CAREER DAY GRAPH EXPO Remarks by Robert Wedgeworth

1
CAREER DAYGRAPH EXPORemarks by Robert
Wedgeworth

• October 1, 2003

2
INTERNATIONAL NEEDS

• Food and water
• Health and sanitation
• Housing
• Economic development
• Education and literacy
• Social development

3
INTERNATIONAL PRIORITIES

• Terrorism
• Trade
• Immigration

4
PROLITERACY WORLDWIDES PRIORITIES

• Self-reliance
• Health
• Education
• Peace
• Human rights
• Environment

5
UNESCOS DECADE OF LITERACY 2002-2012

• Dakar Accord (2000 World Education
  Forum)--Proposes to halve illiteracy rate by 2012
• One billion adults with low literacy skills
• Two-thirds are female
• Significant progress in Africa and Asia

6
LITERACY ADVOCACY

• Stimulate understanding
• Develop awareness
• Exploit opportunities
• Find funding
• Take action

7
DEFINITIONS

• Adult literacy and adult education usually
  addresses adults with reading skills below eighth
  grade levels.
• Adult learners are those enrolled in adult
  education and literacy programs.
• There are four levels of literacy recognized in
  the U.S. About 44 million adults are at the
  lowest level and another 46 million are at level
  2.

8
MYTHS ABOUT ADULT LITERACY

• Learning to read is like learning to ride a bike.
  Once you learn you never forget.
• Children who are poor readers will grow out of
  it.
• Those who do not learn to read have low
  intelligence.
• Children can learn as much from TV as they can
  from books.

9
FACTS ABOUT ADULT LITERACY

• Reading is a difficult skill to learn and even
  more difficult to maintain and improve.
• Children who are poor readers tend to be adults
  who are poor readers.
• A large percentage of adults with low literacy
  skills are dyslexic.
• The average childrens book contains about 50
  more vocabulary than a prime time TV show.

10
ACCESS TO IDEAS AND INFORMATION

• 21ST century literacy requires more than the
  ability to read, write and calculate.
• Information literacy includes a wide spectrum of
  skills and abilities.
• Information literacy is a challenge for the most
  information-intensive nations, for the developing
  world it is a formidable barrier.

11
Information Literacy UmbrellaSource of
confusion?
12
PROLITERACY WORLDWIDE

• Worlds leading non-governmental advocate for
  literacy.
• 1200 U.S. local affiliates and 82 international
  partners in 47 developing countries.
• Publisher New Readers Press
• Foundation grants to affiliates and partners.
• Technical assistance training in starting and
  managing literacy programs.

13
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Prepare yourself for the 21st century work force.
• Be aware of the literacy component to every major
  social problem.
• Refer friends, relatives or others who may need
  assistance to literacy programs
  (www.proliteracy.org)
• Consider becoming a volunteer tutor or recommend
  tutoring to parents or friends.

14
SUSTAINING HAPPINESS

• Memories of your first kiss
• Trip to the beach
• Great vacation
• Important birthday or anniversary
• Helping others
• BE HAPPY IN LIFE!!!

15
THE FACES OF ADULT LEARNERS
ProLiteracy Worldwide

• The U.S. and abroad

16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)