studies, Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas December 4, 2007 This Policy Brief examines the major assessments in use today to measure adult learning gains and determine student placements - e.g., BEST, CASAS, TABE, COMPASS, ASSET, and ACCUPLACER – in terms of their uses and how they well they align with postsecondary education entry requirements. Special attention is given to the GED. The authors identify several problems and challenges as well as recommendations to resolve them. http://www.caalusa.org/content/assessmentmellard.pdf Transitions: Linkages between Adult Education and Community Colleges Multiple resources from CAAL (Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy) http://www.caalusa.org/publications.html#trans <http://www.caalusa.org/publications.html#trans Transitions to Post-Secondary Education Multiple resources from NCSALL (National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy) http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=106 To subscribe to this discussion, or to read its archives go to: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Assessment Marie Cora marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com , NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator The Ed.D. in adult education, delivered primarily online (along with one-week summer residencies) and designed to combine a strong theoretical base and practical applications to promote effective practice in the field. Our students come from various backgrounds including, K-12, Higher Education, corporate, the military, and other settings where understanding adult learners, and designing, facilitating, and administering effective programs for adults is an essential part of their current or future responsibilities. http://www.regent.edu/acad/schedu/academics/edd/adult_ed/ Introducing Let's Talk Books with… a new blog on the RI Center for the Book - featuring a RI writer, poet, or book person talking about books each month at http://ribook.blogspot.com/ . Join this month's on-line conversation with Rhode Island’s Steve Krasner – an award-winning children’s author, the creator of Nudging the Imagination, an education program Steve brings to classrooms across the nation and a sports writer covering the Boston Red Sox. Steve has a lot to say – join the conversation!You can find the blog, Let’s Talk Books with… on the RI Center for the Book web site, http://www.ribook.org/ or at: http://ribook.blogspot.com/ - Louise B. Moulton, Community Services - Providence Public Library, 401.455.8134; lmoulton@provlib.org  funding opportunities - large and less large - other grants from the Public Education Network: http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp - The federal government's new one stop grant site:
http://www.grants.gov/
The Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC) announces another round of education reform grants in areas of social science research. PRACC is particularly interested in issues such as high classroom turnover/mobility and its disproportionate impact on low-income, minority, and farm worker students. However, other issues will be considered as well. To apply, send PRRAC a proposal outlining the planned research and methodology, the advocacy work it is designed to support, a budget, timeline, and qualifications of the researchers. Maximum grant: $10,000. No application deadline. http://www.prrac.org/grants.php Funding Solutions for Small Nonprofit Organizations A collection of resources to help small nonprofit organizations fundraise including ways to motivate your board, sample fundraising letters, phonathon advice, and tips to improve your direct mail solicitation. http://www.nonprofit-innovations.com/ employment opportunities employment opportunities are generally sent as they arrive via email; if you would like to receive this bulletin, and those updates by email please contact janet_isserlis@brown.edu. Substitute teaching: The Genesis Center is interested in adding to its substitute list. If you are an ESOL instructor who is interested in occasional work as a substitute, either day, evening or Saturday hours, please call Nancy Fritz or Pat Clarkin at 781-6110. Jobs in Literacy – nation wide postings on the National Institute for Literacy’s LINCS site: http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/lincs/jobs/jobs.cgi Substitute list: if you would like your name added to the general list, please see contact LR/RI. The list needs to be updated so that it can function more usefully for teachers and programs hoping to work with them. (http://www.brown.edu/lrri/sub.html) Rhode Island Community Jobs (RICOMJOB) is a
public
e-mail announcement
list that seeks to raise the profile of meaningful work in Rhode Island
by helping non-profit and public interest To join the list as a job seeker or to post a job as an employer go to: http://www.ricommunityjobs.org Rhode Island Community Jobs is supported by the Swearer
Center
for Public
Service at Brown University and the Rhode Island Campus Compact.
If you have questions about this service, please online / resources available online: STATE OF WORKING RI 2007 The Poverty Institute's biennial study documenting trends in wages, occupations, unemployment, and the state's workforce. The report points out that the state's labor force of 578,000 is more diverse, older and better educated than it was two decades ago but workers face a triple whammy – slowing job growth, eroding wages and benefits, and growing inequality. http://www.povertyinstitute.org/matriarch/documents/State%20of%20Working%20RI%202007.pdf Energized Learning offers lessons to help students use the Home Energy Saver -- an online tool for analyzing energy use and calculatingpotential savings in homes and other buildings. (Department of Energy) http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2021 want more? http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/ Brief available from the Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA), Adult ESL Teacher Credentialing and Certification, available at http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/briefs/tchrcred.html This latest CAELA brief was written by JoAnn Crandall of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Genesis Ingersoll and Jacqueline Lopez of the Center for Applied Linguistics. This brief describes efforts to professionalize the workforce of adult ESL educators, including efforts to certify and credential these teachers; discusses the qualification requirements for adult ESL teachers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia; and recommends steps for states to take to continue to professionalize the field. google literacy site: http://www.google.com/literacy/ outstanding resource: http://www.youthliteracy.ca/ - Youth Literacy work in Canada Shannon Gavin, a senior graduating from Brown this year, has developed a new website, as her capstone project in Middle East Studies, called Arab Perceptions of the United States: Video Interviews from Amman, Jordan and Damascus, Syria.You can view them, and supporting text at http://arabperceptions.wordpress.com Journal of Online Mathematics and its Applications offers articles, learning modules, "mathlets" (single-purpose learning tools), reviews of online resources, and a developers' area. Search contents of the journal by type of resource (e.g., article), by subject (e.g., number concepts, data presentation, plane geometry), or both. The journal makes extensive use of graphics, animations, video clips, and other media. Articles and other materials are peer reviewed. (Mathematical Association of America, National ScienceFoundation) http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=1875 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - The U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online: Resource Center for Instructors is available online at: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Assisting Refugees with Disabilities Program : Resource Guide for Serving Refugees with Disabilities available at http://www.refugees.org/DisabilityGuide The guide, written for refugee case managers and those serving refugees with disabilities, includes 139 pages of information about resources for serving adults and children with disabilities, housing for refugees with disabilities, assistive technology, medical resources, citizenship and disability, benefits for refugees with disabilities and more. If you have any questions or technical assistance needs, please contact Xuan Nguyen, Director of USCRI Health and Human Services at xnguyen@uscridc.org or at 202-347-3507 ext 3056. Resources from EdChange family of Web sites: A new Classism and Poverty Awareness Quiz http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/quizzes.html ; Newly designed Social Justice News Service site http://mail.socialjusticenews.net/mailman/listinfo/news_socialjusticenews.net- email-based news service, periodic email digests of links to articles related to equity, social justice, and multiculturalism from sources all over the world. New essays and links to essays http://www.edchange.org/publications.html New essays in the Multicultural Education Research Room http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers.html Radical Math is a resource for educators interested in integrating issues of social, political, and economic justice into math curriculum and classes… RadicalMath.org has the goals of raising mathematic literacy and simultaneously developing ways to address a range of community issues. The website supports educators to teach many different types of math within the context of studying social, political, and economic justice issues. RadicalMath.org also contains teaching materials on important financial topics for youth such as owning a credit card, paying for college, and avoiding subprime lenders, as well as materials on Ethnomathematics. Visit http://www.radicalmath.org/ for more or email info@radicalmath.org Google Scholar enables searches for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from broad areas of research. Use Google Scholar to find articles from a variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as articles available across the web. Google Scholar orders search results by how relevant they are to your query, so the most useful references should appear at the top of the page. This relevance ranking takes into account the full text of each article as well as the article's author, the publication in which the article appeared and how often it has been cited in scholarly literature. Google Scholar automatically analyzes and extracts citations and presents them as separate results, even if the documents they refer to are not online. This means your search results may include citations of older works and seminal articles that appear only in books or other offline publications. http://scholar.google.com/ Living in Poverty slideshow does the math: what does it take to live at the poverty level. http://www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm RI Foundation online scholarship directory - searchable by city/town, intended field of study, current high school, and more. http://scholarship.rifoundation.org/ YouthBuild USA Learning Network has links to Web sites and full-text documents, and includes a section on "Authentic Materials/Engaged Learning/Constructivism/Contextual Learning/Project-based Learning." http://www.youthbuild.org/learningnetwork/professionaldev.html conferences and workshops - conferences and workshops are listed chronologically and are updated with each bulletin Rhode Island - Training/events around employment issues for people with disabilities http://www.ric.edu/uap/training.html KET will host a Multimedia Utilization Workshop February 25-26, in Lexington Kentucky using GED/Pre-GED Connection and Workplace Essential Skills along with TV411 to teach best practices for combining video, print and online materials to reach more learners. For information, tentative agenda and registration, http://www.ketadultlearning.com/htms/uworkshop.htm or call Barbara Farha at 800.354.9067 before January 25. COABE and the Missouri Association for Adult, Continuing and Community Education (MAACCE) invite you to submit a proposal for presentation at the 2008 COABE National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, April 28 - May 1, 2008 at the Adam's Mark Hotel. http://www.coabe.org Learning Disabilities Association of America's 45th Annual International Conference, Hilton Chicago February 27 – March 1, focusing on research and findings in learning disabilities including workshops on Adults, Adult Education/GED, Transition, ESL, Corrections, Medical, Mental Health, Professional Preparation, Public Policy, and much more. Featured speakers include Dale Brown, Andy Imparato, Nancie Payne, Anne Ford and Harry Sylvester. Please log on http://www.ldaamerica.org/ for additional information and to view the entire program. Or contact us via email (info@LDAAmerica.org) or phone (888-300-6710) to receive the advance registration book. Multiple copies of the book are also available for distribution. WE LEARN 5th Annual (Net)Working Gathering & Conference on Women & Literacy Building Alliances / Construyendo Alianzas http://www.litwomen.org/conference.html March 7- 8, Fordham Univ. at Lincoln Center, New York, NY Co-Sponsored with WE LEARN by Fordham Graduate School of Education Equipped for the Future's Preparing for Work: An EFF Work Readiness Course Training for Instructors in Adult Education and Workforce Development March 11 and 12, Nashville, Tennessee Preparing for Work, developed by Equipped for the Future at the Center for Literacy Studies, University of Tennessee, is a skills-based course designed for implementation in organizations and agencies involved in preparing their clients and students for entry level work. Each of the instructional modules that comprise the Preparing for Work course has integrated the specific SCANS tasks (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Basic Skills) and the EFF Content Standards, identified on the National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC) profile.The learning activities within the curriculum, designed to model authentic, work related experiences and tasks, provide opportunities for learners to apply the skills being taught, with an added focus on how skills transfer from one situation or context to another as individuals advance along a career path. Please Note: This training is intended for instructors and is not a training for trainers. Register on-line at: http://utk-cls.ra.utk.edu/register/eff_event.asp deadline is February 22. For more information please contact: Anna Bogle, Professional Development Coordinator, Equipped for the Future, 600 Henley Street, Suite 312 Knoxville, TN 37996 abogle@utk.edu On March 26 Bristol Community College will hold an event to recognize the power of community-based efforts. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Dollars for Scholars, the College is planning a conference entitled From Dream to Reality: Grassroots Empowerment for Student Success. The focus of the conference is on community efforts that are attempting to make a difference in student success and persistence in education from kindergarten through higher education. A recent report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation concluded that: "High dropout rates are a silent epidemic afflicting our nation’s high schools;" a recent article in Community College Journal referred to the over 1.5 million students who failed to graduate high school in 2006 as the 'lost generation.' We know also that this problem exists on all levels of education. We invite you to consider making a presentation showcasing your own best practices of grassroots efforts. We hope to feature a number of workshops from individuals and community groups who are working in a variety of ways to combat student attrition and encourage persistence on all levels of education. We would also welcome workshops dealing with research on this matter as well as ideas for classroom practice related to this topic. The conference will also include guest speakers and performance artist Brooke Haycock from the Education Trust. For the workshop presentation form or for more information, contact Denise DiMarzio at Bristol Community College at ddimarzi@bristol.mass.edu Health Literacy Summit March 25–26, Indianapolis, IN Health literacy is often defined as the ability to read, understand, and act upon health-related information. Improving health literacy may improve the health status and quality of life of America’s adults, especially among adults with marginal literacy skills. Learn about research on health literacy and resources for implementing health literacy programming. Breakout sessions for adult educators, health care workers, and others interested in health literacy include: Health Literacy and Older Adults,Health Literacy Study Circles, Student Health Teams, Testing Impact of Health Literacy in Adult Literacy and Integrated Family Approach Programs Individual registration fees to cover materials and meal are $30. Attendees must make hotel arrangements at Holiday Inn Select, 317-244-6861, by February 26. Contact Kaye Beall, kaye_beall@worlded.org, or Tim Ponder, tzponder@zhost.com, to learn more. Read, Rattle and Roll: National Community literacy Leadership Conference, Memphis, March 12-14. Conference goals: to build on the national community literacy discourse that is uniting communities and promoting the vision of 100% literacy through 100% community engagement; to demonstrate strategies that business, local government, funders and educational stakeholders can use to support the creation of highly literate communities; to share models, resources and success stories from a diverse group of coalitions, and to inspire community leaders and coalition board members through a process of enquiry nd education to build the capacity of collaborative community efforts through literacy infusion. http://www.literacypowerline.com/details2008.html Worlds of TESOL: Building Communities of Practice, Inquiry, and Creativity New York City, April 2-5, http://www.tesol.org/2008convention Registration opens December 3; $265 members (advanced registration) $460 non-member (advanced registration). Radical Mathematics, Creating Balance in an Unjust World 2008 Conference on Math Education and Social Justice http://www.radicalmath.org/conference Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, April 4th - April 6th A Declaration of Numeracy: Empowering Adults through Mathematics Education, 15th International Conference 2008 June 30th - July 3rd Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia ALM is an international research forum that brings together those engaged and interested in research and developments in the field of adult mathematics/numeracy teaching and learning. The ALM conference has not met in the United States since 2000 and offers American educators a unique opportunity to meet colleagues from around the world who share their interest in adult mathematics education. CALL FOR PAPERS - Proposal form at http://www.alm-online.net/ DEADLINE for submission: 22 February. call for participation: RI Adult Education conference, May 23, 2008: On May 23, Rhode Island will host its sixth annual State Adult Education Conference, supported by the RIDE Office of Adult Education. We write to invite you to consider submitting a proposal to facilitate a workshop, roundtable or panel at the conference. The conference aims to bring together a range of voices and knowledge and to further opportunities for area adult educators to share ideas and learn with one another. We look forward to your being part of this process. Proposals are encouraged in all areas of adult learning and teaching, including the range of contexts and settings in which such learning occurs. Of particular interest are sessions addressing and exploring work with content standards and standards-based learning, teaching and assessment. To submit a proposal, please complete and submit your proposal by March 7th (by email, fax - 8634-3094 - or snail mail to the address above. To register for the conference, please contact Janet Isserlis at (401) 863-2839, or email janet_isserlis@brown.edu. The conference will again be held at the Airport Radisson in Warwick. The registration fee is $25 per person, and scholarships are available. Deadline for registration is May 5th. We look forward to your participation in the conference. - Janet Isserlis and the conference planning committee Rhode Island State Adult Education Conference: call for proposals We are seeking proposals for workshops (demonstrations of teaching, use of materials, hands-on activities and discussions of particular topics), roundtables (discussions of issues of concern and interest) and/or panels (more formal discussions involving 3 or 4 people and a moderator) for the conference to be held on May 23rd. Lead Presenter/Session Organizer Name Mailing address Phone: (w)________________ (h)_________________ [please also list names of others participating, if applicable] Presentation type (see below for descriptions): __ Workshop (1 hour 30 minutes or 2 one-hour slots) an activity emphasizing participant involvement, carefully structured by the facilitator, and containing little lecturing. ___ Roundtable (1 hour or 1.5 hours) facilitated discussion with panelists that actively engages participants ___ Panel (1 hour 30 minutes or 2 one-hour slots) (more formal, brief prepared remarks by panelists with time for questions and answers with conference audience) Title of presentation Include bio of each presenter. (25-word MAXIMUM) Include program summary. (50-word MAXIMUM) If my proposal is accepted, as the lead presenter/organizer I agree to coordinate the above presenter/organizer responsibilities. Signature of Lead Presenter Please send this information, by mail or email by March 7th to janet_isserlis@brown.edu Janet Isserlis, PO Box 1974, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 (also see http://www.brown.edu/lrri/conference08.html) other events and conferences http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi TESOL worldwide calendar of events http://www.tesol.org/isaffil/calendar/index.html
breathe - everyday yoga at your desk. http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/everyday_yoga.html
|
