USA Learns Overview

8/14/2019 USA Learns Overview

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U.S.A. Learns

An ESL Web-based Tool for Distance Education



AGENDA

• Development & Components of

USAL• Course Content Overview

• Teacher Site Overview

• Implementing U.S.A.Learns in a

distance education program



What is U.S.A. Learns?

A free Web site for immigrantadults who want to improvetheir English language skills



Who is the target audience?

Immigrant Adults with

beginning or intermediateEnglish language skills(NRS levels 2 through 5)

limited opportunities for attending traditional classes



Who created U.S.A.Learns?

Sacramento County Office of Education,

Internet and Media Servicesand

Project IDEAL, University of Michigan

through a federal grantfrom theU.S. Dept. of Education,

Office of Vocational and Adult Education



FUN FACTS

Total # of visitors 2,069,326

Repeat Visitors 633,751Average time on site 27 minutes

Number of countriesrepresented 188



What are the hardware requirements?

• Fast Internet connection at least384 Kbps or faster; no dial-up

connections

• Up-to-date Web browser with Flashplug-in



What are the hardware requirements?

• Sound card

• Speakers or headphones

• Microphone (optional)



What computer skills are required?

Mouse:• Click and scroll

Keyboard: • Letters, backspace, shift key,

space bar



What computer skills are required?

Web browser: • Open a browser (e.g. IE, Safari,

Firefox).• Navigate a basic Web site.• Click buttons and links.

Microphone:• optional



What are the USAL components?

Independent Learner Siteusalearns.org

Teacher Siteusalearns.org /teacher

Class Siteusalearns.org /class




1st English Course: Beginner

20 video-based units: Survivallanguage topics




2nd English Course: Intermediate

20 video-story based units: Job &Life Skills topics




Practice English and Reading:Intermediate

42 stories: Various topics



FirstEnglish

CourseUnitMenu

1st Course Topic menu



2nd English Course Topic Menu



Practice English and Reading Topic Menu



What are the features of USAL?

High Quality Video

Video programs converted to an

interactive Web-based learning system Putting English to Work English for All

Interesting and humorous characters,situations and stories relevant to

immigrants



What are the features of USAL?

Language Development Activities

Practice of:

Listening, Reading, Writing andSpeaking skills

Special focus on:Vocabulary, Life Skills, Grammar



Activity Types

Activity Types



Intermediate Vocabulary



Spell It!



Match Game



Listen for it!



Grammar - Writing

e s sten ng an



e s - sten ng anReading



Life Skills - Reading a Lease



Making Choices -You Predict



Thinking Skills - Drawing Conclusions



Self-Reflection - Learning Log



Say it! - Record your Voice



Teacher Siteusalearns.org/teacher



What can I do at the Teacher site?

• Create an online class.

• Monitor student’s progress and scores.

• Score/comment on writing assignments.

• And…



What can I do at the Teacher site?

• Post messages to the online class

• Print an instruction document to helplearners sign into the online class.

• View/download Scope and Sequence



Teacher Home Page



Student Scores-Activity Menu

Fee ac on tu ent



Fee ac on tu entWriting



Remember!

URL for teacher managementusalearns.org/teacher

Different URL for students in classusalearns.org/class



G i h M f USAL



Getting the Most out of USAL

Register on the Teacher site.

Give students a personal tour of the

course for orientation.

Make sure students use the Class

site.

Monitor your student’s progress

online to find their problem areas.

G i h M f USAL



Getting the Most out of USAL

Familiarize yourself with the content;check scope and sequence document.

Use the rich video content, storylines,characters for writing assignments,discussion and other activities.

Suggest other online sites to extendand supplement USAL content.

h d b



Teach Good Learning Habits

Encourage students to:

Spend about 30 minutes a day

rather than speeding through all thecontent in one sitting.

View videos 2 or 3 times with andwithout the script.

Practice speaking either with a mic

or simply speaking out loud.

h G d i bi



Teach Good Learning Habits

Encourage students to:

Keep a learning journal for new words,expressions, practice, and questions.

Set personal goals and self-monitor.

Supplement their learning on other Websites you suggest.

F F Ti



Face-to-Face Time

Inverted ClassroomFirst contact with content is online,outside of class.Teacher time is for communication,discussion, interaction, practice of

content.“Are there any questions?” startsthe class rather than ends the class.



U.S.A. Learns

Questions?

Problems?

USA Learns Overview

Documents

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