Tools for Adult Education

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [PD 4733] tools for adult ed question
From: Paul Rogers
Date: Thu Jul 8 20:03:58 EDT 2010

In looking over all the information, I cannopt tell on what I should focus in these discussions. My interests are mainly in adult ESL. I need to learn about existing programs and also I am looking for information on developing programs.

So as much as I would like to join in a small group discussion, my question is - which one would deal directly with my area?

Paul Rogers

Subject: [PD 4741] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment Digest, Vol 58, Issue 7
From: Thompson, Duren J
Date: Fri Jul 9 11:54:19 EDT 2010

Paul,

In working with ESOL professionals, it seems the most common need at all levels of ESOL is increased opportunities to practice listening and speaking - either by itself, or integrated with reading or writing activities.

Thus I would choose a social media tool that allowed for conversation - synchronous or asynchronous (listening to recordings and making recordings). That would thus point you towards the small groups for Skype (synchronous) and YouTube (asynchronous).

While most of the rest of the small groups discuss tools that CAN allow the upload or sharing of audio files, that is not their main purpose/design as with Skype and YouTube.

Duren Thompson
Center for literacy Studies
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Date: [PD 4742] Re: tools for adult ed question
From: Nell Eckersley
Date: Fri Jul 9 13:00:23 EDT 2010

Hi Paul and others,

I think Paul's question is one that many people may have in the back of their mind-part of the secret wish just to be told what tech tool to use for our specific needs. The beauty and the horror of web 2.0 tools it that they all have value for adult ed, but we each need to figure out what tools are best for our specific needs. There are at least (!) five different blogging applications and while they all allow a person to blog, they all come with slightly different bells and whistles that will resonate differently with each of us.

One of the purposes of the small groups is as an opportunity to concentrate on just a few tools, play around with them (with others), and figure out how they fit our needs. If you're looking for a web 2.0 tool to use in ESL, I would say any of these small groups will contain an opportunity to investigate just that, so maybe pick a group looking at a type of tool that you know enough about to be curious about how it can be used in ESL .

Note: You will have the opportunity to sign up for a small group any time next week--so as we discuss the various types of social media, be thinking about how that particular tool might be used for ESL (or whatever). Small Group Sign up will be open through Friday, July 16.

Reminder: All resources and info for the discussion can be found at the NIFL site:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/10onlinepa rtIII
<http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/10onlinep artIII>

(You may want to bookmark this link for easy reference later.)

Best,

Nell

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