This includes answers to commonly asked questions about Minnesota ABE distance learning resources. Please check here before sending your question to staff.
- Approved DL platforms in Minnesota
- Proxy Hours
- Public Assistance Students and Distance Learning
- MABE/MARCS Reports
- GEDi
- English for All
- Learner Web
- Lifetime Library
- Skills Tutor
Approved DL platforms in Minnesota
Q. Where is information available about approved DL platforms in Minnesota?
A. Approved distance learning programs in Minnesota
Proxy Hours
Q. How does a DL platform/program get approved for proxy hours?
A. Fill out this Form and send to Tom Cytron-Hysom. He will send it to the Virtual Task Force, which will make recommendations to the state ABE staff.
Public Assistance Students and Distance Learning
Q. Can distance learning count towards meeting education requirements for public assistance recipients?
A. Yes. If a job counselor asks questions, let her/him know that the student is engaged in distance learning, using formal curricula that has been approved by the state for a specific number of contact hours, under the direct supervision of a qualified teacher.
Q.How should distance learning hours be entered into MABE/MARCS for public assistance recipients?
A. Enter the number of completed proxy hours, based on DL platform reports. Do not enter more than 4 hours on any given day, as this may create confusion with job counselors.
MABE/MARCS Reports
Q. What distance learning reports are available?
A. There are two: Table A, Total Enrollment and Contact Hours – Distance Learning, includes all DL hours; Table 5c, Educational Gains and Attendance for Participants in Distance Education, shows outcomes for adult learners with at least 50% of their total hours in distance learning.
GEDi
Q. What constitutes a lesson?
A. All pages of a lesson have to be completed.
Q. Do pre- and post-surveys count as lessons?
A. Yes, each is worth two hours.
English for All
Q. How do you set up an account?
A. Go to http://www.myefa.org/login.cfm
Learner Web
Q. Where can I get information about Learner Web?
A. Email Jen Vanek
Q. Where can I get information about the Learner Web BTOP project?
A. Email Jen Vanek or Tom Cytron-Hysom
Lifetime Library
Q. Does the state have a license for Lifetime Library?
A. Yes, through 6/30/11.
Q. How can a Lifetime Library account be set up?
A. Email techsupport@lifetimelearning.com and let them know you represent a Minnesota ABE consortium.
Skills Tutor
Q. Does the state have a license with Skills Tutor?
A. Yes, through 6/30/11.
Q. How can help with Skills Tutor be obtained?
A. Email swbrandt@themlc.org to set up accounts, and for training and support.
Q. How can students be deleted from Skills Tutor classes?
A. Go into the “Enroll Students” screen (as if you were going to add a new student). Then scroll down, find the person you want to remove, uncheck his/her name, click save.
Each quarter, the Skills Tutor administrator will move all student accounts that have been inactive for six months or more into a list of deleted users. These students can be restored to the active list if they should return - contact the Skills Tutor Administrator.