Members
For our work in the United States, we convene a network of edtech practitioners and digital learning leaders to conceptualize and promote new projects and approaches for the use of technology in adult education and workforce development.
Nell Eckersley
Nell Eckersley
Nell Eckersley is the director of Instructional Technology and Communications and the manager of the New York City Support and Technical Assistance Center at the Literacy Assistance Center in New York City. She is a technology trainer with LINCS which has given her the opportunity to travel to adult education programs around the country and see how they are handling the integration of technology. She has worked on the conference app for COABE and several other adult education conferences over the last three years which has only furthered her passion for the integration of mobile learning in adult education as well as the development of digital literacy for both adult education teachers and students. She has developed a number of resource websites which are all connected on her Emerging Technology website; contributes to CollectEdNY; and is a regular user of Twitter, which she also uses to publish several PaperLi online magazines: STEM in Adult Education, Adult Education and Technology, and Mobile Learning for Adult Education.
John Fleischman
John Fleischman
John Fleischman possesses extensive background creating and implementing informational and instructional media for use in a variety of educational environments. He has guided development and enhancement for several state and national level major adult education technology initiatives, including the Outreach and Technology Assistance Network and U.S.A. Learns. John serves on a variety of advisory boards and committees, including the Internet2 K20 Initiative, California K12 High Speed Network, California Education Technology Task Force, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, and Computer Using Educators.
Susan Gaer
Susan Gaer
Susan Gaer is a professor at Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education, which is one of the biggest non-credit programs in the state of California. She has been there since 1994. In addition, she is one of the series consultants for Project Success, published by Pearson. Currently she is on the boards of both California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and International Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is also an academic senator and a member of the Common Assessment Initiative for ESL. She is an avid user of technology and advocates for more use of technology by presenting at conferences in the U.S. and internationally.
Heide Wrigley, PhD
Heide Wrigley, PhD
Dr. Wrigley runs Literacywork International, an educational consulting firm focused on education and training of adult immigrants and refugees. Through the years, she has worked with a number of technology oriented projects for adults, including TV 411 and We Are New York, both video series funded by the NYC Mayor’s Office. She was an advisor for the Learner Web, developed by Portland State, and English Under the Arches, part of the McDonald’s Corporation national distance learning program. Heide designed the content for an online course on Preparing English Learners for Career Pathways for OCTAE’s ESL Pro initiative and developed a series of webinars on the topic. Her ongoing work includes a long term consultancy with OneAmerica’s national English Innovations project, a remote learning model originally funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The model, implemented in 6 sites across the United States, integrates ESL, digital literacy and community engagement. She is a non-resident fellow with the Migration Policy Institute where she is part of a team exploring how language acquisition and technology can be combined to support immigrant integration.
Kathy Harris, PhD
Kathy Harris, PhD
Dr. Kathy Harris teaches teacher education courses and conducts research on classroom language learning and teaching in the Department of Applied Linguistics at Portland State University, where she is a member of the Literacy, Language, and Technology Research group, developers of the Learner Web adult learning support system. As part of the research team working to support the development of digital literacy in vulnerable populations, she has co-authored ESL versions of tutor-facilitated online learning plans using Learner Web. For teachers Kathy has co-authored online, self-access Learning Plans on teaching ESL vocabulary and on working with ESL emergent readers as well as an extensive set of learning plans for literacy tutors offered through the LINCS Regional Professional Development Center, region 4. Kathy is especially interested in helping teachers learn about digital literacy and served as a subject matter expert creating materials for teachers on the topic of integrating digital literacy into adult English language instruction as part of LINCS ESL Pro project facilitated by the American Institutes for Research. Kathy also teaches adult ESL, including digital literacy and English as a second language to adult learners with limited or interrupted formal education.
Tom Cytron-Hysom
Tom Cytron-Hysom
Tom Cytron-Hysom, manages the Northstar Digital Literacy program at Literacy Minnesota. He is a consultant specializing in Adult Basic Education, with an emphasis on distance learning and digital literacy. Tom also works as a consultant with the Minnesota ABE Distance Learning Support Network grant. He presents frequently at state and national conferences. His current interests focus strongly on development of digital literacy skills among underserved and marginalized populations, with an emphasis on health care access and equity. Other interests include program development, public policy, strategic planning, and collaboration.
Stephen Reder, PhD
Stephen Reder, PhD
Dr. Stephen Reder is Professor Emeritus of Applied Linguistics and a member of the Literacy, Language and Technology Research group at Portland State University. His research and teaching interests focus on adult education and the processes of literacy and language development during adulthood. He is particularly interested in the role of technology in supporting lifelong and life-wide learning. Dr. Reder has served as the Principal Investigator for numerous major projects in adult education, including the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning and the National Labsite for Adult ESOL. He has an A.B. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from the Rockefeller University in New York City.
Diana Satin
Diana Satin
Diana Satin has a master’s degree in intercultural relations with a specialization in teaching ESOL. She has worked in the field of adult basic education since 1994 as a classroom teacher, staff development coordinator, curriculum developer, and published author on topics related to technology integration. (See Learning Computers, Speaking English and Project Care.) Diana designs online learning courses and is currently a distance-learning instructor for several ESOL programs. In her work as an educational consultant, she specializes in technology integration and blended learning approaches, most recently seen in the promising practice Hybrid Career Readiness Program for English Language Learners with College Degrees.
David Rosen, EdD
David Rosen, EdD
Dr. David J. Rosen is the president of Newsome Associates in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He is the editor of the COABE journal Web Scan column, a long-time active member in and now moderator of the LINCS Technology and Learning community of practice, the author of the adult literacy education blog davidjrosen.wordpress.com, and the author of a new adult educator’s guide to blended learning, entitled Blended Learning for the Adult Education Classroom. He can be reached at djrosen@newsomeassociates.com.
Karisa Tashjian
Karisa Tashjian
Karisa Tashjian is Digitunity’s Director of Programs where she leads the design, implementation and evaluation of programs that support digital equity to ensure that everyone who needs a computer has one along with the skills to use it. Her work includes building and supporting a diverse network of community, philanthropic, business, and government organizations working to collectively eliminate barriers and create lasting solutions. Previously with the Providence Public Library, RI as its Director of Education, she spearheaded the development of a variety of successful education, workforce and technology-related initiatives for youth and adults by fostering collaboration across stakeholders and building cohesive, integrated systems.
Debra Hargrove, EdD
Debra Hargrove, EdD
Dr. Debra Hargrove is the director of professional development at the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning at Texas A&M University. Prior to this, Debra spent 15 years developing and directing Florida TechNet, a technology and distance learning initiative. Debra’s passion is designing and delivering training that encourages adult educators to understand and integrate technology in their workplace and classroom. Debra also volunteers her time with the Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers.
Eric Nesheim
Eric Nesheim
Eric Nesheim is the former Executive Director of Literacy Minnesota and currently the Managing Director of digital strategies for Literacy Minnesota. This new and expanding division of the organization houses the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment, national partnerships and digital navigation. He’s on the steering committee of the Open Door Collective, the board of the National Coalition for Literacy and Co-Chair of E-BAES (evidence based adult education system) which promotes and advocates for more resources around research in the field. Eric has been involved in the literacy field for 32 years and looks forward to a world where life-changing learning is within everyone’s reach.