The following highlights is a set of curated resources to support adult educators in distance learning, ranging from online instruction, to digital literacy and inclusion, to mobile learning via smartphones. Additional resources for administrators include supports for remote recruitment, enrollment, and engagement.
Engaging and Retaining Students in Remote Instruction
- Engaging and Retaining Students in Remote Instruction (1:50:06 min.)
Archived webinar from March 26, 2021
Facilitator: Kristi Reyes, Non-Credit ESL Instructor, MiraCosta College
This session addressed how to engage and retain students in remote instruction, and will be facilitated by Kristi Reyes from MiraCosta College in California.
Attend Anywhere Approach and Strategies for Effective Remote Instruction in Adult Education
- Attend Anywhere Approach and Strategies for Effective Remote Instruction in Adult Education (1:54:38 min.)
Archived webinar from March 26, 2021
Facilitators: Roshelle Overton, Interim Associate Dean, Central New Mexico Community College
Kristi Reyes, Non-Credit ESL Instructor, MiraCosta College
This webinar explores the “Attend Anywhere Approach” piloted by Roshelle Overton of College of New Mexico, and it also addresses Strategies for Effective Remote Instruction in Adult Education, with guest speaker Kristi Reyes.
Distance Learning Training for NNLC
- Distance Learning Training for NNLC (55:04 min.)
Archived webinar from March 5, 2021
Facilitator: Kristi Reyes, Non-Credit ESL Instructor, MiraCosta College
This training on distance learning will help NNLC instructors recognize features of high-quality adult instruction and standards for effective online instruction, demonstrate understanding of ways to manage the online classroom, and use activities in remote instruction that address a variety of learning styles.
Teaching to Different Learning Styles
- Teaching to Different Learning Styles (1 hour, 29 min.)
Archived webinar from February 4, 2021
Facilitator: Jayme Adelson-Goldstein, Consultant, Lighthearted Learning
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
-explain the difference between learning styles, learning modalities, and multiple intelligences,
-access a variety of activities to help learners identify and work with their strengths and areas of growth, and
-include multiple modalities in their instructional planning.
Remote Recruitment, Enrollment, and Engagement
- Remote Recruitment, Enrollment, and Engagement, Part 1 (49 min.)
Archived webinar from November 2, 2020
Presenter: Christopher McElroy, South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois
The presenter discusses best practices for using social media to recruit new students.
- Remote Recruitment, Enrollment, and Engagement, Part 2 (58 min.)
Archived webinar from November 2, 2020
Presenters: Margaret Wolf, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, Illinois, and
Marian Thacher, American Institutes for Research
Ms. Wolf discusses practices for using remotely enrolling new students. Ms. Thacher then discusses best practices for administrators to keep instructors engaged from a distance.
Online and Blended Instruction
- Distance Learning Part 1: Supporting Learner Persistence in an Online or Blended Course (44 min.)
Archived webinar from April 27, 2020
Presenter: Marian Thacher, American Institutes for Research
The presenter discusses why students take online classes, barriers for online and blended courses, and five factors that encourage learner persistence.
- Distance Learning Part 2: Designing Engaging Online and Blended Courses (45 min.)
Archived webinar from April 27, 2020
Presenter: Sudie Whalen, American Institutes for Research
The presenter discusses design considerations in creating courses that are of high-quality, engaging, and equitable.
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Distance Learning Part 3: Staying Connected to Students with Technology (Tech Tools and Tips) (44 min.)
Archived webinar from April 27, 2020
Presenter: Melinda Holt, Sacramento County Office of Education
The presenter discusses a wide variety of considerations in using technology for learning, and she provides practical tips and strategies that support online and blended instruction.
- Designing Engaging Online/Blended Courses (PDF)
This professional development presentation for adult educators provides an overview of the relationship between learning persistence in an online or blended course and various considerations, such as course quality, effective course design and layout, and designing for engagement. It also highlights indicators of course quality and engagement.
- Increasing Equity in Online and Blended Learning (PDF)
This professional development presentation for adult educators provides an overview of key elements of equity in online education and it introduces a cultural competence continuum. It also discusses that what is known about technology and bias and what educators can do to increase equity in online and blended learning.
- Learner Persistence in an Online or Blended Learning Environment (PDF)
This professional development presentation for adult educators highlights what research indicates are the biggest barriers for students to online or blended learning and explores five key factors in students’ success in an online learning environment.
- Additional Online Course Development Resources (PDF)
This document provides a curated list of hyperlinks to additional resources that can support or enhance online course development. Categories include accessibility checkers and screen readers, an online course quality rubric, and virtual field trips.
Websites Supporting Digital Access and Inclusion
- Digital Charlotte (www) – a curated list of several national organizations and training resources that support low-cost Internet access, digital inclusion within communities, and increased digital literacy
- EveryoneOn (www) – connects low-incomes families to low-cost Internet access and computers and provides training in digital literacy
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance (www) – bridging policy makers and the general public, NDIA identifies areas of need for digital inclusion among low-income populations and directs resources to support this goal
Websites Supporting Advancement of Students’ Digital Literacy
- DigitalLearn.org (www) – this website of the Public Library Association provides numerous free online tutorials to help students increase specific digital literacy skills
- GCFLearnFree.org (www) – supported by the Goodwill Foundation, this site provides free online tutorials, including lessons, videos and interactive games on up to 200 topics
- Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment (www) – a free program of Literacy Minnesota, Northstar promotes mastery learning in various digital literacy skills and provides testing to certify mastery.
- TechBoomers (www) – geared toward older adults and others with basic computer skills and limited experience with the Internet, this site provides free trainings demonstrating how a variety of websites (e.g., social media, online shopping) work and how increased digital literacy may improve users' lives
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
The following are online platforms available for free use that support blended and online instruction. Though their designs and interfaces differ somewhat, most feature essential elements such as a calendar, announcements, discussion boards, quizzes, and gradebooks; multimedia files to enhance teaching and learning can also be integrated into the course. These LMS are primarily set up to support asynchronous online learning, in which learners log in at different times to participate in required or recommended activities and assignments; the platforms may also accommodate synchronous learning opportunities, in which students convene at the same time for a live event, such as a webinar.
- Canvas (www) – an open-source LMS that supports online learning for students of all levels and grades.
- Google Classroom (www) – an LMS developed by Google for educators, which interfaces with many other free Google products and services.
- Moodle – an open-source LMS that supports online learning for students of all levels and grad
- NEO (www) – NEO's free LMS provides all of the typical features listed in the LMS introduction above, and also integrates well with external sites, games, tools, etc.
- Schoology (www) – Schoology's Basic LMS, available free of charge to teachers and students;
Webconferencing Tools
- FreeConferenceCall (www) – A free service that supports audio-conferencing of up to 1000 participants, and supports free video conferencing for up to 5 participants.
- Google Meet (www) – A webconferencing platform that supports video- and audio-conferencing and screensharing for groups up to 100 participants; privileges for hosting vs. joining a meeting differ according to one’s credentials (e.g., has a Google Suite for Education account associated with their school domain) but the account is free.
- Google Hangouts (www) – A screensharing conference tool featuring video-conferencing for groups up to 25 and audio-conferencing for up to 150 participants. Hangouts is free but requires that the host have a Google (gmail) account, which is also free.
- Skype (www) – Supports free video-conferencing, screensharing and group chat for up to 50 participants per session
- Zoom (www) – A screensharing conference tool featuring video and audio conferencing. Zoom’s free version allows up to 100 persons to join in an online meeting for up to 40 minutes and unlimited meetings with 1-3 persons.
Mobile Learning Resources
Many adult learners lack a computer and/or Internet access in their home environments. Their sole means to access the Internet in many cases is a smartphone, and their access to mobile learning may be further limited to spaces with free wifi, such as found in public libraries, schools, cafes, etc. Also, some students may not have an email address or may access it rarely. Finding ways to connect and communicate with them via text messaging can be helpful. The following highlights several mobile applications that support using smartphones.
Applications that Support Individual and Group Texting
- What’s App – mobile messaging app can be used with individuals or groups up to 200; can send texts, pictures, and videos; can also do video chats with individuals
- Remind – can be used to send mass text messages to a large group (whole class)
- Google Voice - requires a gmail address for initial account set-up; allows teachers to leave and receive voice messages with their students, using a number other than the instructor’s personal cell phone number
- Talking Points – text messaging application that does not require display of students’ personal telephone numbers; supports multilingual translations
- Facebook Messenger – requires a Facebook account by users; supports texting with individuals or with groups up to 7 at a time; can send pictures, videos, or other attachments
- Skype – messaging application to use with individuals; also supports video chat
Additional Resources for Adult Educators in Response to COVID-19
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