1

Volume 4 , Issue 3

FALL 2004

The Adult Learning

Network is a

quarterly publication

of the Arkansas

Adult Learning

Resource Center.

Travel Reimbursement

It is important to remember the new guidelines when

making travel plans to attend meetings/workshops at the

AALRC. Mr. George French, Deputy Director of Adult

Education for the state Department of Workforce Educa-

tion, sent a memo dated August 6

th

to all program ad-

ministrators regarding travel. It stated the following:

Local programs funded with state or federal adult education funds must

adhere to Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration guidelines

when requesting travel reimbursement. In an effort to conserve funds

during these tough economic times, it was necessary last year to formal-

ize what had long been an informal part of our travel policy dealing with

reimbursement of mileage for participants attending training workshops

and meetings. Local programs are to be reimbursed mileage for only

ONE vehicle per program when attending training workshops, confer-

ences, or meetings. Any program requesting another option

must have

prior written permission

from the deputy director of adult education.

Your cooperation in helping conserve funds so we may continue provid-

ing instructional services to our students is requested and appreciated.

Continued on page 5

Legislative Breakfasts to Raise Awareness

for Adult Education

Fellow Adult Education Administrators - Welcome to a new and challeng-

ing year!

This year, we have a great opportunity to bring more awareness of Adult

Education and its services to the legislators of our state and we need

your help.

For the first time, we will have a Legislative Breakfast for each Congres-

sional District in the state. We are asking you to attend the Legislative

Breakfast for your Congressional District and to invite all legislators in

your district.

We have sponsors for each breakfast, thanks to Mr. George French, Dep-

uty Director of Adult Education, and we hope that the breakfast from each

district is well attended.

The Legislative Breakfasts will be held in the Capitol Cafeteria, George

Mann Meeting Room from 7:00 am – 9:00 am. The schedule is as

follows:

2

Adult Learning Network

Tuition Reimbursement

Program

Contact your Program Advisor at the

Adult Education Section or Marsha Tay-

lor at the AALRC for more information

on this program. Reimbursement is ap-

plicable to courses taken for Adult Edu-

cation Licensure ONLY! This form is

available on the AALRC website

(www.aalrc.org).

Remember: (1) The application form

must be submitted to the AALRC 10

working days before class begins.

(2) Your class grade and receipt of pay-

ment must be received within 30 days

of class ending.

AALRC Staff

Director

Marsha Taylor

___________________

Secretary

Toccara Handy

Administrative

Assistant

Wanda Johnson

Professional

Development

Coordinator

Nancy Loftis

Media

Coordinator

Klaus Neu

Information

Technology

Specialist

Rob Pollan

Disabilities

Project

Manager

Patti White

Professional Development News

There is a new requirement: Appli-

cants must provide documentation

that the class will count for adult

education licensure.

For a list of courses available in

adult education, please contact:

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro

Dr. David Agnew

(870) 972-3943

University of Arkansas

at Fayetteville

Dr. Buddy Lyle

(479) 575-5119 or

(479) 575-4578

University of Arkansas

at Little Rock

Dr. Charlotte Robertson

(501) 569-8933

University of Central Arkansas

Conway

Dr. Sherry Roberts

(501) 450-5431

Professional Development Calendar 2004—2005

Training Opportunities at AALRC — Some other locations as noted

NOTICE:

If you are unable to attend a workshop you have registered for, please

contact the AALRC as soon as possible. Participants are often placed on

waiting lists because workshops fill up. If you find that you cannot attend

a workshop and you call ahead, this gives us time to notify wait-listed

participants that they can attend.

October

4 – Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

11 – GED Math Instructional Strategies

– Northeastern College, Blytheville

14-15 – ESL Laubach/Proliteracy Workshop

–Repeat of the September Session

18-19 – Strategies & Accommodations

28-29 – AACAE – Hot Springs Convention Center

November

15 – GED Math Instructional Strategies

– SW AR Educational Co-op, Hope

16 – Learning Disabilities Training & Dissemination

December

2 – GED Math Instructional Strategies

– SE AR Educational Co-op, Monticello

6 – Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

3

Adult Learning Network

Descriptions of Scheduled Trainings

Continued on page 5

January

20-21 – Literacy Strategies

27 – AALRC Numeracy Project

February

7-8 – Strategies & Accommodations

– Repeat of the October Session

10-11 – ESL Basics – Session 1

22-24 – Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

28 – Teaching the Three Rs in Adult Education in AR

Session 1– Neil Sturomski

March

2-3 – AALRC Numeracy Project

8 – Learning Disabilities Training & Dissemination

10-11 – ESL Basics – Session 2

April

7-8 – Literacy Strategies

11 – Teaching the Three Rs in Adult Education in AR

Session 2 – Neil Sturomski

14-15 – ESL Basics – Session 3

19 – AALRC Numeracy Project

21-22 – Administrators’ Meeting (Tentative Date)

25-27 – Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

May

5-6 – Literacy Strategies

24-25 – Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

AACAE

This is the annual state associational meeting which will include several different areas of professional

development including ESL, Learning Disabilities, NRS, and GED.

AALRC Numeracy Project

This workshop is based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards. Each

participant will attend a total of four days over a four month timeframe. When the class is completed, each

instructor will receive a teacher set of manipulatives and visual mathematics materials.

Administrators Meeting

A customized program for adult education administrators developed by the Dale Carnegie Institute.

ESL Basics

This is a workshop series in ESL instruction for adult education and literacy providers. Following each

training session, an interim task will be assigned to each participant to allow for maximum application of

material presented.

ESL Laubach/Proliteracy Workshop

This is training for teachers/tutors to learn how to deal with students who are at zero level in their English

language skills. It provides a comprehensive program in the language acquisition skills of listening,

speaking, reading, and writing. The skills are presented so that a student is never put into the position of

not knowing the correct response.

GED Math Instructional Strategies

Math Subcommittee of the GED Taskforce will provide regional training on the GED Math Instructional

Strategies. The information can be used as a tool by math instructors to help their students pass the

math portion of the GED.

Literacy Strategies

The workshop will include research based practices in reading assessment, curriculum planning, readabil-

ities, and teaching strategies for students at all performance levels including those with special needs.

4

Adult Learning Network

News from the Disabilities Project Manager

Free Online Newsletter for Teachers of Students with Disabilities

The CEC Smart Brief is a free online newsletter created for special education professionals. It includes

an email news-briefing three times a week regarding the latest news from the field of special education,

trends, best practices, and more. When you sign up to receive the newsletter, you can choose what age

group of students you work with the most to receive news most applicable to your students. You can ex-

pect information regarding:

•

Curriculum and instruction

•

Leadership

•

Technology trends

•

Policy

•

Awards and recognition opportunities for students

To sign up for the newsletter, go to

http://www.smartbrief.com/cec/

Helping GED Graduates with Learning Disabilities Transition to Higher Education

Adult education students diagnosed with learning disabilities who plan to continue their education after

completing their GED can learn valuable information online at

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/adult/heath_collegesuccess.html

. This article, “Success In College for

Adults with Learning Disabilities,” is published by the HEATH Resource Center. It includes information

about self advocacy, legislation, types of institutions, services and programs, documentation and accom-

modative services, choosing a college, and tips for successful preparation.

Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program

Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) now offers a financing program for Arkansas residents with dis-

abilities who need to purchase assistive technology devices but need a loan to make the purchase. The

applicant does not have to be an ARS client. Applicants will qualify for the loan if:

Arkansas residency can be proved;

The disability is documented;

The purchase is for an assistive technology device;

There is a reasonable expectation that the applicant (or co-signer) will pay back the loan; and

It helps to support the applicant’s independence and productivity.

The financing program is low-interest (currently 4.25%), with a minimum processing time of two weeks.

The maximum loan possible is $50,000, for home modifications only. There is a $25 application fee to

cover the cost of obtaining a credit report. The check is made out for the vendor, not the applicant, and

the expected pay-back time depends on the life-expectancy of the financed item. For example, if an ap-

plicant with a reading disability wanted to purchase a computer with speech-to-text software applications,

the loan would probably be a 3-year loan—the average life expectancy of a computer.

This program has been available in Arkansas since 2002, and to date, all of the loans have been for vehi-

cle modifications. But according to Jim Moreland, Program Administrator, there are many assistive tech-

nology devices available today for people with every type of disability, including learning disabilities. The

problem has been to get the information out to the population that needs it the most;

i.e.,

the disability

population in Arkansas.

For more information or to obtain an application package, contact Jim Moreland at 501.686.2806 or send

email to

jdmoreland@ars.state.ar.us

.

5

Adult Learning Network

Descriptions of Scheduled Trainings

Legislative Breakfast to Raise Awareness for

Adult Education

AALRC

Advisory

Committee

Charlotte

Robertson,

Chair,

Little Rock

Emily Barrier,

Little Rock

Harriet Branch,

Monticello

Dubs Byers ,

Pine Bluff

Sharon Ellis,

Fort Smith

Jennifer Hurst,

Pine Bluff

Lloyd Huskey,

Little Rock

Steven Lilly,

Lonoke

Trece Shepherd

Williams,

Helena

George Stegall,

Texarkana

Nancy

Whitmire,

Batesville

Continued from page 1

January 18, 2005 District I (Northeast)

January 20, 2005 District II (Central)

January 25, 2005 District III (Northwest)

January 27, 2005 District IV (South)

If you need an updated congressional district map, let me know and I will fax

you a copy. For additional information, please call me at (501) 447-1850 or

email me at

paulette.martin@lrsd.org

.

Thanks for all you do and have a great year!

Paulette H. Martin, President

Arkansas Association for Administrators of Adult Education (AAAAE)

Learning Disabilities Training & Dissemination (LDTD)

The workshop is designed to give participants a brief overview of learning dis-

abilities awareness issues to promote more appropriate and effective service

provision for students who have learning disabilities, and to provide the oppor-

tunity for various agencies to meet and discuss interagency collaboration topics

regarding adults with learning disabilities.

Payne/Jordan Learning Disabilities

This is a learning disabilities training in the use of the Payne/Jordan Learning

Inventory. The Payne/Jordan Training is an in-depth workshop series that pro-

gresses over the course of one year, with a total of five sessions.

Strategies & Accommodations

The purpose of the workshop is to learn to use instructional materials and

strategies that are effective and appropriate for teaching adult students with

learning disabilities. Both metacognitive and cognitive skills are targeted.

Teaching the Three Rs in Adult Education in Arkansas

Neil Sturomski, a nationally renowned consultant, will provide research based

basic skills training to adult education teachers in the following areas: (1) un-

derstanding reading, writing and math issues and techniques; (2) recognizing

the need to provide a full range of instruction for adult students in the basic skill

areas of reading, writing, and math; (3) understanding research in reading, writ-

ing, and math and its implication for practice in adult education; (4) understand-

ing how to practically apply that research when working with adult students;

(5) utilizing specific techniques and instructional strategies; (6) knowing re-

sources available; and (7) evaluating the appropriateness of the tools used with

adult students in instructional settings. All participants will be trained in actual

hands-on, practical methodologies they can implement when working with stu-

dents.

Continued from page 3

6

Adult Learning Network

Note: To link to any web address (URL) in this newsletter, go the

AALRC's home page at http://aalrc.org, look up this newsletter,

and then just click on the appropriate link.

Adult Education

Advisory Council

Sharon Ellis, Chair,

Fort Smith

Diane Shores,

Vice-Chair, Helena

Marsha Taylor,

Secretary, LR

Jim Allen,

Fayetteville

Patricia Bates,

El Dorado

Dubs Byers,

Pine Bluff

Pat Collins,

Russellville

Ashli Fortune,

Stuttgart

Lloyd Huskey,

North Little Rock

Steven Lilly,

Lonoke

Becky Linsky,

Hot Springs

Paulette Martin,

Little Rock

Sheri Rogers,

Arkadelphia

Flora Simon,

Dumas

Billy Upson,

Texarkana

Peggy Weir,

Pocahontas

Ruth Ann Williams,

Conway

Tech

Talk

Using Older Programs with Windows XP

Most older programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Win-

dows will not run on Windows XP. Or will they. To run your program on Win-

dows XP, you can try the following: A) Run the Program Compatibility Wizard or

B) You can set the compatibility properties manually. Also, update your program,

drivers, hardware. These options are covered in detail below.

The Program Compatibility Wizard

This wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes (environments)

and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to

run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95 and try running

your program again. If successful, the program will start in that mode each time.

The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display

to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels. If compatibility prob-

lems prevent you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program

Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file may be called

Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc

for the program. To run the Program Compatibility Wizard click Start, click Help

and Support, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP, and

then, under See Also in the navigation pane, click Program Compatibility Wizard.

Set the compatibility properties manually

As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the

compatibility properties for a program manually. The settings are the same as

the options in the Program Compatibility Wizard. To set the compatibility proper-

ties for a program manually right-click the program icon on your desktop or the

shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Prop-

erties. Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your

program.

The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive.

Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup

files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you

close the program. For more information about an option on the Compatibility

tab, right-click the option and then click What's This.

Update your program and/or drivers

If your program does not run correctly after testing it with the Program Compati-

bility Wizard, check the Web for updates or other fixes, as follows: Check the

website of the program's manufacturer to see if an update or patch is available.

Make sure your computer is completely updated. Go to

www.microsoft.com

and

click on Windows Updates. Download all High Priority and hardware updates.

Check to see if optional software updates are available for your program.

7

Adult Learning Network

LINCS Special Collections

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/collections/collections.html

Continued on page 8

The Adult Education ESL Institute, July 19-21, 2004

Dr. Philip Less, ESL Coordinator

The Adult Education Section of the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education conducted an inten-

sive, three-day training for 48 adult education and literacy teachers and tutors at the fourth annual Adult

Education ESL Institute at the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center in Little Rock. The participants

at this year’s ESL Institute came from twenty-four different programs. Many of these programs are lo-

cated in areas of Arkansas where the majority of the immigrant population has settled, including Rogers,

Springdale, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Hope, DeQueen, Warren, Russellville, Dardanelle, and Danville.

The presenter for the 2004 ESL Institute was Ms. Cathy Jo Diaz, a well-known teacher trainer and au-

thor. She designed and wrote

Cathy’s Cards

,

Talking Up a Storm, Job Interview Cards

, and

Career and

Job Preparation Manual

, distributed by ALTA Book Company.

The 2004 ESL Institute focused on the following instructional areas: (1) stimulating speaking skills

through interactive activities,

(2) designing effective reading and writing activities (including using com-

puters), (3) developing lesson plans that keep students engaged in learning throughout the class, (4)

increasing student retention by focusing on short-term goals and student feedback, and (5) learning

more about the Hispanic culture. A notebook of more than 90 pages of materials from the presenter

was distributed at the Institute.

Feedback from this year’s evaluation forms showed an overwhelmingly positive reaction to all aspects of

the ESL Institute. Ms. Diaz’s instructional activities were well-designed, well-presented, and applicable

in the classroom immediately. Arkansas is fortunate to have a strong core of dedicated ESL teachers

and the strong support of the Adult Education Section.

The LINCS Special Collections are one-stop electronic gateways to specialized information on high-quality literacy

practices and materials for use in adult education and literacy programs. LINCS Special Collections are built

around specific content areas, specific settings or contexts, and professional development topics.

The LINCS Special Collections are maintained by the following Content Development Partners.

Assessment

maintained by

Midwest

LINCS

at the

Ohio Literacy Resource Center

Correctional Education

maintained by the

Correctional Education Association

English as a Second Language

maintained by

California Literacy, Inc.

(in partnership with

Laubach Literacy Action

,

Western/Pacific

LINCS

, and

World Education, Inc.

)

Equipped for the Future

maintained by the EFF Center for Training and Technical Assistance at the

Center for Literacy Studies

, University

of Tennessee

8

Adult Learning Network

Continued from page 7

LINCS Special Collections

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/collections/collections.html

Family Literacy

maintained by

Midwest

LINCS

at the

Ohio Literacy Resource Center

Health & Literacy

maintained by

World Education, Inc.

Literacy & Learning Disabilities

maintained by

Southern LINCS

at the

Center for Literacy Studies

Program Leadership and Improvement

maintained by

Southern LINCS

at the

Center for Literacy Studies

Policy & Legislation

maintained by the

National Institute for Literacy

Science & Numeracy

maintained by the

Western/Pacific

LINCS

Technology Training

maintained by the

Adult Literacy & Technology Network

and the

Sacramento County Office of Education

Workforce Education

maintained by

Southern

LINCS

at the

Center for Literacy Studies

Each Special Collection is reviewed by a core knowledge group to guarantee the quality and time-

liness of the resources.

If you have a site to recommend for inclusion in one or more of the

LINCS

Special Collections, con-

tact Jo Maralit at

mmaralit@nifl.gov

.

You can access LINCS from

the AALRC homepage

http://www.aalrc.org