Here's my take. We are in the business of teaching people to learn. We all know that modeling is the best teacher. To excel in our mission, we must be learning, ourselves, so that our students can see how learning is done. Many adult learners have had few opportunities to watch the process. The process is called Professional Development.

In the Seventies, I was exposed to the theory of incompetence, which advocates that workers strive to introduce incompetence into some aspect of their performance. At the level of "conscious incompetence," we strive madly to learn, to move toward "unconscious competence." It is in that process that we become most productive and most effective. We are learning! The following site summarizes some of that theory:

http://www.businessballs.com/consciouscompetencelearningmodel.htm

As adult educators, we are in the business of learning about ourselves, our students, our chosen fields, our world. We are strength finders - team players and coaches striving to know more, help more.

The LIA process has encouraged professional development through the certification process. What other opportunities for learning exist? Many, as this issue will promote.

Listserv Participation
Jane Miller, Professional Development Contact for Colorado programs, has encouraged participation in http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html. This is the site of the National Institute for Literacy Online Discussion Lists. There are many choices. Established in 1995, the National Institute for Literacy online discussion lists give thousands of literacy stakeholders opportunities to discuss the literacy field's critical issues; share resources, experiences, and ideas; ask questions of subject experts; and keep up-to-date on literacy issues.

One list event of interest is approaching in the Adult Literacy Professional Development List. Part I is a “Discussion Primer” (May 7-13) where all programs, states, and organizations are encouraged to share their work in online professional development. This is an opportunity to create a national picture of what’s happening in online PD; and for those who seek it, an opportunity to learn of available options. Part II (May 14-21) is the Discussion with Guest Participants. Take a moment to send the list moderator, Jackie Taylor, jataylor@utk.edu,  a few questions to help the guests identify the best ways to meet your needs.

Hybrid or Blended Instruction
Hybrid or blended learning is that which occurs through a variety of media: online, interactive video, phone pods, onsite, and more.

You are invited to participate in ongoing sessions, tailored to you, in response to the Self-Assessment Survey which you completed a few months ago. We will use GoToMeeting software and phone connectivity, which allows you to see my computer, and I yours, and to dialogue about issues. Each session will also have  an online segment to give you a chance to interact with the materials before we "meet." Each session will require about 3 hours of total participation: 2 hours online and 1 hour on phone/computer interaction. If you are strapped for $, I'll send you a phone credit card number that you may use for the call.

Upcoming Sections Using Technology as a Vehicle

Major Philosophies of Adult Ed
Learning Styles and Strategies
Youth in Adult Ed
Web Sites and Software for Adult Learners
Using technology with Adult Learners
Study Skills

I will be notifying you of dates through CLICK. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions for this series.

We will be relying heavily on the state's Resource Bank at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/PDResourceBankIndex.htm

Teaching Resources
Time, time, where do we find enough of it? Led by Debra Fawcett in Denver, our Professional Development Resource Centers try mightily to make things easier and more fun for you. This year and next, we want to create and distribute teaching materials that you can insert into your plans and have your students process on their own.

4CPDRC is creating a series of digital lessons on adult topics that promote GED and workplace content. The lessons are written at approximately 5th-6th-grade reading levels, for ABE and ESL students. At this stage, you will receive them as Ebooks. I am attaching three for your use and comments. They are of different lengths and reading levels. I hope to get feedback concerning (1) other topics you would like, (2) improvements/corrections in content and presentation formats, and (3) resources you would like added.

Each lesson has a content reading passage, followed by discussion, writing, math and fun activities.

Once the series is completed, I will burn a CD with all lessons and distribute it to programs that show interest in using them.

Click on the links below to access the first three lessons. You may run the program, or select the "save" option to load it onto your computer. Enjoy! (NOTE: The program may open behind this screen.)

1. The United States of America

2. The Water Cycle

3. What Is Money?

How much time will it take for you to click through these Ebooks? Maybe 15  minutes total. As we tell our students, "Your journey will take more commitment than time. Commit to a few minutes a day, and you'll find yourself soaring!"

Send me your ideas for future issues!