Tips and Strategies for Integrating Computer and Information Technology into Adult Literacy Programs
The “digital divide” — the gap between those who have access to the latest technologies and those who do not — is well documented. Bridging the gap is partly about providing technical skills and access to computers, but it is also about teaching people how to use technology in ways that are meaningful and empowering.
This case study explored the process of curriculum deliberation (Schwab, 1973) in
an online forum by two pluralistic teams of stakeholders from the field of adult literacy.
Given that the field of adult literacy is, for the most part, geographically dispersed and resource poor, it has been limited in its ability to work together in areas such as curriculum development.
The need to improve the literacy skills of older Canadians is clear. The vast majority of Canada's senior citizens have Level 1 or Level 2 literacy skills, as identified by the International Adult Literacy Survey.
With the increasing presence of technology, the demands of the workforce are also changing. Workforce literacy programs need to reflect these demands.
This paper discusses the development and assessment of an instructional approach designed for adults in a workforce literacy program, learning how to effectively communicate in electronic contexts.
Upon entering workforce literacy programs, learners bring with them different experiences and attitudes toward literacy. Technology often plays a significant role the lives of the learners and in their potential workplaces.
This paper examines workforce literacy program participants' experiences and attitudes toward technology and literacy, as well as discusses possible implications for program development.
This is a thesis submitted to Acadia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Degree of Master of Education (Curriculum Studies). It discusses a study undertaken to explore how adult literacy educators perceive computer technology integration.
This study involved the development of an instructional approach designed to teach adults strategies for writing effectively in an electronic context through a combination of face-to-face and electronic-based tutorial sessions.
This paper discusses the importance of integrating electronic writing into workplace literacy programs, describes an approach to instruction based on reciprocal teaching, situated learning and strategy instruction, outlines the data analysis process used to assess the impact of the instruction, and discusses the findings.