Title: Using the Internet to Teach Workplace Literacy Skills
1Using the Internet to Teach Workplace Literacy
Skills
- Presentation to Annual National Summit
- The Sloan Center on Innovative Training and
Workforce Development - December 13, 2007 Washington, DC
- Mary McCain
- TechVision21
2Why Distance Learning?
- Distance learning has come of age and has
earned credibility and legitimacy as efficient
and effective method for learning, through
research, evaluation and testing. - Distance Learning increasingly integrated into
all education levels except that for underserved
adults, depriving adult education of benefit of
connection to and benefit from educational
institutions - Distance learning is the only method to reach
this large group of workers in ways that are
cost-effective, scalable and effective for adults
with limited opportunities.
3Workforce Crisis Education Demand
- Between 2000 and 2015, about 85 newly created
U.S. jobs will require education beyond high
school. - 69.8 of jobs will require work-related training
- 20.9 will require a bachelor's degree or higher,
- 9.3 will require an associate's degree or
postsecondary vocational award. - 2006 Survey 400 senior human resource executives
across industry and company size (BLS) - 49.5 said percentages of two-year college
graduates they hire would increase - almost 60 said hires of four-year college
graduates would increase - 42 percent said hires of post-graduates would
increase over next five years
3
4Workforce Crisis ICT Skills Demand
- Over 77 of all jobs in US will require some
level of ability to use ICT by 2010. - Nine of the ten fastest growing occupations
through 2014 are health or information technology
occupations. - A recent survey of seven countries, including the
US, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development found minimal differences in the
intensity of computer use in occupations ranging
from knowledge experts to high-skill
information to low-skill service. - Between 2000 and 2015, about 85 percent of newly
created U.S. jobs will require education beyond
high school. - i Norman C. Saunders, Employment Outlook
2004-2014 A Summary of BLS Projections to 2014.
Monthly Labor Review Online, November 2005, p. 7,
Table 4. www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2005/11/art1full.pdf
. - ii The Business Council Survey of Chief
Executives CEO Survey Results, February 2006.
The Business Council and The Conference Board.
5Adult Literacy Levels Basic and Below Basic
- Prose Literacy 43 (93 M) at Basic or Below
Basic - Basic 29 (63 million)
- Below Basic 14 (30 million)
- Document literacy 34 at Basic or Below Basic
- Basic 22
- Below Basic 12
- Quantitative literacy 55 at Basic or Below
Basic - Basic 33
- Below Basic 22
- Non-literate in English 11 million adults
5
6Post-Secondary Literacy
- 2006 report Even in the best-performing states,
only 65 of community college students return for
their second year and only 67 of students in
four-year institutions complete degrees within
six years of enrolling. - 2003 Survey of Adult Literacy Number of college
graduates with the highest level of literacy in
prose (proficiency), declined from 40 in 1992 to
31 in 2003. - 2005 study by the American Institutes for
Research that tested graduating seniors from 2-
4-year colleges, found prose proficiency among
whites to be around 40, but that of blacks to be
under 20. - i ii J. D. Baer, et al., The Literacy of
Americas College Students, American Institutes
for Research (2006), cited in Kevin Carey, The
Black-White College Literacy Gap, Education
Sector, found at www.educationsector.org/analysis/
analysis_show.htm?doc_id364915.
7Examples of Adult Literacy Abilities
- Proficient and Intermediate
- Associated with majority of non-manual labor
jobs abilities such as comparing viewpoints in
two editorials identifying a specific location
on a map computing and comparing the cost per
ounce of food items. - Basic
- reading and understanding information in short,
commonplace prose texts - locating easily identifiable quantitative
information and using it to solve simple,
one-step problems when the arithmetic operation
is specified or easily inferred - using a TV guide to find out what programs are on
at a specific time - comparing the ticket prices for two events
- Below Basic ranges non-literate to having
abilities listed below - locating easily identifiable information in
short, commonplace prose texts - locating easily identifiable information and
following written instructions in simple
documents (e.g., charts or forms) - signing a form adding the amounts on a bank
deposit slip
8The Hard to Serve and Hard to Find
- Wages track closely to levels of education yet
low wage workers face multiple barriers in
acquiring the further education and training that
can provide opportunities for getting and keeping
jobs and for advancing to jobs with higher wages.
- Individuals with low/no levels literacy, skill,
ESL communication are not in typical marketing
range - Financial, family, transportation, education
credentials, other issues make it difficult to
impossible to participate in place-based,
time-regulated instruction.
9OECD survey in 7 countries (US included) of adult
literacy found that in each, people who used
computers consistently scored higher on average
on the prose literacy scale than those who did
not.
10Technology- Enabled Learning Its Going On All
Around Us
- Social context of knowledge is often overlooked,
especially in the context of work. - Participation in communities often closely
aligned with actual work of community members, so
the knowledge exchanged is likely to be timely
and highly relevant to immediate knowledge needs.
- Information and communications technologies can
enable continuation of face-to-face interaction
among individuals working remotely, or provide an
extension of this interaction with colleagues in
other regions and nations. i -
- i Eilif Trondsen, The Business of Digital
Game-Based Learning. Learning on Demand SRI
Consulting Business Intelligence, December 2005,
p. 2.
11Mobile Learning
- More than 233 million cellular subscribers in the
US at the end of 2006, an increase of
approximately 25 million over the 141 million
subscribers at the end of 2002.i - Hispanic-speaking food service workers in
Sodexho, McDonalds, and other restaurants are
learning English via a portable electronic device
that enables them, by pointing at a picture on
the screen, to record and hear English
pronunciation as many times as they need to help
them master their speaking skills. - Marriott International is developing bite-sized
training podcasts so a worker can download
information to cell phone, laptop and iPod as
needed. - Young people and adults with limited means,
limited time and limited education, can use
Internet-enabled cellular phone or games to
access information as text, video, image or the
help of a teacher or mentor often can make the
difference between staying with a program or
dropping out. - i CTIA-The Wireless Association, CTIA
Semi-Annual Wireless Industry SurveyCTIA
Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey.
http//www.ctia.org/advocacy/research/index.cfm/AI
D/10316
12Characteristics for Effective Online Learning for
Workplace Literacy
- Multi-media.
- Mimic through simulation or stories a
real-time/real-place learning situation. - Offer tailored responses to an individuals
answers or choices. - Provide opportunity for repetition and practice.
- Reference or take place within a workplace and/or
real life context. - Supported with print materials.
- Aligned, when relevant, with state and/or federal
education, language, or other standards (such as
SCANS or CASAS). - Engaging and non-threatening.
- Focus on possibilities (in outcomes, in jobs, in
abilities) rather than on limitations (low
literacy, unemployment).
13Additional Useful Characteristics Include Factors
that Enable Success
- acquiring skills for getting a job,
- negotiating the workplace,
- finding useful information using computers and
the Internet, - managing practical aspects of daily life and
culture, - developing the self esteem and motivation
14Digital Literacy Microsofts Digital Literacy
Curriculum
- www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/citiz
enship/giving/programs/up/digitalliteracy/default.
mspx - Five course curriculum that provides a foundation
of basic computer skills to learners with little
or no prior computing experience. - Combines eLearning, assessments and a certificate
test in an adaptable format that can be used in
an instructor-led classroom environment or as
self-paced study. - The five Digital Literacy eLearning courses
offered include - Computer Basics The Internet and World Wide Web
Basics Productivity Software Basics Computer
Security and Privacy Digital Lifestyles - Computer Basics requires a literacy level
appropriate to read a local newspaper. Remaining
courses require mastery of Computer Basics, or
similar experience. - Each course includes an online assessment of 30
randomly generated questions linked to the key
course topics.
15ESL
- EnglishForAll
- http//www.myefa.org/login.cfm
- Multi-ethnic Web-based and CD-ROM program
includes five compelling, real-life stories in
twenty, fifteen-minute episodes. - The site includes interactive student activities,
streaming video (for broadband connections),
Flash-based audio, and a course management system
for teachers to track student progress. - Print materials are available in PDF and
downloadable without charge from the Web site. - The lessons track to the students answers as
well as to the episodes, which become
progressively more difficult. - The student may review his/her answers with those
that are correct and view the videos and lessons
repeatedly. - The content is based on the California ESL
standards and skill areas identified in the
Latino Adult Education Services Project, and it
is correlated to CASAS and SCANS competencies.
The site also includes Spanish a translation of
most of the online text. A link to an online
translator accommodates speakers of other
languages. - Sed de Saber (Thirst for Knowledge)
- Handheld device that uses storytelling, voice
recording, games and review exercises to enhance
the English language skills of Spanish-speaking
employees in Hospitality and Construction
Industries, as well as for Everyday Life. In use
by major restaurant chains and by Marriott Intl.,
as well as by Home Builders Institute. - www.retentioneducation.com
16Selected Online Learning ProgramsWork
Readiness, Literacy, ESL
- TV411- www.tv411.org
- Dynamic, pedagogically sound material using media
and print available on public TV stations, video,
online, downloadable print materials - To enable people to use on their own, or in
classes, or with families to improve basic
reading, writing, and math skills. Idea is to
help people become learners. - Structure
- Weekly, half-hour episodes consist of discrete
segments hosted by both fictional and real-life
personalities and a cast of entertaining TV411
characters who walk the learner through the math
and literacy topics of everyday. - Each episode has an accompanying 12-page workbook
which further explores concepts presented in the
show and provides opportunities for practice. - Online components include interactive lessons and
articles addressing the themes of money,
parenting, people, and health. - Web site has a bulletin board to provide users
with personalized support and a forum to share
their writing and ideas. Content and skills are
at a pre-GED level, articulate well with most
state curriculum and crosswalk well with EFF,
CASAS and SCANS.
17Selected Online LearningWork Readiness,
Literacy, GED
- PBS Workplace Essential Skills www.pbs.org/literac
y - Helps adult students advance toward their GED and
improve those basic skills needed at the
workplace, either through classroom-based or
independent Web-based instruction. - computer technology.
- Video, print, online
- Individuals at 4-5th grade reading levels
- Extensive pilot and evaluations in multiple
states - see ProjectIdeal
18Selected Tech-Enabled ProgramsICT Skills for
the Office
- Microsofts Unlimited Potential Program
- www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/citiz
enship/giving/programs/up/ - Cash, software, curriculum, and technical
expertise to nonprofit 501c3 CBOs, CTLCs - Enables individuals to learn about technology and
gain the information technology skills needed for
employment in the IT field or other industry
sectors. - 8 modules provide content for the community
(nonmatriculating) learner that focuses on
real-world skill development in the areas of - Computer Literacy Computer Fundamentals
Information Literacy - Using the Internet and
World Wide Web Digital Media Fundamentals
Productivity Applications Word Processing
Fundamentals Spreadsheet Fundamentals
Presentation Fundamentals Web Design
Fundamentals Database Fundamentals. - Files available in Microsoft Word format, so
instructors may customize lessons. - English, Spanish, French, and German. Russian,
Arabic, and Simplified Chinese in development.
19Selected Online LearningEveryday Needs and
Interests
- The Learning Edge
- http//thewclc.ca/edge/
- Image, voice, text newspapers
-
- E-Square
- http//alri.org/esquare/
- This is an "electronic square" or village
designed for adult learners with low basic
literacy skills. There are a number of
storefronts (health center, jobs center, library,
family center, computer center, early childhood
center, community arts center, library, and home
buying and rentals center) with low-literacy
content inside, much of it written by adult new
readers and writers.
20New Initiatives/Reports
- National Commission on Adult Literacy
- www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/pandp.ht
ml - Dare To Dream, Chapter on Technology, Media
and Distance Learning - Center on American Progress,
- Lifelong Learning (Brian Bosworth)
- www.cap.org
21Online Learning for AdultsResearch and
Evaluation
- National Center for the Study of Adult Learning
and Literacy (NCSALL) Harvard Graduate School
of Education - National Center on Adult Literacy (U Penn)
- www.literacydirectory.org www.literacy.org
- Project Ideal (Improving Distance Education for
Adult Learners) - www.projectideal.org
22Research and EvaluationCalifornia Distance
Learning Project
- http//www.cdlponline.org/fivepercent.htm
- http//www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseactiontea
chers