Why Distance Learning?

1. 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.

2. 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

3. Online DL Program/Curricula

4. DVDs and work packet Programs EASY ESL Crossroads Café English for All Videos for ELL levels 0 - 5

6. DL Models • Distance 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)

7. 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.

8. 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 communication • Keep up with record-keeping and reporting, maintenance of contact, progress and proxy hours • Recruit new DL participants • Maintain connection to outreach sites and classes • Inform staff and learners about DL • Operate and consistently work to improve the best darn ABE DL program in MN 

9. Hubbs Staff Involved in DL

10. 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 Lab DL = distance learning, assigned work to be done outside of class DEL = 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.

11. More Information • hubbs.spps.org/dl.html • hubbs.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.

12. Q & A time…go! • ???