Technology Integration

What's New with LINCS and National Institute for Literacy

The Southern LINCS Regional Technology Center (RTC) for 14 southern states including Texas is housed in the Center for Literacy Studies at University of Tennessee-Knoxville. As part of their LINCS (Literacy Information aNd Communication System) funding requirements from the National Institute for Literacy, the RTCs have designed a number of pilot projects with their state partners. The goals of the pilots are to integrate technology into teaching and professional development.

States are encouraged to contact their LINCS Regional Technology Center for more information on how to use one of these Pilot Projects and to participate in future pilots. Southern LINCS currently has three pilot projects underway that focus on addressing the needs of teachers, tutors, trainers, or students.

Focus/Description: This online facilitated course will explore many topics on technology in the adult education classroom including Web design, Web resources, lesson planning, and creating a techno-logy plan. Assignments and use of a discussion board are integrated into the course. This project will serve as an alternative to face-to-face professional development workshops around the state.

Target Audience: ABE and ESOL Teachers

Time Commitment: Eight weeks, two hours per week.

Intended Outcomes: Increase teachers' use of technology; Inform teachers on ways to take technology into their classrooms.

NOTE: This course became available in September 2003 for Virginia teachers. Currently Virginia uses its own distance learning platform for online courses; however, this course may be adapted to other platforms. And in a recent development with exciting potential, Southern LINCS is currently collaborating with the Midwest LINCS RTC to develop and pilot a new "open source" distance learning platform. The goal is to make that platform available to all LINCS state partners for professional development, with long-term potential for use with adult learners as well.

Focus/Description: Materials that were formerly delivered in face-to-face peer training will be put online. New teachers who are required to take this training will now have an alternative way to access the orientation material.

Target Audience: New ABE Teachers in West Virginia

Time Commitment: Varies. This is an online training module that can be taken at the teacher's own pace.

Intended Outcomes: Increase teacher access to orientation, preservice materials. Demonstrate LINCS as "the place to go for resources."

NOTE: Although this material is designed for West Virginia teachers, much of the material will be applicable for teachers in other states and could be adapted.

Focus/Description: Staff conducts a 1 to 1-1/2 hour session on Web searching, LINCS and evaluation of Web sites. This initial training includes a pretest survey on Web usage. Students are given a list of criteria questions to apply to Web sites as they search (1/2 to 1 hour/week) over the course of six weeks. A post-test survey and evaluation are given at the end of that time period.

Target Audience: Mid/High Level Learners in ABE/GED classrooms

Time Commitment: For trainer: 1 to 1-1/2 hours for initial training. Follow-up after six weeks. For teacher/student: 1 to 1-1/2 hours for initial training, 1/2 to 1 hour per week for Web searching, 30 minutes for follow-up survey and evaluation.

Intended Outcomes: Improve learner searching skills, Improve learner evaluation skills, Identify Web resources for a LINCS learner site.

To access the Southern LINCS website, go to TCALL's home page, and click on the red LINCS button. At the bottom of that page, you'll find buttons for the regional centers.