Distance Learning

Research and Evaluation | Noteworthy Practices | Additional Links

The use of digital technologies for learning supports the education of adult learners and their teachers and extends educational opportunities to reach new groups of students. The thoughtful integration of digital technologies into the traditional scheme of education and their use in developing new ways of learning is necessary to ensure students have the tools to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing technological society.

Digital technologies for learning, such as self-paced learning modules, multimedia case studies, simulations, video tutorials, and communications and assessment tools, can increase the array of learning opportunities for adult students and their teachers.

Research and Evaluation

Expanding Access to Adult Literacy with Online Distance Education: An Overview of Online Distance Education PDF (672K), this monograph from the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy, 2003, explores the potential of online distance education to serve the needs of adult basic education students. This report was funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).
Technology in Today's ABE Classroom: A Look at the Technology Practices and Preferences of Adult Basic Education Teachers (ABE) PDF (1.33MB) from World Education (World Ed), 2003, provides highlights from World Ed's survey to better understand how to direct their services better in the Northeastern United States.
Assessing the Impact of Technology in Teaching and Learning: A Sourcebook for Evaluators from the Institute for Social Research,PDF (428 KB) University of Michigan, 2002, provides an overview of measurement issues in seven areas, from learner outcomes to technology integration. A collection of appendices includes examples of measures used in a variety of technology projects previously funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

Noteworthy Practices

AdultEd Online aims to improve the quality of classroom instruction classroom teachers and administrators need to be knowledgeable about ways that technology can be used to improve student achievement. The Technology Integration Self Assessment allows teachers to measure their skills in 12 areas and get a customized professional development plan to improve their skills.
California's Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) provides ABE and English language resources and publications for teachers, students and administrators.
The California Distance Learning Project for Adult Educators includes an overview of distance learning as well as research and resources for teachers and program administrators.
Project IDEAL (Improving Distance Education for Adult Learners) was established to raise the quality of distance education across the country.) The project was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education.
Learner Web is a learning support system that provides structure and resources for adults who want to identify specific goals and steps to reach those goals. The Learning Web is self paced and allows the learner to explore the range of a subject area, to find resources to support their learning online and in their community.
Thinkfinity Literacy Network delivers free educational resources for lifelong learning for adults and family literacy programs, as well as online courses for literacy instruction.

Additional Links

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology (OET) was established to provide leadership in the development of policies and resources in order to use technology to promote achievement of the National Education Goals. The OET provides links to the draft National Educational Technology Plan.
Community Partnerships for Adult Learning, sponsored by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, includes practical How-Tos for program administrators and instructors on implementing distance learning and integrating technology into the adult education classroom.
The California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) offers free professional development courses you can take any time, any place, through the internet. To get started, all you need is an e-mail account, Internet access, and an average of three hours per week scheduled according to your convenience. Participants who complete a course successfully earn certificates of course completion (14 hours); graduates may also register for Continuing Education Units (CEU's), if they wish. Registration is now open for three courses that begin in January, including the first of two exciting new courses on Postsecondary Transitions.
In the Postsecondary Transitions courses, agency teams of an administrator, a lead teacher, and a student support services staff member register and work together throughout the course. In all other courses, any eligible adult educator may sign up as an individual. Enrollment in these January courses is on a first-registered, first-served basis, so sign up today! CALPRO events are open to all adult educators currently working in programs funded through the California Department of Education, Adult Education Office
What better way to start off the New Year than with professional deve

In the Postsecondary Transitions courses, agency teams of an administrator, a lead teacher, and a student support services staff member register and work together throughout the course. In all other courses, any eligible adult educator may sign up as an individual.

Enrollment in these January courses is on a first-registered, first-served basis, so sign up today! CALPRO events are open to all adult educators currently working in programs funded through the California Department of Education, Adult Education Office.

For registration and additional information, visit CALPRO's Event Calendar or the statewide training calendar of the state Leadership Projects.

Distance Learning Projects & Resources