All resources in Adult Learning Zone: A Designers for Learning Project

Joy Edwards

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To promote Interaction and CommunicationLesson titleLesson for learners with not much English or education backgroundAbstractThis is a group-work lesson designed for students with low-intermediate communication skills and not much educational back ground. The purpose of this lesson is to assist students to communicate with others and the community on the whole.  It will also work to improve specific issues and challenges the student might face.* Low-intermediate communication skills:- Persons showing low or intermediate communications skills that is one who does not possess or show much communications skills. (low level, having no functional ability, intermediate having limited functional ability)* Not much educational background:- With little or no educational background. (limited reading/writing  or no reading/writing skills and mathematics knowledge and skills)Issues and challenges that learners may face:-Emotional and social and relationship skills, self-management and self/social awarenessLife skills, financial literacy and managementEmployability skills, teamwork and engagement or collaboration, effective communicationThinking skills, problem solving, critical and reasoning thinkingLearner Audience / Primary UsersThis lesson is intended for a classroom setting with learners in groups of four to six. The content included in the lesson is targeted at learners with limited English communication skills. The lesson is specifically targeted at persons with but not limited to adults with low level educational back ground and who might be experiencing some level of low self-esteem.Educational UseModuleQualification & experienceCollege & Career Readiness Standards AlignmentLevel: Adult EducationGrade Level: BSubjects: English Language Arts / Literacy & Computer literacyReadingAnalyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of text.Know and use various text features; subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons, to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is engaging, or beautiful.Examine multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poemEvaluate ways authors develop point of view and style to achieve specific impression and purpose. Speaking and ListeningEngage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering some form of elaboration. Computer skillsGive the learner a working knowledge of the hardware that comprises a personal computer.Develop the learner's ability to use introductory Windows commands for file management.Introduce the learner to the Internet and the use of electronic research and web-based communication methods.Enable the student electronically to research the library.Introduce the student to the methods of searching the Internet and the problems associated with using the research materials. LanguageEnglishMaterial TypeInstructional MaterialLearning GoalsIn this lesson ABE learners will:Demonstrate good reading and literature skillsCompose open ended question for research or assignmentsDevelop clear and coherent writing skillsUse the computer Time Required for each Lesson40 – 60 minutesPrior KnowledgeBe able to read at an elementary level but not necessarilyRequired ResourcesStudent willingness to learnInternetLibraryExperience teacherComputer labpen/pencil and note book 

Material Type: Module

Author: Joy Edwards

Writing Short Narratives with Sequencing

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This lesson is part of a larger project that uses a real-world scenario (sharing stories with preschool students) to motivate and teach ESL learners in an adult education program to write narratives that depict a sequence of events using temporal words. The lesson is intended to help the learners strengthen their writing skills with practice and gain a greater command of the English language for their immediate school and career goals.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Danielle Boulden

Recipes & Ratios - DRAFT

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Proportional relationships are everywhere. They are used to compare professional athletes and to help shoppers get the “best bang for their buck” at the grocery store. They help us build models and designs and are used in many business applications. This lesson plan introduces proportional relationships, ratios and unit rates at the grade 6/7 (C) level and requires adult learners to apply ratios in the context of cooking. Learners will need learn to research basic information and be challenged to present their “final recipe” creatively.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Carolyn Wilson

Pursuing General Educational Development

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Context: The course focuses on pronunciation reading informational text, which determines the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text for learners, the importance of listen and speaking, these are good communication skills to learn the English language. Relevance: This lesson will help prepare learners to effectively communicate and through education improve their lives. Knowing English increases your chances of getting a good job, learners will be able to get their certificates for a GED, or citizenship. The coverage in this lesson will focus on the English vocabulary, which is an important aspect in communication without sufficient vocabulary learners cannot understand others or express their own ideas.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Game, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Reading, Syllabus

Author: Juan Jaimes

Following Steps from Informative Texts to Complete Computer-Related Tasks

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This lesson geared towards adult learners focuses on reading informative texts that describe how to perform basic computer-related tasks, including saving a document in Word and sending an email attachment. After reading the informative texts, learners will identify and sequence the 5 or more key steps needed to complete the tasks. They will then follow the steps to execute the tasks. This lesson will prepare learners to effectively find key information about how to complete technological tasks and be able to carry out the steps independently. This will assist them when future educational or job requirements require the use of computer skills they do not yet have, and they will need to use informational texts to learn the new skills.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Jean Gierbolini

Skills and knowledge for successful project planning: A College and Career Readiness Standards for learners at Grade Level D.

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Project planning and delivery is a crucial skill for academic studies as well as the world of work. By participating in this course, adult learners will develop the necessary project planning skills and knowledge to prepare them for continued study and gain specific employability skills- communication and project planning. This lesson will help prepare learners to effectively plan and deliver a project. The lesson aims to teach the terms, concepts and communication skills of effective project planning including the project life cycle, project charter and work breakdown schedule. It is an interactive and informative course, designed to build on learners’ own previous experience and real world examples. The intended audience are adult learners at grade level D with low literacy and numeracy skills. It is aimed at students studying in the adult education sector, who are studying alongside other commitments, for example family or work. The project planning terms and concepts are taught in an accessible, informal way, connecting to previous knowledge and understanding. Participants will participate in a range of conversations and collaborations with others partners, building on ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. Conversations may be one-to-one, in groups or teacher-led. Learners will develop and demonstrate a variety of communication skills, including posing questions that connect the ideas of speakers, responding to questions and comments, acknowledging information expressed by others and when required, qualifying their own views. The lesson materials and resources will enable the lesson to taught in a variety of contexts and environment, with minimal access to the internet and other technical resources.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Author: La Epton

Long Term Money Management for Adults

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This lesson focuses on developing basic money management skills for adults. The specific time focus for these skills is on multiple months to years. The intended audience is for adults ages 18 and above.The lesson will include elements of reading and writing and listening, and will focus on authentic texts, videos, facts and figures cited from expert research and reports.This lesson will help learners comprehend different money management skills, and help them to understand how to apply them in a long term timeframe.These skills can be used in both a personal sense as well as for business.

Material Type: Assessment, Case Study, Interactive, Reading

Author: Michael Allen

Writing An Opinion Piece - The Beginning

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This writing lesson focuses on beginning a written piece on an opinion that is supported by reasons. It includes introducing the topic, stating an opinion, and planning the structure of the piece to continue further. This lesson will help the learners to convert their thoughts and conversational sentences into written forms while looking at a topic and understanding the practical construction of opinion around it.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Aptachaitanya Dodlanki

Remix

Reading Technical Text Specific to Farming - Loan Context

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This lesson is designed for adult learners who are pursuing a career in farming. It focuses on reading scientific and technical texts (Grade 6) related to farming and farm loans. This lesson will help learners identify and define technical words specific to farming and borrowing money. The learners will have the opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge in class activities such as reading and analyzing case studies.

Material Type: Case Study

Author: Sophie Gauthier

Effective Communication using Past Tense

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This less will cover the correct use of past tense in the Egnlish language to faciliate comprehensive and effective communication. Students will learn the correct conjugation of regualr and irregular verbs commonly used in conversation, and will practice the verbal and written use of these verbs. In addition, students will develop an understanding of how these verbs can help support effective professional communication in a job interview setting.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Sarah Carter

Using Critical Thinking to Determine the Best Candidate for a Babysitting Job

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This lesson focuses on developing critical thinking skills through reading informational text, determining pros and cons, and making a final recommendation. It is framed within the context of finding a babysitter for two young children, but can be modified to apply to other situations as well. This lesson will help prepare learners to compare multiple options, decide on a final recommendation, and provide a written justification of their choice.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Katie Corcoran

Using Unit Rates to Save Money

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Planning for the future is a difficult task for most. This lesson ask the learner to participate in role-play and to assume the role of someone who has just graduated and accepted a job and to develop a budget where the goal is to save for a vacation to be taken in a year’s time. The role that the learner is asked to assume is Madison. The name was chosen specifically because it is a unisex name. The character, Madison, has just graduated, but the story intentionally does not reveal the credential that was achieved. The learner is asked to develop a budget with the salary and withheld taxes already established. For learners living in a rural area, the salary may seem high for a recent graduate, but for a learner from an urban area, the salary may seem low. Along with assuming this identity comes the tasks of making decisions for him/her. The actual math problems have definitive answers which are provided for the instructor, but the decisions enable the learner to develop a unique budget. Unit rate is used to help the learner visualize the decisions that are made on a daily basis that may impact savings. Problems included ask the learner to make decisions about housing, transportation, health, and spending. The variety of problems enable the learner to compute unit rates and understand how quantities can be measured in different units. The instructor is a facilitator only, examples of calculations are included in the materials for guidance.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Cheryl Keener

Preparing for a driving test in Basic English in USA

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The lesson is geared towards adult immigrants with intermediate English language skills who plan to take a driving test in USA. The goal is to help them fill in basic information about themselves and demonstrate their understanding of basic instructions related to filling up the application form and/or questions needed to answer during the driving test. They will also learn about the steps involved in applying for a learner's permit.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan

Author: Vandana Karve

Describing yourself to a potential employer

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The intended audience for this lesson includes adults seeking basic speaking and listening skill development focusing on Grade Level A. Whenever applicants interview for a job, employers will ask them to describe themselves, their qualifications and any relevant events that will tell them why this person is a good candidate for the job. This lesson will help learners prepare to describe themselves and present personal information clearly and accurately in response to questions. This is the first lesson in a three-part series on preparing for job interviews.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Homework/Assignment

Author: Carrie Miller

Making Informed Purchase Decisions: Understanding Unit Costs and Ratios to Get a "Good Buy"

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This lesson takes the learner through a series of exercises where the ability to understand ratios and calculate unit cost will help the learner make optimal, well-reasoned, cost-effective purchasing decisions. The target audience is the adult learner (preferably with school-age children) working in the Grade D range (6th-8th grade) and with RP Domain (Ratios and Proportional Relationships). Learners will benefit by seeing the relationship that mathematical concepts have to their everyday lives by using mathematical reasoning to make better purchasing decisions. Mastery of this material will help learners demonstrate readiness for higher-level algebraic concepts.

Material Type: Lesson

Authors: Jennifer Schneider, Ruth Coleman, Cindy Francies

Hands on Lab: An Introduction to the Scientific Method using Newton’s Second Law

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The lesson will apply Newton’s Second Law equation, F=ma (Force equals mass times acceleration) to a lab, which allows learners to solve problems using the equation while performing an experiment. The lab will be created in a way to teach the scientific method. The purpose of the lesson with respect to adult education is to teach learners about the scientific method, while it is not used directly the process is the foundation of what would be performed in a typical entry-level laboratory or research job, which would consist of doing part of or all of an experiment in a similar manner.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Christopher Simpson

Why I Should Use a Computer

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This motivational lesson about computers will help learners appreciate how using a computer can be of help to them personally and for school or work, and will provide a basic understanding of the parts of a computer and computer terminology. Learner Audience / Primary Users This lesson is intended for adults who have no background in or experience using computers, are at a 6th grade reading level, and need to understand why they should learn how to use a computer. and what a computer is and does. The lesson will be in a small group format. Having an available computer would provide an additional opportunity for demonstration, but is not necessary.

Material Type: Assessment, Diagram/Illustration, Reading, Simulation

Author: Denise Wunderlich