SECTION 2.2 - THE COMPUTER
One of the most powerful uses of the computer is the relatively quick and easy access to information that it provides. There are many other uses, however, some which are less obvious. The activity below is designed to get you thinking about how you might use the computer in your adult literacy program.
2.2.1 Internet Activity
Visit each of the sites that are highlighted in red and underlined in each question. Once you have answered all of the questions, list as many uses for the computer as you can based on the sites you visited and any others you can think of on your own.
1) This site has a unique idea for making use of the computer and Internet. What are they suggesting these can be used for?
2) What is the name of the organization at this site, with whom are they using technology in their literacy program? Give one example of their current computer projects. (Hint: Click on "Literacy at BTS" on the left hand menu, then scroll to the very bottom of the page to "Technology and Literacy")
3) This site offers a searchable database for what?
4) How does this site suggest computers can be used in adult literacy programs?
5) What is the organization at this site offering?
6) What specific area of literacy does this site target?
7) Who developed this site and at whom is it targeted?
8) What does "BALC" stand for and what is this organization?
Click here to go to the answers for the above activity.
2.2.2 Uses for the Computer in Adult Literacy Programs
As above activity hopefully demonstrated, there are a wide variety of uses for the computer. These can loosely be grouped into the following categories:
As an Administrative Tool
There are all manner of tools available that can be used administratively (e.g., Microsoft). These range from record keeping and spreadsheet programs (e.g., Excel), to word processing (e.g., Word). Although word processing programs are primarily intended for administrative purposes, certain features of these programs can be used quite effectively in our teaching. Some examples include the ability to change font size, style and colour can all be used to emphasize points we are trying to make with students, the ability to insert clip art to illustrate a concept, and spelling/grammar checking tools.
To Communicate
There are many ways of using the computer to communicate.
We can talk with others via the web either through text-based features such
as e-mail,
text-based 'chatting' in real
time or delayed time discussion lists such as list-servs
or message boards. We can also talk with others using sound only or with sound
and images together via audio/video-conferencing. Although less widely used
in the past due to limited ability to transmit sound/images over the Internet,
newer transmission methods mean the quality of audio
and/or video-conferencing
is increasing in quality and thus, is becoming more popular. Part of this
popularity has to do with the fact that distance communication involving sound/images
is much less expensive than traditional methods such as the audio-conferencing
via telephone or video-conferencing via satellite. Not only can literacy practitioners/volunteers
communicate via the Internet, but so too can classes, (e.g., Classroom
Virtual Visits Project, Duke
Learn Web Site), and individual learners (e.g., e-mail
pals are like 'pen pals' except that students communicate via e-mails
rather than letters).
To Access/Disseminate Information
This quick, easy and free access to databases about a very broad range of information is a major advantage to the use of computers in programs. The ability to search the Internet means that specific, detailed information can be located without physically travelling to a library and looking through a number of books.
We can also use the Internet to communicate information to others and vice versa. Web sites can be used to advertise and inform about our programs (e.g., Pembina Valley Learning Centre, Samaritan House, Brandon Adult Learning Centre, Winnipeg Adult Education Centre), recruit volunteers, and even to fund-raise. In addition to being a very motivating tool for teaching computer skills, learner web pages (e.g., Samaritan House - click on "Students' Page", ESL Students' Homepages) can be used to showcase a learner's accomplishments and abilities to others (i.e., employers, family, friends) in a very visual and accessible manner.
Online newsletters are a very efficient way of communicating information to others (i.e., provide timely information, inexpensive to produce, easily accessed and archived, etc.) in comparison to print-based newsletters and are becoming increasingly popular for this reason. There are also an increasing number of related online journals, some of which are free and others that have an associated cost.
Not only can we communicate information to others, but others can make their material very accessible to us. These sites can be directly related to literacy (e.g., National Adult Literacy Database) or indirectly (e.g., Lawyers for Literacy).
To Access Learners
Computers can be used to access learners with time (e.g., adults who are busy and might not be able to commit to weekly classes), distance (e.g., learners for whom no program is close at hand), and/or physical barriers (e.g., learners who are shut-ins or have a chronic illness). This is often referred to as anywhere, anytime learning. For example, there is an interesting adult education project in Europe called GATE (UK Site for this project), which:
has been developing vocational services to people with disabilities in the UK, Italy, Finland, Spain, France and Greece. Central to this project, apart from the individual needs of people with disabilities, has been new technology. New technologies have made it possible to take services to people to enable them to study or work when they want to or are able to, rather than expect people to go to the services they require.
To Promote Self-Directed/Discovery
Learning
Computers can help students to be more independent and self-directed in their learning than traditional teaching approaches. For example, the Canlearn Cafe site provides tools and information to assist students to help themselves with their study skills, career planning, financial planning, and/or technology use. Both increased independence and the nature of learning by computer (i.e., multimedia, interactiv