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World Wide Web of Resources for Adult Educators and Learners

January, 2001

The World Wide Web certainly lives up to its name as we begin a new millennium. With an enormous wealth of primary and secondary resources, the Internet has proven itself as an invaluable tool in assisting adult educators and adult learners in meeting the student's educational goals and needs. Bates (1995) shares that 

Teles (1993) has argued that new technologies can be used to better prepare people for the information age, through the development of curricula that not only deal with issues arising from the information society, but also use technologies in such a way that they develop the skills needed within such a society. (p. 233)

Any person working within the education profession who has recently opened an Education Journal and/or Magazine has been bombarded with articles discussing methods of effectively incorporating technology into the classroom. Small business owners and chief executive officers alike require that their employees daily employ telecommunications skills within the workplace. National initiatives such as the 1992 Secretary of Labor's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills report, What Work Requires of Schools: A SCANS Report for America 2000, and the Department of Education's Equipped for the Future report establishes educational standards that address the United States of America's need to prepare all students to become productive in their personal, professional, and civic lives.

Authors with expertise in education, in industry, and in other professional arenas have written texts that address the use of distant information in classrooms and in workspaces throughout the world. Eastmond (1995) reports that community colleges and universities as well as corporations now employ a variety of telecommunications to train their employees. His (Eastmond's) reference to Paulsen's (1991) belief "that the Internet could begin to offer university courses to a global audience because it already has millions of users who access its thousands of discussion areas" (p. 167) is not unfamiliar to students and professors in many of today's educational institutions, especially those that are utilizing the Internet in its daily academic endeavors (http://www.internet2.edu). Perhaps Susan Cowles best summarizes how the Internet can assist adult education teachers and their students in meeting the current and the future educational and professional goals of the students:

-the Internet [may be] used as a vehicle to obtain reference materials. Using the Internet to communicate with others, be they fellow learners or governmental officials, gives rise to voicing ideas, solving problems, and acting independently. Finally, seeing oneself as a competent user of information technology helps to orient the learner in the world (1997, p. 3).

Locating informative, quality adult educational Internet sites is often a time-consuming not to mention overwhelming task for both teacher and learner. Therefore, a search and review of Web sites pertaining to the Adult Education field has been accomplished with the intent of reducing the time and anxiety level of both adult educators and adult learners. Of the hundreds of Web sites examined, 50 Web sites have been classified as teacher- and learner-friendly. These Web sites are relevant in the areas of Governmental Agencies, Adult Basic Education/General Education Development (ABE/GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), Family Literacy, and Using Technology in the Adult Classroom.

Several hundred adult education Web sites were examined, and approximately seventy were analyzed in depth due to their exceptional quality or unique offerings. The list was further narrowed, and the following sites were chosen to be included in a list of links for the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) Web site. These sites contain the most exemplary resources found during the research. In a superhighway that is constantly growing, and with both adult educators and adult learners feeling time constraints, it is the author's feeling that a succinct directory of the most useful resources available is quite practical. The following sites have been evaluated and selected based upon their content and user-friendliness. User-friendliness is defined as the availability of free resources, easy navigation of the Web site, suitability of content for target audiences, i.e. appropriate material and appropriate level of comprehension and computers skill.

Web sites were evaluated in the areas of

• Governmental Agencies;
• Adult Basic Education/General Education Development (ABE/GED);
• English as a Second Language (ESL);
• Family Literacy; and
• Using Technology in the Adult Classroom.

Governmental Agencies

United States of America Department of Education

This is the official Web site for the U. S. Department of Education and has a plethora of information. It offers research findings, access to completing the Federal Student Aid Application on-line as well as a professional development toolkit. In addition, information regarding Federal Education Legislation and Federal Educational Programs and Grants is provided.

http://www.dhhs.gov - United States of America Department of Health and Human Services

The responsibility of protecting the health of all Americans is the primary focus of the U. S. Department of Heath and Human Services (DHHS). Through the DHHS' Web site, visitors can obtain information regarding the various agencies, e.g. the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is a special "For Kids" link that offers information concerning substance abuse, environmental toxins, and tips for working teens.

http://www.free-ed.net - GED practice

This site is a proto-type version that will soon be replaced by a full program of study for the GED Test. The site contains tutorials and activities for the GED Exam in the subjects of: math, science, English, social studies, and writing. It is easy to use, but since the site is in its preliminary stages, some resources are limited. It will need to be updated after 2001 to meet the requirements for preparing to take the new GED Test.

http://www.gedpractice.com - GED practice

This is a free service aimed at familiarizing learners with the subjects that will be encountered on the GED Test. Students can answer practice questions and gain feedback regarding their answers. The activities cover literature, social studies, math, science, and writing. Some items require some time to load, but the activities are worth the wait.

http://elmo.shore.ctc.edu/callab - GED Practice

This site offers practice modules with questions similar to what is found on the actual GED Exam. There is a great Social Studies section with wonderful interactive activities. Again, it will need to be updated after 2001.

http://www.aceofflorida.org/ - For teachers of ABE/GED courses

The Adult and Community Education Department of the state of Florida provides tips and "Frequently Asked Questions" for those educators administering the GED test and preparing students for taking the examination. This site is excellent to help prepare the educator for student questions, plus problems that might be encountered.

http://www.cyberstep.org - Multi-media Tools for Adult Basic Education

This site is a federally-funded multi-media tool for adult basic educators and learners. It contains CD-ROM and World Wide Web authoring tools along with activities for literacy and ABE learners. Engaging interactive activities are available.

http://www.brainpop.com - BrainPOP - Health, Science, and Technology

Although this site is oriented toward pre-adolescents, it could be an excellent tool for ABE learners interested in expanding their knowledge of health, science, and technology. There are great interactive activities, as well as over eighty original animated movies. There are also useful quizzes available on the topics that are discussed on the site. To utilize this site, you must have a Java-enabled browser.

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/blueWebn - Blue Web'n

Pacific Bell provides an excellent database of over 1000 outstanding Internet sites. Categorized according to subject area, audience, and type, these sites offer information, which ranges from parenting tips to social studies topics to music. Weekly updates highlighting specific Web sites are available to anyone with an e-mail address.

http://www.edweek.org - Education Week on the Web

This is "American Education's Online Newspaper of Record" that features daily updates on current educational news stories. Additional features include a teacher magazine, site archives, special reports, hot topics, and facts and figures about each of the 50 States.

http://www.ed.psu.edu/isal/ - Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy (ISAL)

Located at Penn State University, ISAL uses "research to inform and improve practice related to adult literacy." Research initiatives that ISAL has undertaken are shared. Access to ISAL publications and to additional resources is available to the site's visitor.

http://www.eslcafe.com - Dave's ESL Café

This "café" is a great, easy-to-maneuver site that contains student and teacher forums, as well as resources for both. Components of Dave's ESL Café include: pronunciation, grammar, idioms, and United States History modules with quizzes and feedback. A really great feature is a dictionary of English slang. This site is fun, interactive, and very engaging. Resourceful ESL links are also included.

http://www.otan.dni.us/Webfarm/e-mailproject/e-mail.htm - ESL e-mail Project

This site offers examples of online adult ESL learning projects. Some of the projects that are available to view are a Cookbook Project, Pizza Project, Home Remedies Project, and an Annotated Bibliography of Adult Learning Resources.

http://www.aec.ku.edu/ - The Applied English Center - Learning English Online (LEO)

Activities for grammar, vocabulary, idioms, reading and listening skills, as well as links to resources for these areas of ESL are found at this Web address. This site also offers online classes, as well as content based learning topics. There is an excellent feature that allows access to Adult Education Counselors to answer questions about the site and its activities.

http://www.ohiou.edu/esl/index.html - Ohio ESL

Ohio University's ESL Program provides an easy to navigate site with study materials and reading and writing practice activities for learners. Information for using different research references including the Internet is provided. Resources for teachers include: examples of lesson plans, activities for professional development, and other guides. A helpful guide to life in the United States for foreign students is also found here.

http://babel.uoregon.edu/ - Yamada Language Center: ESL

Numerous links for ESL learners connect them with Web sites whose topics and features range from self-study quizzes to TOEFL Prep. For ESL educators, the links take them to sites that offer daily lesson plans as well as access to ERIC Resources.

http://www.eslmag.com - ESL Magazine Online

An opportunity to preview current or review back issues (1998-2000) of ESL Magazine is a plus for this site. There is a summary of each issue's articles and usually, one article is available for text-only print. For those who find this to be a valuable magazine and wish to subscribe, the Web site grants this wish as well as the wish of those wanting to purchase back issues. ESL/EFL Links navigate this site's visitors to dictionaries, e-mail/key pals, lesson plans, and a wealth of other learning and teaching aids.

http://www.bu.edu/celop/mll/teachers/news/toefl.html - TOEFL Links for Students and Educators

Designed to be an aid for the student preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the site provides links with several other sites that offer practice exercises and sample questions. Within these activities, hints, as well as the correct responses, are located immediately below the practice questions.

http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~itesls/ - Interesting Things for ESL Students

A collection of word games, puzzles, quizzes, slang, and proverbs for the ESL student to learn and enhance English skills is offered at this site.

http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/ - Self-Study Quizzes for ESL Students

The name of this site tells its contents: a collection of ESL quizzes for students. It is a part of The Internet TESL Journal's Activities for ESL Students.

http://www.edvista.com/claire/internet-esl.html - The Internet for ESL Teachers

Several tips for ESL educators on utilizing the Internet are offered at this site. A guide to student projects, Web page creation, available on-line courses, and other useful links is included as well.

http://www.englishclub.com - Englishclub.net

This site is designed especially for the ESL teacher. There are examples of lesson plans, classroom handouts, and various articles about the field. There is also a job bulletin board that (1) allows those seeking new employment to post their resume' or curriculum vita and (2) provides a listing of available jobs.

http://www.toefl.org - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Official Web site

For the student preparing for either the paper-based or the computer-based TOEFL and the teacher who is teaching this student, this is the site for them. For the student with and without disabilities, facts concerning the administration of the TOEFL are shared. Educators and researchers alike have access to teaching tips and to recently published research. Free publications are available for all three audiences - student, educator, and researcher.

http://www.famlit.org - NationalCenter for Family Literacy (NCFL)

This site provides information regarding a wide variety of family literacy initiatives across the country. Links to Web sites throughout the United States are contained within this site. Information concerning training at the Center, regional and national conferences, and research initiatives at NCFL is provided.

http://www.read2kids.org/ - Family Literacy Foundation

This site provides tips, in both English and Spanish, on how to get a child to enjoy reading. There is also an online newsletter that provides recommended reading for all levels.

http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/www/famres/pctogeth/ish01/comform.html - Parents and Children Together Online

This site offers an online magazine for both parents and children. There are stories to read aloud for children and articles for parents regarding children's reading skills and other parenting issues.

http://www.bookadventure.org - Book Adventure

Kids, parents, and teachers can register at this site, which is a free reading incentive program that encourages children grades K-8 to read. Utilizing a specialized search engine that finds appropriate titles, kids can read books and win prizes. Parents are able to use provided resources that encourage reading, and they can monitor their child's reading and winnings. Teachers can use this site as a fun and interactive tool to encourage reading.

http://www.mightybook.com - Mightybook.com

This site provides free "read aloud" flash animated books, music and videos for children ages 2-12. There are also competitions for young authors, artists and illustrators.

http://www.nap.edu - National Academy Press

The National Academy Press (NAP) publishes reports that the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council have prepared. These reports cover topics from animal science to reading, and offer a breadth of topics that affect families on a daily basis.

http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/FamilyLit - The Family Literacy Special Collections - National Institute for Literacy

This collection provides in-depth information on major categories such as professional development resources, instructional links for educators, and news and upcoming events in the field of family literacy.

http://www.connectforkids.org - Connect for Kids Weekly

The Connect for Kids Weekly is your source for the latest news on issues affecting kids and families. (Source: Connect for Kids published by the Benton Foundation)

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ideasatwork - Ideas at Work: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader 

A directory of local, state, and national literacy initiatives, including initiatives that leading businesses have sponsored, are found here. Initiatives include topics such as "How Can I Help Preschoolers Get Ready to Read?". This site is helpful to both parents and educators.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ - The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) -U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Web location of the ACF provides answers to all of the questions a parent or parent educator may have regarding programs and offices supported in this division of Health and Human Services. Key information is available concerning programs such as TANF and Head Start. Other topics are: child care, fatherhood initiatives, and Medicaid access.

http://evenstart.org - National Even Start Association (NESA)

Teachers and parents will find a wealth of information at NESA's official Web site. Available for on-line reading is the NESA Newsletter. The Links feature has four categories: grantmaker, teacher, parent, and additional resources. Dates and other information regarding approaching Even Start Conferences is provided as well.

http://www.rif.org - Reading is Fundamental (RIF)

The RIF Web site is a testimony to the organization's mission of "developing and delivering children's and family literacy programs." Visitors may join discussion lists about storytelling and reading aloud, or find an activity suitable for a parent or a child. Literacy links are available through the "Resources" icon.

http://Web.uvic.ca/hrd/halfbaked/ - Hot Potatoes Half-Baked Software

This site offers a software program that includes six applications, which allow teachers to create interactive multiple choice, crossword, matching/ordering, short answer, jumbled sentence, and fill-in-the-blank activities for the World Wide Web. Online technical support and descriptions with links to sites that were created using the Hot Potatoes^TM tools are available. There are also tutorials to walk the site visitor through the programs. These tutorials are available in several different languages.

http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/usia/home.html - Integrating the Internet into the Classroom

Users can register at this site to obtain feedback from this online course's instructor. There are also discussions and a scrapbook containing examples of how others are utilizing the Web in the classroom.

http://alri.org/harness.html - Technological Solutions to Problems in the ABE and ESL classroom

This site contains problems faced in the ABE and ESL classroom and how educators can solve or reduce these problems using various forms of technology. Educators are able to submit problems as well as solutions.

http://www.alri.org/pubs/cruising.html - A Study of How Adult Basic Educators are Utilizing the Internet

This site proves to be an informative site on how adult literacy educators are using the Internet to enhance their teaching and their students' learning.

http://learningware.com - LearningWare, Inc.

Engaging in a contest that is based upon knowledge appeals to learners of all ages. Teachers are able to sample and then purchase software that allows them to create game-show style games, quizzes, tests, and surveys using LearningWare's ^TM software templates.

http://www.teachersfirst.com - Teachers First

Teachers First is a Web source of Internet resources and lesson plans that are drawn from around the world. The resources and lesson plans are grouped according to subject and grade level. With the target audience being "teachers in the trenches," this is an easy-to-use Web site.

Bates, A. W. (1995). Technology, Open Learning, and Distance Education. Great Britain: TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall.

Cowles, S. K. (1997). Teaching and Learning with Internet-based Resources.

Washington, D. C.: National Institute for Literacy.

Eastmond, D. V. (1995). Alone But Together: Adult Distance Study Through Computer Conferencing. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc.

Internet2^TM. Available: http://www.internet2.edu.

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