Why Distance Learning? Reaching a new population of learners Providing more options for current and new learners Preventing stop-outs and drop-outs Fostering independent learning skills, digital

literacy and post-secondary expectations Keeping pace with learning methods and technology

All current Hubbs learners are potential DL candidates. All adults interested in learning are potential DL candidates

(whether they are current Hubbs learners or not). In order to participate in DL, testing and registration is required,

but can be handled by DL Office staff, rather than through Student Services staff.

What is DL?

Learning away from school. Independent work with teacher support.

• Current program/curricula options for DL:

Online: Learner Web, USA Learns, Skills Tutor, i-

Pathways

DVD: EASY ESL, English for All, Crossroads Café

Online DL Program/Curricula

DVDs and work packet Programs

EASY ESL Crossroads Café

English for All

Videos for ELL levels 0 - 5

Distance Learning Programs

AppropriateABE/ELL Level

Format / Requirements

Description

USA Learns ELL 1-4CASAS 181-220

Online / Internet access

Online English learning website. Offers 3 different leveled courses. Varying number of units.

EASY ESL ELL 0-3CASAS 153-210

DVD and work packets

English learning video series. From very basic to upper level ELL. School, job and community life content. 12 units.

English for All ELL 3-4CASAS 201-220

DVD and work packets

Video series of immigrant stories, adapting to America. Grammar and culture points in each episode. 20 episodes.

Crossroads Cafe ELL 4-5 CASAS 201+-Any TABE

DVD and work packets

Video series ‘sit-com’ about a café and real life. Int. ELLs. 26 episodes.

Skills Tutor CASAS 221+ -Any TABE

Online / Internet access

Online basic skills. Language Arts, Reading Vocab & Comprehension, Writing, Math, Working…

i-Pathways TABE Reading 9.0+, TABE Math 7/8.0+

Online / Internet access

GED content prep and practice. Some pre-GED math content.

Learner Web CASAS 221+ -Any TABE

Online / Internet access

Online resource that connects learners to resources (online or otherwise) through guided learning plans with specific goals.

DL ModelsDistance Learning: solely at a distance

(away from school); students can use the DEL. Teacher contact for initial orientation, check-ins and support only.

There are 400+ total learners enrolled in DL in some form; about 70 DL-only learners right now.

Hybrid DL: traditional class combined with Distance Learning

Hybrid classes at Hubbs:

PreCNA, MOP, Child Development (using Learner Web)GED, ELL Math B, Math 2/3, Writing 1 & ELL 5 (using Skills Tutor)

Developing Independent Learning Skills, Digital Literacy and Post-secondary Expectations

Expectations for participation in online DL are: Have and use email to communicate with DL staff

(If they don’t have an email, we refer them to the DEL where they open a gmail account one on one with DEL staff)

Go to URL, login and navigate in DL program. (DL staff provide this training and practice during initial orientation, and as needed during subsequent learner check-ins.)

Complete a minimum amount of work/assignments/units. (We require a minimum of 4 hours a week for continued

participation in DL.) Students are expected to “check in” with DL staff at least

once every 2 weeks. (Email [encouraged the most], voicemail or in-person during DL Office hours.)

Minimum of 70%-80% mastery of content Log-ins are turned off if expectations are not met and/or

student doesn’t communicate with DL staff.

DL Office Staff: What do they do?

Provide screening, orientation, expectations-setting for DL participation, goal setting and training for learners

Conduct learner check-ins and communicationKeep up with record-keeping and reporting,

maintenance of contact, progress and proxy hoursRecruit new DL participantsMaintain connection to outreach sites and classesInform staff and learners about DL

Operate and consistently work to improve the best darn ABE DL program in MN

Hubbs Staff Involved in DL

Misconceptions Online Learning is the same as Distance Learning

Depends on your concept of the phrase, online learning. Current ABE DL programs are not set up like a college or high school online course, with a co-hort of students, a strict calendar with class beginning and end dates and assignment due dates-- which is what people often associate with the phrase ‘online learning’. Though we may eventually move toward this model of DL.

DL vs. the DEL vs. the Learning LabDL = distance learning, assigned work to be done outside of classDEL = Digital Education Lab, room 1418, a computer classroom and open lab for one-on-one support with a specific digital literacy skill or question; also available for any DLer to work on their DL program. Currently staffed by our CTEP volunteer Pheobe Tollefson and U of M work-study students. Learning Lab = room 1408, a lab for any school or job-related work, except DL. Learners swipe in and seat time is collected. Staffed by teachers and U of M work-study students. No DL work can be done in the LL because of the swipe-in.

DL programs/content can be used in the classroom.False. Hubbs has made the decision to reserve some resources for DLers only.

DL is only online. False. It also includes videos and work packets for lower level ELLs

without internet access or sufficient computer skills.

More Information

hubbs.spps.org/dl.htmlhubbs.spps.org/ged.html

(Both the above URLs have online application forms for anyone interested in participating in DL. Please refer learners to them. They will be contacted by DL staff.)

mnabe-distancelearning.org

Contact Adam Kieffer, Julia Tabbut or Pam Ampferer for more info.

Q & A time…go!

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