+

Approved DL Platforms in Minnesota

Minnesota ABE DL Toolkit

+Outline

What is an approved DL platform?

How are DL platforms approved?

How can approved DL platforms be used?

What are the approved DL platforms?

+What is an approved DL platform?

An approved DL platform is one which has been approved by the State for proxy hours within ABE

Approved platforms correspond to different levels of ABE instruction, from low-level literacy and English instruction through GED preparation and career pathways training

+How are DL platforms approved?

DL platforms are approved by the MDE ABE office, as recommended by the Virtual Task Force

The allowable proxy hours for each DL platform are determined through a rigorous process including publisher recommendations, ABE professional experience with each platform, and observations of ABE students completing the DL lessons

The Virtual Task Force periodically reviews proxy hours for each platform, and makes any needed adjustments

+How can approved DL platforms be used?

Approved DL platforms can be used in conjunction with traditional classroom instruction, for work outside the classroom (blended model)

Approved DL platforms can be used as stand-alone means of instruction with ABE learners who are not enrolled in traditional classroom work

Approved DL platforms can be used with other approved DL platforms

+One caution

Proxy hours can only be claimed for work done on approved DL platforms outside the classroom

This work must be done independently by learners

+What are the approved DL platforms?

There are currently approximately 15 approved platforms

Approved platforms include a variety of platforms designed to serve ABE learners at different levels

+There are three types of approved platforms

State supported - paid for at the state level and available free to all MN ABE programs; technical assistance provided at state level

Free – no license required and no cost; technical support not provided at state level

Fee Based – Sites using these must purchase licenses directly from the publisher; sites must make own arrangements for technical support

+There are Three State-Funded DL Platforms

i-pathways (formerly GED-i)

Skills Tutor

Key Train

+

Proxy Hour Equivalent: 120 minutes per lesson

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed module, verified by teacher

Proxy Hour Documentation: Go to Student Report Tab, print Lessons Completed; also go to Portfolio tab, take screenshot of any surveys completed.

Prerequisites: TABE reading score of 9 or higher to use this program independently, 8 to use as blended model, 7.5 to use in-class.

Web-based: Yes

Access: Cost paid by Minnesota State ABE.

+Skills Tutor

Proxy Hours Equivalent: 1.5 hours per lesson module

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Student achieves 70% or higher on lesson module post-test

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of completed post-tests, with at least 75% correct

Prerequisites: TABE Reading Score 6.0 or higher to use independently, blended, or in-class

Web-based: Yes.

Access: Cost paid by individual programs.

+Key Train

Proxy Hour Equivalent: 2 hrs. per level - Reading for Information has 7 levels for a total of 14.5 hrs (including 30 minutes for the pretest at the beginning of the level); Locating Info has 6 levels for a total of 12.5 hrs (including 30 minutes for the pretest at the beginning of the level); Applied Math has 7 levels for a total of 14.5 hrs (including 30 minutes for the pretest at the beginning of the level).

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Achieving at least 75% on level quizzes.

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of completed quizzes, showing at least 75% correct

Prerequisite: 4.0 TABE reading level is recommended.

Web-based: Yes

Access: There is a cost.

+Free Platforms

English for All

Mindqwest

National Work Readiness Credential

USA Learns

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Proxy Hour Equivalent: 6 hours per unit; total possible 120 proxy contact hours

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed unit, verified by teacher Proxy Hour

Documentation: Through learner account, print screenshot of units completed

Prerequisites: CASAS score of 211-227 to use this program independently, 201-210 to use as blended model, 191-200 to use in-class

Web-based: Yes

Access: No cost

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Proxy Hour Equivalent: Varies by module - refer to Mindquest Academy; contact hours - Excel workbook

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent:

Completed module, verified by teacher Prerequisites: TABE reading score of 8 or higher to use this program independently, 7 to use as blended model or in-class.

Web-based: Yes

Access: Free.

+National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)

Proxy Hour Equivalent: 3 hours per module; total time = 18 hours, including test

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed module, verified by teacher Proxy Hour

Documentation: Using teacher portal, print monthly screenshot of 'table view' showing work completed

Prerequisites: TABE reading score of 6 or higher to use this program independently, 5-6 to use as blended model, 4 to use in-class

Web-based: Yes

Cost: None to use the preparatory materials, for which proxy hours are awarded

+

Proxy Hour Equivalent: 3 hours/unit for courses 1 and 2; 2 hours/unit for course 3

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed Unit

Proxy Hour Documentation: Through teachers' portal, print screenshot of topic/units completed, with scorePrerequisites: None.

Web-based: Yes

Access: Free.

+Fee Based

A+dvancer

Apex Learning, Inc.

Crossroads Cafe

Easy ESL

Ellis Academics

Learner Web

Lifetime Library

Plato Learning Environment

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Proxy Hour Equivalent: 30 minutes per test; 60 minutes per lesson

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed test or lesson, verified by teacher

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of completed test/lesson.

Prerequisites: 8.0 TABE to use this program independently, 7.0 TABE to use as a blended model or in-class

Web-based: Yes

Access: Cost paid by individual program.

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Proxy Hour Equivalent: 1.5 hrs per lesson.Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent:

Attainment of at least 70% correct on unit assessment.

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of completed unit assessment. Prerequisites: 6.0 on TABE D.

Web-based: Yes

Access: Cost ($200) paid by individual program.

+Crossroads Cafe

Proxy hour equivalent: 5 hours per completion of module/portion, 130 hours maximum.

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Workpackets completed to satisfaction of teacher.

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copy of learner log/proxy hour worksheet

Prerequisites: CASAS reading scores from 220-235 (ELL levels 4-6) recommended.

Web-based: No (DVDs, teacher manual, and workbooks needed)

Access: Cost paid by individual program.

+Easy ESL

Proxy hour equivalent: Units 1-6: 4 hours per unit; units 7-12, 8 hours per unit; total possible hours – 72

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completion of work packet (including quizzes and a final test) to the satisfaction of teacher

Proxy Hour Documentation:

Prerequisites: CASAS reading scores from 153-220 (ELL levels 0-6) recommended.

Web-based: Both web-based and on DVDs.

Access: Cost paid by individual program.

+ Ellis Academics

Proxy hour equivalent: 30 minutes per lesson

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed lesson, verified by completing 70-80% of comprehension questions correctly

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of completed comprehension questions, showing at least 70-80% correct

Prerequisites: 180 CASAS

Web-based: Yes

Access: Cost paid by individual program

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Proxy Hour Equivalent: Varies by plan (approved plans are available here).

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Number of completed steps, verified through Learner Web report obtained from regional Administrator.

Proxy Hour Documentation: Learner Web report obtained from regional Administrator.

Prerequisite: Varies by plan.

Web-based: Yes.

Access: Varies by Region

+

Proxy Hour Equivalent: 90 minutes per completed Chapter for a total of 6 hours per Book

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Completed chapter, verified by teacher

Proxy Hour Documentation: Copies of student completion pages - blue dots indicate student has started lesson, dark green indicate lesson completion

Prerequisites: CASAS score of 236+ or TABE reading score of 5 to use this program independently, CASAS 228-236 or TABE 4 to use as blended model, CASAS  221-227 or TABE 3 to use in-class

Web-based: Yes

+Plato Learning Environment

Proxy Hours Equivalent: 1.5 hours per lesson module

Criteria for awarding Proxy Hour Equivalent: Student achieves 70% or higher on lesson module post-testProxy Hour

Documentation: Copies of completed post-tests, with at least 75% correct

Prerequisites: TABE Reading Score 6.0 or higher to use independently, blended, or in-class

Web-based: Yes.

Access: Cost paid by individual programs.

+Questions?

See www.mnabe_distancelearning/

Email thysom@real-time.com

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Produced by St. Paul DL Supplemental Services grant, 2012

All rights reserved