This document offers an overview of approaches to curriculum development. Some of the topics covered include the cycle of workplace development; interpreting needs in the workplace; designing a program; and developing and using materials.
The author has including many case studies; checklists for curriculum developers; and a glossary of frequently used terms.
This document deals with adults who have learning disabilities. Different aspects of the concept of learning disabilities are presented in this manual in simple terms. True stories of adults with learning difficulties contribute to the different parts of the manual. There are also many references to books, videos and websites that people can have access to for more information.
With the growing popularity of readability formulas, it is important to appreciate what they are good for and not good for. Handled properly, they can produce marvellous results. Not handled properly, they can actually reduce comprehension. Like other forms of testing, the formulas find problems. Finding solutions requires a writer's skill.
Michel presented a new tool called “Assessing the Complexity of Literacy Tasks.” It is designed to help document designers understand the ability levels of readers as defined in the International Adult Literacy Survey. This complexity-rating tool, based on the work of Irwin Kirsh and Peter Mosenthal, can help information designers ensure that the level of complexity of public information matches the literacy level of the target readers.
Bengt and Maria talked about the successful European Law Conference held during Sweden's presidency of the Union and their attempts to move the European Union away from a traditional, bureaucratic way of writing legislation. They also described a new tool developed by a linguist to evaluate the comprehensibility of communications from the Swedish public authorities. They presented the results of that evaluation and of other projects.
In 1999 the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union established the National Literacy Project to increase awareness among union members and local union officers about literacy, and to examine the literacy demands and literacy learning needs experienced by CEP members today.
This project was designed to determine the experiences of offenders in adult correctional facilities in the province in relation to their literacy needs, and to discover where and how those needs were being met. The author also makes recommendations for future action in relation to literacy programs.
This resource guide is the end result of a three-day training conference held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, in November 2000, on common assessment for the native stream. Conference participants agreed that “common assessment” referred to the use of similar language, direction and process for literacy assessment.
This self-evaluation kit for new readers includes a variety of checklists and exercises for adult learners as they assess their skills, goals, and move toward them.
