Welcome and Introductions

Hello and welcome to the Micro Group that is going to use and review online tools to conduct formative assessment activities with students!  I am very pleased to be working with you all.  Our first order of business is to introduce ourselves and tell us a little about why you have joined our group:  

I have worked in the field of adult education and ESOL since about 1984, and with LINCS in various capacities since the early 2000s.  My special interests include program management, using data, and particularly all things assessment.  I live in Boston and most of my work is done online now, although I do travel around to states to deliver face-to-face workshops on a variety of subjects.  I'm really interested in discovering and learning about some valuable tools that we can share with others far and wide.  

 

Comments

I'm Lisa Mullins.  I teach ABE, HSE, and ESL.  At this time I am teaching an Algebra Intensive course with learners who have taken the HiSet, but did not pass the math or learners who will take the HiSet in a few weeks.  I have been in AE for 16 years.  I need all the resources I can get.  I look forward to this group and project.  Oh yeah  I'm in Rogersville, Tennessee in the Eastern corner of our great state.  it's a rural setting  Thanks

Hello,

My name is Sylvia Provenski. I am currently an ESL instructor in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. We are 1 hour north of the North Dakota border. I teach an Intermediate ESL level class. I have just begun a course on Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA) which also uses Formative Assessment. I am looking forward to trying out the various  tools and applying them to PBLA. I'm looking forward to working with and collaborating with everyone on this great project!

Sincerely, Sylvia

Hello all, I am Alisha Hall. I am the Adult Literacy Services Specialist with Harris County Public Library in Houston, TX. I have been working in AE for approximately 12 years. Professionally, I am an ESL teacher. However, I don't teach ESL students much these days. I am now in charge of the AE program at the library. We offer English Language Acquisition (ELA) or ESL as everyone knows it, ABE, Citizenship and very recently added Distance Learning GED classes. I train the tutors in all programs (except for GED as we are not currently using tutors for this program). I am interested in using formative assessment tools in our AE program which means educating the tutors how to best utilize the tools to best serve the public. Nice to meet you all!

Hi Alisha -

I did a case study on my husband (ESL) last month and his topic was preparing for the citizenship test. I found a great website called Preparing for the Oath (http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/). He was able to work on his own and watch the online minivideos and do the comprehension questions that follow. There's also a link to print off teacher lesson plans which have vocabulary lists and short worksheet activities. Just thought I'd share if you haven't come across the site.

Hi, My name is Beth Ann. I am an ABE Instructor in Pennsylvania.  I just got seven new students who will be with me during the January - April period of the Micro Group; so, I am excited to participate.  I am interested in skill assessment and formative assessment tools that will inform my instruction and help give students ownership of their learning.

Hi. My name is Jacqueline Vulcano. I run a non-credit ESL program at Central Wyoming College's outreach center in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We have about 60 students (primarily Spanish-speakers) register each semester and run two classes simultaneously, 3 nights a week. I teach the beginner class and my co-worker teaches the intermediate/advanced class. I've been using USA Learns as our distance learning program in collaboration with our face-to-face classes, which has helped increase our students' achievement. But I'd also like to use more digital tools (we're a BYOD program / have a few computers available) in hopes to give students better and more immediate and regular feedback, as well as decrease our high turnover and keep students in our program longer so they can see their successes.

Jacqueline Vulcano

Hi All- I'm Martin Retzer.  My background is eclectic. This is my 40th year of teaching. I have taught junior high, high school, college, and graduate school (including an online university).  My BA is in English Education with a minor in Social Studies. I have an MA in Developmental Reading with a focus on adult literacy.  My Ed.D. is in Education with a dissertation in teaching Math.  You could say that the 3Rs are covered!

For a time, I owned a small educational consulting firm and developed online courses for several businesses.

Currently, I work at Morton Community College teaching high school equivalency (all subject areas).  I'm open to reviewing tools in any subject area, but my favorite areas are math and writing.  I look forward to working with all of you. 

Hello,

I am Susan Giuliano.  I am an HSE ELA/SS instructor in an Adult Education program in Long Island, NY.  I currently work with pre-HSE and HSE students.  I have been in adult education for over 15 years. I also teach an educational technology course at a local college.  I enjoy using technology in the classroom and sharing all of its wonderfulness with colleagues.  I look forward to working on this project and learning even more about technology and assessment and how it can help to inform instruction.  

Hello I am Mary Ellen Darling from Clifton Springs, NY upstate in the Finger Lakes Area.  I am involved in Adult Literacy through my local Literacy Volunteers as a tutor and a trainer.  I am looking forward to learning more about online assessments.  I don't know of any specific programs so am looking forward to any and all with a very open mind.