Functional Literacy
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Subject: [PD 6139] Instructional design
From: tibekilem
Date: Thu Dec 1 07:42:17 EST 2011
Hello Jackie. I'm also excited abt being part of literacy professionals. I am a Swazi in Africa engaged in basic literacy provition for adults youth and out of school children. We are using functional literacy for adults and not sure if same approach would be appropriate for the out of school chilfren. Also would there be a theory that underpins that?
tibekilem
Subject: [PD 6155] Re: Instructional design
From:Tom Sticht
Date: Fri Dec 2 12:37:25 EST 2011
Colleagues: Tibekilem asked for information regarding functional literacy
and its theory. Following is some information which provides theoretical
underpinnings for functional literacy approaches for adult learners. The
reports also provide illustrations of program design. The first five
reports are authored by myself. Following the five reports is an outline of
my workshop on Functional Context Education and Workplace Literacy which
lists the topics I cover in four parts. After that is a listing of the
resources/reports I draw upon in the workshop. All the reports are
available for downloading online. Hope this is of use Tibekilem.
Tom Sticht
1. The Theory Behind Content-Based Instruction. This article discusses the
theory underlying functional context education and appears in Focus on
Basics located online at: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=433
2. Reading for Working: A Functional Literacy Anthology. The research and
development reported in RfW set the stage for what became known as
"workplace literacy." For the first time, adult literacy work included an
extensive body of empirical research to find out just how literate adults
had to be to perform well in various occupations. The work took place
within the context of the U. S. Army of the Vietnam era of the 1960s and
continued into the newly implemented Volunteer Army of the 1970s and
beyond. It expanded from studies to determine how literate personnel had to
be to work as automobile mechanics, cooks, supply clerks, medical corpsmen,
etc., to the design of more readable and usable books and manuals, and the
design, development, and implementation of workplace literacy programs at
Army recruit training centers across the United States. The book also
presents early data on the intergenerational transfer of literacy from
parents to their children, data in support of policies basis for family
literacy programs.
http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/sticht/rfw/cover.htm
3. Functional Context Education: Making Learning Relevant (1997 edition).
Eight chapters including The Power of Adult Literacy Education, Some
Challenges of Diversity for Adult Literacy Education, Views On Contemporary
Cognitive Science, Introduction to Functional Context Education, Functional
Context Education and Literacy Instruction, and four case studies in
applying Functional Context Education to the design of programs that
integrate (or embed, contextualize) basic skills and vocational or
parenting education (workplace literacy, family literacy).
http://www.nald.ca/library/research/context/context.pdf
4. Functional Context Education: Making Learning Relevant in the 21st
Century (2005 edition). Functional Context Education (FCE) materials
available online in several nations, the Adult Literacy and Life Skills
(ALL) survey, National Adult Assessment of Literacy (NAAL) survey, FCE in
historical perspective, (1860-Present) including Paulo Freire and Learner
Centered, Participatory Literacy Education. Methodologies used in adult
literacy research for determining what is relevant to youth and adult
learners; five case studies illustrating the application of FCE in
parenting, vocational training, and health literacy.
http://www.nald.ca/library/research/fce/FCE.pdf
5. Functional context education: A scientific, evidence-based approach for
adult literacy education. Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada: National
Adult Literacy Database. Available:
www.nald.ca/info/whatnew/headline/2002/evidence.htm
Workshop title: Functional Context Education and Workplace Literacy
Presenter: Tom Sticht, International Consultant in Adult Education
(tsticht at aznet.net)
Workshop Schedule & Resources
Part 1. 09:00-10:30am Contemporary issues calling renewed attention to
Functional Context Education and Workplace Literacy
Overview of theories, methods, and professional wisdom in the history of
FCE and workplace literacy.
10:30-10:45 Break
Part 2. 10:45-12:00 Scientific research on FCE and workplace literacy
leading to the National Workplace Literacy Program (NWLP) in the United
States
.
12:00-12:30pm Lunch
Part 3. 12:30-02:00pm Workplace literacy and workforce development research
and programs following the NWLP
02:00-02:15pm Break
Part 4. 02:15-03:30pm Contemporary projects on contextualizing and
integrating program design and engaging employers and employees.
FCE & Workplace Literacy: Resources for Part 1
(Use Google to locate these reports titles online)
Working Together: Integrated Language, Literacy and Numeracy Support in
Vocational Education and Training
Literacy and Human Resources Development at Work: Investing in the Education
of Adults to Improve the Educability of Children
Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide
The Career Pathways How-To Guide
Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills: What Works? And Why?
Breaking Through: Contextualization Toolkit
Integrating Adult Basic Education and Occupational Training: A Review of
Research and Practice
Literacy-Friendly Further Education and Training: An Exploration of the
potential for a whole organization approach to integrating language and
literacy to further education and training in Ireland
Strengthening Literacy and Numeracy Through Embedding: Guidelines for
Private Training Establishments
Work, Society and Lifelong Literacy: Report of the inquiry into adult
literacy in England
ABE Career Connections: A Manual for Integrating Adult Basic Education Into
Career Pathways
FCE & Workplace Literacy: Resources for Part 2
Partnering with Employers: To Promote Job Advancement for Low-Skill
Individuals
Reading for Working: A Functional Literacy Anthology
Cast-off Youth: Policy and Training Methods From the Military Experience
Workplace Literacy: Reshaping the American Workforce
FCE & Workplace Literacy: Resources for Part 3
Workplace Literacy Programs: Resources for Program Design, Assessment,
Testing & Evaluation
REFLECT: Transferring literacy skills in the workplace (eMagazine from
NRDC.ioe.uk)
Passports to Paradise: The Struggle to Teach and to Learn on the Margins of
Adult Education
“You wouldn’t expect a maths teacher to teach plastering”: Embedding
literacy, language and numeracy in post-16 vocational programmes-the impact
on learning and achievement
Learning Faster-Learning Smarter: The Functional Context Education Approach
to Economic Self-Sufficiency
Improving Immigrants’ Employment Prospects through Work-Focused Language
Instruction
FCE & Workplace Literacy: Resources for Part 4 Contextualized Teaching & Learning: A Faculty Primer Educating Adult Workers: The Shifting Gears Initiative: An Overview Measures of Success: Workplace Literacy & Essential Skills Workbase New Zealand Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Communication Support (web page) Reaching customers-supporting staff –workplace literacy and essential skills Making Cent$ of Literacy: The Bottom Line Impact Making it Work: A Practical Guide for Effective Delivery of Skills for Life in Workplace Learning
