ABSPD Video Series

The goal of the ABSPD project's Video Series is to improve the effectiveness and quality of instruction through focused professional development. The goal in preparing this annotated video bibliography is to give you a preview of each video's content so that you may select the topics that best fit your individual needs. Be sure to obtain a copy of the viewing guide that accompanies each video prior to viewing.

Presenting the ABSPD Project and the 1995 Summer Institute (1995)
This video identifies needs within the state of North Carolina that led to the establishment of the ABSPD Project and describes how the project endeavors to meet those needs. A second part shows scenes from the 1995 Summer Institute sponsored by this program. Length: 8:15

MATHEMATICS

Numeracy and Mathematics: Free and Inexpensive Materials (1997)
This video illustrates the use of free and inexpensive materials to aid instruction in a day of massive need and limited budgets. Visits to community college classrooms find adult students using everyday items to learn and apply the skills needed for effective living. Length: 17:30

Numeracy for the Adult Learner (1994)
The first part of this video shows examples of the many uses of mathematics in a typical day in the life of an adult. A presentation of effective instructional strategies demonstrates how realia can be used to meet the characteristics of adult learners. Length: 11:00

Strategies for Teaching Math to Adult Learners (1994)
This video discusses four cognitive approaches for the teaching of basic skills in mathematics. It includes examples of linking knowledge with learner experience, integrating skill and content, joining motivation to cognition, and using social communities to enhance teaching and learning.   Length: 13:30

Teaching Thinking Through Word Problems (1997)
To teach students effectiveness in everyday life, adult education emphasizes problem solving. This video provides detailed instructional strategies for using the students' background knowledge to teach thinking through solving both practical and applicable word problems.   Length: 14:00

Ways of Teaching Mathematics: Teaching Strategies for Adult Basic Skills Instructors (1997)
Many adult students experience little success in learning mathematics. This video presents and discusses practical strategies that help adult students maintain interest and focus while learning the mathematics needed to succeed in the home, on the job, and in the community. Length: 17:00

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Cooperative Learning (1994)
The context of group work and problem solving is described as "well suited to the needs of the workplace." The dynamics of the group effort as a part of the teaching/learning effort are examined through student and instructor comments. Two types of cooperative learning assignments feature students cooperatively learning in a classroom setting.   Length: 20:00

ESL for Adult Learners (1996)
Adult ESL students face many problems. This video begins with a dramatic illustration of some of these problems. Next it describes the diversity likely to be encountered in an ESL classroom. The illustrations are followed by guidelines for organizing and managing an adult ESL program and/or classroom. It also identifies and illustrates components and advantages of the "whole language approach" and "holistic assessment" . Length: 22:00

ESL In the Workplace (2000)
This video provides guidance in the process of planning instruction for and the teaching of non-native English speakers for success in the American economic culture.   Length 40:00

Good Management: Key to Successful Learning (1995)
Students with different goals, levels of achievement, and learning styles make classroom management a vital component of ABS instruction. This video discusses the use of small group learning, informal assessment and tracking techniques to help the instructor make decisions about how to use classroom time to maximize learning and reduce boredom, allowing students to learn how to learn and how to manage their own learning. Length: 17:22

Initial Interview (1993)
This video describes the purpose and the importance of the initial interview. It illustrates the major components of the initial interview, including building rapport and clarifying goals. It discusses the techniques for addressing a student's lack of self-confidence and setting the tone for a successful educational experience. Length: 11:30

Instructors as Listeners Video Conference (1996)
When they return to the classroom, adults often bring with them many non-academic problems and concerns. This video begins with a discussion of some of the different problems ABS instructors have encountered in the past. It then moves to presentations and discussions of ways to improve listening skills, how and where to refer students when the problem is beyond the scope of the instructor's responsibilities, and the legal concerns that an instructor might face.   Length: 1:39:00

Learning Styles (1995)
This video identifies several methods for teaching to each of the various learning styles held by adult learners. It explains the importance of varying teaching techniques that allow students to learn in their preferred style whether they be concrete or abstract thinkers. Length 11:20

Lesson Planning for Effective Instruction (1998)
This video directs the instructor through lesson planning while emphasizing the need to involve the adult student's input, goals, and recognized needs. Issues of flexibility, materials/resources, and assessment are also addressed.   Length: 20:00

Mentoring as Professional Development (1996)
This video relates the history of the term "mentor" to its use in guiding the novice teacher. Important characteristics and activities of a good mentor are described. Th is video establishes the mentoring process as one of a caring and nurturing relationship that allows recognition of the potential of a novice teacher and enriches the self-esteem of both parties.   Length: 15:30

Motivation for the Adult Learner ( 1995)
Motivation is the most important factor in adult learning; thus the motives brought into the classroom affect learning. This video captures techniques and makes applications that motivate adult students. Contributing motivational factors and instructional strategies are shown to reinforce adults' learning. Length: 13:30

Needs and Characteristics of the Adult Learner (1993)
This video discusses and examines the physiological, environmental, and psychological characteristics and needs of adult learners. Six applications for instructor interaction with students follow the characteristics presentation. Length: 19:50

Overview of Materials Selection (1994)
The selection of understandable, visible, interesting, and pertinent materials is an extremely important aspect of teaching ABS students. This video discusses these aspects of material selection . It discusses the use of realia, functional real - life materials versus published materials, and the importance of using both types within the classroom. Watch this video to learn how to use the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) Curriculum Guide to find published materials that match skills. Many specific examples of functional and published materials are given.   Length: 10:00

Participatory Workshops: Planning for Success (1998)
This video provides information on the most effective strategies for planning workshops. Guidance is given for providing successful professional development training. The practical suggestions make this video particularly valuable.   Length: 24:30

Qualities of an Effective ABS Instructor (1993)
This video examines the shared qualities of effective ABS instructors. The viewer is expected to make a personal evaluation and implement a plan for professional improvement. The video illustrates techniques for building rapport with the student and reinstates techniques for building and maintaining a comfortable, non-threatening environment.   Length: 24:30

Questioning Techniques (1995)
An explanation of the need for ABS students to think critically and creatively introduces the concept of active learning. This video discusses the effectiveness of various questioning techniques for the creation of an exciting class environment that enhances active learning. Length: 13:23

Teach and Reach (2000)
This video emphasizes the affective domain in the Adult Basic Skills classroom and the characteristics of an effective instructor. As a young man completes an application for a teaching position, he encounters an uncomfortable learning situation that almost causes him to change his mind about interviewing. However, upon pondering the situation he realizes that he has the capacity and wisdom to reach out to students and meet their needs, thereby providing an appropriate context for learning. Length: 17:24

Teaching Adults with Learning Difficulties (2001)
This video provides instructors with information to meet the needs of adults with learning difficulties. Understanding students' unique characteristics and providing appropriate instruction in an educationally rich environment are challenges to instructors. This video presents a rationale for the competencies addressed, the knowledge taught, and the skills developed. Length: 28:53:21

Understanding and Teaching Our Youngest Students (1999)
Providing an appropriate learning environment for our youngest students requires an understanding of why they have not succeeded in the past, and how their personalities and learning styles differ from those of their more successful peers. This video helps ABS instructors to better understand 16-22 year olds while providing strategies for teaching them effectively.   Length: 32:39

Workplace Basic Skills Teleconference (1996)
The three main objectives of this teleconference are to learn the principal components of workplace Basic Skills programs, discover ways to help ABS students improve their skills as workers, and develop strategies for a collaborative approach to workforce development. These objectives are accomplished through discussion and examination of participants' attitudes toward the following: workplace instruction; marketing ABS programs in the workplace to both employees and employers; the components of successful ABS workplace programs and how these components might be incorporated into individual programs; trends for Workforce 2000 and how to prepare for these trends in ABS programs; reasons to participate in workplace ABS programs; collaboration; and networking.   Length: 1:25:00

READING

Assessment (1992)
Upon entering the ABS program, the instructor determines the student's appropriate instructional level. Informal assessment is the place to start. This video describes and illustrates the procedures and process for conducting informal assessment in both reading skill and comprehension. It also contrasts formal with informal assessment and involves the student in planning systematic and purposeful assessment. Since assessment should be completed after the initial interview, you might want to view the video, Initial Interview first. Length: 17:35 (see Professional Development section for description of Initial Interview )

Conversation with Beginning Readers (1995)  
Learning how to read is tough. It takes patience and practice. In this video, beginning readers talk about the progress they have made in learning to read and some of the problems encountered.   Length: 17:35

Informal Reading Inventory (1992)
This video continues looking at assessment, this time concentrating on Informal Reading Inventory. Emphasis is placed on including students is their own assessment. Strategies for keeping the student stress-free are discussed and several examples of evaluation are presented. Length: 11:00

Methods in Reading (1992)
This video begins by relating the common goal of adult readers to techniques for teaching adults to read. It describes the integration of meaning, grammar, and phonics as one of the greatest challenges for beginning instructors. It describes the interrelationships among these systems and how to use them for teaching the adult reader. The four steps of the Goodman Linguistic Model are explained in relation to this framework.   Length: 16:00

Reading Case Study I (1993)
Techniques for administering an Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) are described. The viewer is given the opportunity to practice marking an IRI by viewing a case study. Three paragraphs and their accompanying questions can be marked; then those markings can be compared to the markings done by the case study administrator. The interpretation of the results is discussed. The viewer should be familiar with IRI marking procedures or should view the video, Informal Reading Inventory first. Length: 28:00

Reading Case Study II (1993)
This video is a continuation of the video , Reading Case Study I . It provides additional practice for marking and interpreting IRIs. Length: 25:00

Teaching Beginning Readers Using L.E.A. (1993)
The Language Experience Approach (LEA) is an integrative process for teaching a beginning adult reader. It is a meaning-centered approach that focuses on the student's own ideas and interests. Reasons for selection of this teaching approach are presented. A typical LEA lesson is presented, and insights into its use are described. The use of LEA in group instruction is illustrated. Length: 25:00

Word Identification Strategies (1994)
This video presents and discusses five word identification strategies that good readers use in the reading process. As each strategy is presented, it is followed with an explanation of how to present the strategy to the beginning reader. Experts discuss how they use each strategy in their own instruction.   Length: 15:30

WRITING

Writing Across Adult Basic Skills (1999)
This video provides information on strategies found to be most effective in teaching writing to adult learners in ABS programs. Crucial points covered are teaching writing skills in the context of the students' work, matching writing to the expressed needs of the learner, assessing writing using peer evaluation, and building self-esteem through writing.   Length: 27:36

Writing For Adults (1996)
This video is designed as a workshop with time allotted for the viewer to work through the activities and share results; therefore, it is suggested that you view the video with at least one other person. It allows instructors to examine what they already know about teaching adults to write. The way adults use writing in everyday life is examined , and the frustrations adults are likely to encounter when learning to write are discussed and illustrated. It presents strategies and activities that have been proven to be successful in teaching adults to write. Length: 26:00