News:
TIMAC
Application Due May 16th
The online application for the Technology Integration Mentor Academy (TIMAC) is open now through May 16, 2008. In 2008-09, ten new participants will be selected and will participate for one school year. Up to five more participants may be added if the agency covers tuition and travel costs.
New
Online Professional Development Courses
The California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) launched a new, self-directed online course: Orientation for New ESL Teachers. This course supports new adult education instructors in understanding adult learners, planning ESL lessons, finding out about procedures at their site, and more.
Professional Development:
Upcoming Online Workshops:
April 17, 2008 — OTAN Services for Teachers with Linda Swanson
This session will focus on the teaching resources available on the OTAN
Web site. Topics include effective strategies for browsing and searching
the OTAN Web site, and using the site as a gateway to the best adult education
sites for your program.
April 18, 2008 — Google Goodies with Melinda Holt
Google is a search engine and so much more. There are a wide variety of
services offered by Google that are free and ready to use – all you
need to know is where they are and how to use them.
April 19, 2008 — Using Discovery Education streaming Quiz
Builders with Blair
Roy
Create quizzes to test your students’ retention of materials viewed on DE
streaming. DE streaming will track student scores for you and you can export
the data into a spreadsheet if you prefer.
Face to Face, Hands-On Workshops at your school!
April 25, 2008 — Creating
Web Pages with Google Page Creator – Linda Swanson
Location: Hacienda La Puente – Willow Campus
Participants will learn how to develop Web pages using tools from Google, including
entering text, creating links between their pages and to other Web sites, and
adding pictures/clipart. They will also be exploring the use of Google Blogs.
April 28, 2008 — Advanced PowerPoint 2003 for Adult Education — Linda Swanson
Location: Porterville Adult School (Pioneer)
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about some of the more
advanced features of PowerPoint, such as adding sounds, music and video,
creating self-timed presentations, and some advanced animation techniques
for creating games and other classroom activities.
Resources for Teachers:
Here are some great new links recently added to the OTAN site that might be useful to teachers who are interested in using the Internet with their students:
Easy
Voter Guide
The Easy Voter Guide Project is dedicated to making elections make sense.
You may download a copy of the Easy Voter Guide in English, Spanish, Chinese,
Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Japanese. You may also read about the issues
and where the presidential candidates stand on the issues.
Physics Education Technology
This site offers a number of different simulations for various science and
technology related classes. The Circuit Construction Kit would be useful
for VESL programs teaching about electric circuits. Also great for High
School Diploma programs where a Chemistry or other labs aren't available.
Use these simulations instead. Includes: Motion; Work, Energy & Power;
Sound 7 Waves; Heat & Thermo; Electricity, Magnets & Circuits; Light & Radiation;
Chemistry; Math Tools.
Lit2Go
A free resource of books, proverbs, and poems in MP3 format. You can download
or listen online. You can view the text on a Web page and read along as
you listen or print out the stories. Because you can search this database
by reading level, it is a great resources for all. Try some reading activities
with older adults too. Good for ABE, ASE or for listening practice for various
ESL levels.
Lists of Grammar Lists
This site provides lists of grammar items for use by ESL/EFL or ABE teachers.
They were prepared by ESL/EFL teachers to share with colleagues. Includes:
Irregular verbs; spelling rules for nouns & verbs; verb & preposition
combinations; linking verbs; count & non-count nouns; regular and irregular
noun forms; and conjunctions.