New Report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Dropout Rates in the United States: 2004
This report builds upon a series of NCES reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates for 2004 and provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three decades (1972-2004), including characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years. To view the report, go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007024.
The Federal Role in Adult Literacy
The National Commission on Adult Literacy has released four lay-of-the-land papers on the role of the federal government in adult literacy. The report may be downloaded at: www.caalusa.org/fedlayofland-commission1206.pdf. The papers that are included are:
- Adult Education and Literacy Legislation and Its Effects on the Field by Lennox McLendon;
- Adult Education and Literacy in the United States: Need for Services, What the Current Delivery System Looks Like by Garrett Murphy;
- Introduction to Main Strands of Federal Adult Literacy Programming by Jim Parker; and
- Federal Role in Adult Literacy, FY05-06 by Garrett Murphy.
New from Exploring Adult Literacy
The online adult literacy journal, Exploring Adult Literacy, contains an article entitled "Locating Adult Literacy Programs in Regular Schools and Adult Education Centers: What the Learners Have to Say" written by Marion Terry. Take a few minutes to read what adult literacy students have to say about where their classes are held. The article may be found at: http://literacy.kent.edu/cra/2006/mterry/index.html.
Focus on Basics: The Last Issue
This final issue is available only online. The topics covered are varied but highly pertinent to our field. Some of the topics covered are distance learning and self-study, healthcare, and dissemination of research. To view the issue, go to: www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1150.
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Numeracy!
Numeracy really has become a hot issue recently. As a result, there are quite a few new resources that have been released.
- The Components of Numeracy by Myrna Manley, Lynda Ginsburg, and Mary Jane Schmitt
- Changing the Way We Teach Math: A Manual for Teaching Basic Math to Adults by Kate Nonesuch
- More Complicated Than It Seems: A Review of Literacy About Teaching Math to Adults by Kate Nonesuch
- Focus on Basics: Mathematics Instruction
- A Review of Literacy in Adult Numeracy: Research and Conceptual Issues by the American Institute of Research
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America's Dynamic Workforce: 2006
Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, America's Dynamic Workforce: 2006 presents an overview of current conditions and notable trends affecting the American labor market and economic activity. To view the report, go to: www.dol.gov/asp/media/reports/workforce2006/ADW2006_Full_Text.pdf.
Workbase
This New Zealand organization provides guidebooks such as Workplace Literacy: A Programme Manager's Guide and other resources for those wishing to provide well-planned, high quality workplace basic skills instruction. To visit the site, go to: www.workbase.org.nz.
The Sloan Center on Innovative Training and Workforce Development (ITWD), housed at Rutgers University, is dedicated to helping state, county, and city government departments and Workforce Investment Boards institutionalize online learning training alternatives for non-college educated workers throughout the nation. To learn more, go to: www.itwd.rutgers.edu/mainPages/index.htm.
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New Research Digests Available from the FINE Network
The FINE Network at Harvard's Graduate School of Education has released two new research digests: Family Involvement in School and Low-Income Children's Literacy Performance and Making It Work: Low-Income Working Mothers' Involvement in Their Children's Education. Both are available at: www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/resources/digest/index.html.
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The Center for English Language Acquisition's Newest Resource Collection
is focused on Working with Literacy-Level Adult English Language Learners. The collection includes links and annotations to many resources related to working with adult English language learners who have had limited access to formal education. To view the collection, go to: www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/collections/literacy.html.
Updated Naturalization Guide
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have released an updated version of the Naturalization Guide. To download the guide, go to: www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf.
Using Comics to Teach English
A newly created website allows users to make their own comic strips using the characters and story ideas provided. This resource is provided free of charge. To make your own comic, go to: www.makebeliefscomix.com/comix.php.
ESOL on iTunes
Many of the free podcasts available on iTunes are geared to the second language learner. Along with French, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Italian, and Spanish, there are also English lessons. You don't have to have an iPod to use iTunes. You may listen to all podcasts on your computer through iTunes, which is a free download. To download iTunes, go to: www.apple.com/itunes/download/. To access the free podcasts after downloading iTunes, follow these steps.
- Make sure that iTunes is open.
- Go to the iTunes store.
- Click on Podcasts.
- Under Categories, select Education.
- Under More Education, select Language Courses.
- To see all of the language courses offered, click See All.
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Skill Assessment for Computer-Based Learning by Literacy Works
This New Zealand website is designed for the learner to self-assess, check, and confirm the skills and knowledge they have that will assist them in successfully participating in computer-based learning. To check out this wonderful tool, go to: www.uq.edu.au/hanginthere/sacl/index.htm.
Keeping Up with Technology
Technology is constantly changing. It's often hard to keep up with the latest advances. Discover ways to stay current on the Adult Literacy Education Wiki at: http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/AleTechnologyKeepingUp.
Google Videos
Videos are becoming more and more a part of the educational experience. Find step-by-step instructions for uploading your own videos to Google for free. Instructions may be found at: http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Google_videos.
Software Evaluation Project
Adult literacy instructors will now have an easier time finding suitable and affordable educational software for learners to use, thanks to a project coordinated by the Canadian National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) and funded by the Canadian Office of Learning Technologies. Evaluations of 108 pieces of educational freeware and shareware have been posted online, and the programs are also categorized and available for download. To learn more, go to: www.nald.ca/software/.
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Health Communication Activities
As part of the Healthy People 2010 initiative, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers the Health Communication Activities website. Included on the website are a variety of resources, such as the new Prevention Communication Research Database which is searchable by gender, race, age, income, or educational level; the Quick Guide to Health Literacy available in the Health Literacy Improvement section; and much more. To explore this valuable resource, go to: www.health.gov/communication/.
New Health Literacy Resource from NCSALL
The Health Literacy Environment of Hospitals and Health Centers: Partners for Action: Making Your Healthcare Facility Literacy-Friendly is now available from NCSALL. The guide and the review tools found within the site offer an approach for analyzing literacy-related barriers to healthcare access and navigation. To learn more, go to: www.ncsall.net/?id=1163.
What a Friend Can Do for You
Adapted from a booklet created by an adult education class at the Jamaica Plain, MA, adult learning center, What a Friend Can Do for You is a photonovela that explains how friends can help each other with healthcare issues. To experience it for yourself, go to: http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/heal/friends/index.html.
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