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LR/RI produces a bulletin roughly every two weeks in order to inform area practitioners of news, events, and calls for participation and also as a forum for posing questions, issues and discussion topics. The current bulletin is posted below. To read previous bulletins, go to Bulletin Archives.

October 15, 1999

Bulletin #81

Dear Colleagues,

Notice of upcoming professional development events, conferences, new online resources and employment opportunities. I will be out of the office between October 18 and 21, and again on the 26th and 27th, but will be checking phone and email. To post information, please contact me at LR/RI or leave a message (863-2839).

Thanks.

Janet Isserlis

____________________________________________________________

NOTICES

Understanding Learning Disabilities in Adults including Legal Issues -Workshop Facilitators: Lisa Beade, Lili Snieckus, Elaine Stafford, Judy Titzel. The first in a series of trainings for adult education practitioners -- administrators, counselors and teachers -- about adults with LD to be presented throughout RI. The first workshop will be held Saturday, Nov 13th from 9 AM to 2:00 PM at the International Institute of Rhode Island, 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. Lunch will be served. Through the New England LD Partnership, a series of trainings will be offered to RI adult educators on issues concerning adults with learning disabilities, beginning with Awareness and Legal Issues. Other topics to be covered in future workshops include assessment, program and instructional planning, and teaching strategies. The trainings will be held in various locations throughout RI and will be based on the Bridges-to-Practice Guidebooks developed by National ALLD Center.

Please RSVP to LR/RI by November 5th. Supported by the New England Partnership for Adults with Learning Disabilities, whose mission is to ensure that adults with learning disabilities receive the instruction and support necessary to achieve their educational and career goals. Funded through National Institute for Literacy. For information, call LR/RI or email Judy Titzel at JATDP@aol.com

DIAGNOSING ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES - The RI Department of Education has entered a contractual agreement with the University of RI to process diagnostic screening for adults with learning disabilities. In order to ensure that the process run smoothly, adult educators are urged to attend a meeting on October 20th, from 2:30 - 4:30 in Room 228 of the RIDE office (at Westminster Street in Providence). This session will start promptly at 2:30; participants are encouraged to arrive no later than 2:15. Bob Mason will explain the program and processes to be followed to obtain assessment support for people who shown signs of having learning disabilities; the session will include a thorough discussion emphasizing screening instruments for LD - those that can only be administered by licensed psychologists. The goal is to help the delivery system understand these tests - and what the results can be used for. It is imperative that program administrators and teachers understand the process and procedures through which the testing can occur. Please plan to attend. (and see belowfor national notes recognizing RI's plans around learning disabilities work).

The Rhode Island Adult Literacy Council will meet on Wednesday, November 3, at 1PM at the International Institute of RI. The agenda includes time for discussion of legislative and public awareness of adult education issues, as well as reports and updates from groups also working on adult education issues in the state. Membership in the council can be renewed (or initiated) by contacting LR/RI or Ann Piascik at 222-5778.

accountability: On Thursday, November 4, a number of people who attended Lucille Fandell's workshop, Setting standards for adult learning: Accountability: Where do we start?, will meet to share information about assessment and standards and to see how this work connects to that of the Adult Education Commission's Standards Committee. The meeting is open to all; please join us, particularly as we work towards developing program standards for adult education in Rhode Island.

Network '99 - The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE) presents its annual conference, November 3 - 4 at Ramada Rolling Green, Andover, MA. Registration must be postmarked by October 22 for best prices (MCAE members, $45/day; non-members, $70/day). For a full schedule of workshops, membership and/or registration information call MCAE at 1-800-339-2498. This is one of the closest large and comprehensive adult education conferences offered in the area, and one which is repeatedly well attended, with positive response from the field.

Sharing/discussion session for adult educators with an interest in intergenerational literacy, Tuesday November 9, at 2:00 pm, at the International Institute of Rhode Island Terri Coustan will be sharing findings from her recent minigrant project, through which she made home visits to adult literacy learners in order to learn more about ways in which literacy practices in the home affect learning in the school setting.

Sharing/discussion session for adult educators with an interest in ESOL Tuesday, November 16, 3 PM at the Genesis Center (720 Potters Avenue, Providence). Please come with a question, a teaching technique or approach to share, and/or just join us as we continue this ongoing sharing session around issues relevant to learning and teaching English.

Designing our future Women's learning, education, and training in Canada: 2000 and beyond - A national congress to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW) and to design our activities and organization for the future. November 4-7, 1999 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Toronto, Ontario. For information about the Congress program and how to register, see CCLOW website http://www.nald.ca/cclow.htm . Themes for Designing our Future: Learning, work and gender equity, Impacts of trauma on women's learning, Technology and women's learning, Supporting women's learning and Older women learning and changing. To join the theme discussions, go to http://www.alphaplus.ca Register, and choose the discussions by title.

Theme: Environmental Justice/Environmental Health Educators and Adult Learners: We are looking for lessons, activities, stories, and student projects about an environmental issue. Some questions to think about: What role should corporations play in protecting the environment? Can one person make a difference? What environmental issues exist in your community? What is the most important environmental issue in your mind? In what ways does the environment affect your health and well-being? How are your buying decisions affected by environmental issues? Please send your writings (on PC disk, if possible) and pictures or drawings to: Marie Horchler, NELRC/World Education, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210 phone: 617-482-9485 fax: 617-482-0617 email: mhorchler@worlded.org All articles must be received by November 1, 1999. All articles will be considered. Final decisions about content are made by The Change Agent Editorial Board. We also welcome referrals to people and programs working on projects related to the theme of this issue.

Learning to be Well conference will be held at the Genesis Center on October 26, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The conference will focus on action based health/literacy programs as tools for improved health status, and will include workshops and speakers from both community health and literacy programs; continental breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, please contact Isabel Bueno at 781-6110. Funded by the RI Dept. of Health - Office of Minority Health.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Providence Public Library Family Writing Center Computer Coordinator Part-time: 4 hours maximum per site morning and evening hours available immediate opening QUALIFICATIONS: demonstrated ability in computer knowledge, with advanced knowledge of MS Word and Works. Experienced in working with adults and children in an educational or tutorial setting; a commitment to literacy and an interest in working with adults or children of diverse economic or cultural backgrounds; bilingual candidates preferred. College students and recent college graduates are encouraged to apply. Job Duties: Assisting with Family Reading Program Work with Program Leader to design computer component of individual program, training students in the use of computer, assist students in the writing of 'Our Stories'. Providing Technical Expertise as needed, at each program site. Troubleshoot problems with equipment. Coordinate distribution of software applications at each site. Monitor supplies, reporting needs to Program Leader. Maintain equipment. Additional Hours -- Recruit and train volunteers as assistants, if needed. Meetings Meet with Program Leader initially to coordinate trainings, attend Cycle Evaluation meetings for planning, additional training, and/or evaluation. Reporting Provide Program Leader with monthly report on training activities, contacts made and other duties performed. Provide Program Leader with statistical information: computer sessions, attendance of students, etc. Contact Denise DiMarzio 455-8041 to apply/for information

NEW ON LINE

- Michelle Cortes-Harkins and Louise Cherubini asked, "Does a project-based, multi-sensory 30 hour program, integrated with on-line research as well as field experiences, result in sustained student motivation and commitment as well as mastery of the specifics of our science curriculum?" to guide the development of the science unit curriculum during the 6 week Dorcas Place 1999 summer school session entitled, "Take a Closer Look." Their curriculum process and its stunning results (documented, in small part, with assistance from an LR/RI minigrant) are online on LR/RI's teacher resource page, or go directly to http://members.tripod.com/waterbabies99/main.html

- Penn State's Master's Degree in Adult Education will be online in January, 2000. Even though instruction will be delivered through the internet, courses will be highly interactive and project based, including group and individual work. Themes of distance education and international adult education will be integrated into every course to help adult educators meet the needs of an increasingly global society. The degree consists of 33 credits, 21 of which are on the web. You have the option of transferring in 12 elective credits from another accredited institution or taking electives from the World Campus(currently available in educational technology and chemical dependency). Information about the program and registration is at: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/adted/ or you may phone 1-800-252-3592, or fax 1-814-865-3290, or email <psuwd@psu.edu>or email Eunice N. Askov, Ph.D. directly <ena1@psu.edu> with questions.

call for substitute teachers - LR/RI began a substitute teacher roster in 1997, but it's sorely in need of being updated. As well, I would like to be able to post the list on LR/RI's website so that program administrators have independent access to the information. This means that if you would like to add yourself to the list of teachers to be called to substitute on an as-needed basis, your phone number and general information (what you teach, hours available) would be public knowledge. If this is a problem, I will also consider reverting to the former system of responding to calls from program directors and acting as a clearinghouse for information. Please call or email, letting me know if you'd like to be on the sub list, and also, if you'd prefer that the list be posted on line or not. Either way (on line or not), the list will be maintained in an ongoing manner.

directory available: The 2000 Adult Literacy Program Directory is now available. If you have not yet received a copy, or require additional copies, please contact Donna Sherman at 861-0815. As well, if you know of other service providing agencies for whom a copy would be a useful reference, please let Donna know. The updated directory will be online soon at the LR/RI website. If you have questions about a particular agency, please contact LR/RI or Donna Sherman for the most recent information.

Practitioner Survey: LR/RI's practitioner survey is online.Please complete it and send it back via fax (863-3094), mail or email. Your input is critical to the process of evaluating LR/RI's usefulness and future directions. Program directors and others receiving the survey via fax and hard copy are asked to distribute it to your staff, and/or contact LR/RI if you need more copies. If you have questions about the survey, please contact LR/RI. Although the deadline of October 5th has passed, you can still submit surveys through the end of this month.

From Thursday Notes, from the Desk of Ronald S. Pugsley, Director, DAEL Office of Vocational and Adult Education Editor: Sarah Newcomb Production: Rose Tilghman

October 14, 1999

- Appropriations - The Senate passed the Senate Appropriations bill--approving $468 million for adult education--on October 7 by a vote of 73-25. At press time, the House bill had not been scheduled for Floor consideration. No date has been set for the Conference Committee to iron out differences between the two bills.

- President Pushes English Language/ Civics - Neither the Senate nor House FY 2000 appropriations bills contain the $70M the President requested for English Language/Civics grants, but the Administration continued to push for funding. The program was included in the Statement on Administration Policy (SAP) on S1650, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill on September 29. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) spoke in support of the initiative on the Senate Floor on October 7.

- RI WorkingOn LD - Rhode Island has two innovative approaches addressing learning disabilities for adult learners. State Director Bob Mason just committed $21K in AEFLA State Leadership funds-no small feat for the tiny state-to provide over 120 clinical learning disabilities evaluations for learners in adult education programs. Evaluations are provided through a partnership with the University of Rhode Island's Providence campus. Staff development for adult educators is included, covering diagnostic tools available and how to use results to improve instruction. Meanwhile, the state's Department of Human Services and its Office of Rehabilitation Services are partnering to identify adults on public assistance with learning disabilities. Partners then provide vocational training and accommodations to help them become independent and economically self-sufficient. Contact ride1555@ride.ri.net for the State Leadership project and http://www.ors.state.ri.us for the welfare effort.

From David Rosen, on the NLA electronic discussion list, 10/13/99: I want to call your attention to the Battered Immigrant Women's Act of 1999, soon to be introduced in both the House and Senate. Its intent is to help protect immigrant women and children from domestic violence. Its principal sponsors are Representative Schakowsky (D-IL), Morella (R-MD), and Jackson-Lee (D-TX) in the House; and Senators Abraham (R-MI) and Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate. According to the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition: "The new bill will restore a variety of legal protections granted to battered immigrants under the 1994 Violence Against Women's Act, which were lost in the passage of subsequent immigration reform. The bill also improves access to services for battered immigrants and their children beyond the original VAWA '94 immigration provisions and remedies problems with the implementation of the original VAWA '94." You are urged to call your Representative and Senators and encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors of this bill. David J. Rosen <DJRosen@world.std.com> (Contact information for RI's legislative team is online at http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/riwash.html )

THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER, 6 PM: The Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless invites you to attend a showing of the award-winning documentary film Gimme Shelter: Homeless in Rhode Island, produced by Grant Huffman and Erica Collins.  List Art Center, Brown University, 24 College Street, Providence.  Co-sponsored by the Swearer Center for Public Service.

___________________________________________________________________________ Health and Literacy in Adult Education by Amanda Darling and Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi, World Education

When adult students enter a classroom, they bring their lives with them. Their jobs, families, economic situations and health compete with their education for attention. But students' everyday lives can combine with classroom work to support the goals of teachers and learners. Negotiating health is part of every adult learner's life. Health education can be a catalyst for learning and making meaningful changes in students' own lives and the lives of their family and friends. Additionally, health issues provide important content around which basic skills can be learned and practiced. Health Education and Adult Literacy: Breast and Cervical Cancer (HEAL:BCC) addresses students' personal concerns about health while at the same time helping learners to improve their reading, writing, and presentation skills.

World Education's health and literacy work has developed incrementally over the past few years with feedback from the field. Between 1994 and 1997, the original HEAL project focused on the development of two main components: a training and a resource kit. The training asked teachers to examine their own feelings and thoughts about cancer as well as allowing them to discover the resources in the kit. The kit, which contained a wide variety of resources including books, videos, posters and curricula, was reviewed by health educators, field tested, and revised with input from teachers and their learners.

In September 1997, the current four-year HEAL:BCC project began as a collaboration between among World Education, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Expanding on the learnings of the HEAL project, HEAL:BCC studies the ways in which teachers can use materials and curricula to teach about breast and cervical cancer in adult learning centers, and to prepare learners to share this information with their families and friends. The pilot of the HEAL:BCC materials and supports began with Adult Learning Centers in Connecticut and Kentucky and will be expanded to Massachusetts and New Hampshire Centers this fall. The knowledge gained from this pilot will be used to revise the HEAL:BCC model to best meet the needs of teachers interested in using health education in their classrooms. When implementation occurs next year, the effectiveness of HEAL:BCC will be evaluated on three levels: institutional change, classroom activity, and learning. Behavioral change -- action for oneself (screening) and action for others (role in helping others take action, including screening) --will also be taken into account. Rhode Island programs interested in being involved in next year's implementation of HEAL:BCC may call Janet Isserlis at 863-2839, for more information.

CONFERENCE on Labor-Management Relations - November 19.Economists Lester Thurow (MIT) and Richard Freeman (Harvard U.) will be keynote speakers at the14th Annual RI Conference on Labor-Management Relations at the RI Convention Center in Providence. The Conference also features a panel discussion on the "Future of Labor-Management Relations" moderated by Thomas Kochan, Professor of Management at MIT and author of several books on labor relations. 10 workshops are also scheduled, including: How Arbitrators Make Decisions, Pay Equity, Balancing Economic Development with Environmental Concerns, New Leaders in RI Education, the RI State Labor Relations Board, New Approaches to Incumbent Worker Training, Americans with Disabilities Act in Light of Recent Supreme CT. Decisions, Secrecy in Public Sector, Collective Bargaining, Should Doctors and Interns Unionize? The Conference is sponsored by 26 organizations, including the US Department of Labor, the American Arbitration Association, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the RI Department of Labor and Training, the RI AFL-CIO, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the RI Bar Association, and many Labor Relations and Management Programs from area colleges, including URI, RI College, Bryant, CCRI, Providence College, and U/Mass Dartmouth. Registration fee is $95, $85 for members of RI IRRA. For information or a conference brochure, call 401-463-9900 or 401-874-2239.                       

VALUE e-list: VALUE has established a valuelearners mailing for email users, hosted by the Western/Pacific Literacy Network, part of the National Institute for Literacy Information and Communication Network System (LINCS). This "e-list" is a way for adult learners who are members of VALUE to communicate with each other. Only adult learners who are members of VALUE can subscribe to this e-list. VALUE is the national organization for adult learners (current or former participants in adult basic skills programs) in the United States. VALUE provides training and other supports to adult learners who want to be more effective leaders in their education programs, communities, and states. This e-list is being managed by members of VALUE's Communications Committee. Subscribers are encouraged to communicate about information, ideas, questions, or problems of interest to them. If you are a member of VALUE and need help subscribing, please contact LR/RI. If you're not a member, but would like to become one, contact LR/RI or visit the VALUE website at http://literacynet.org/value.

- LR/RI's list serv does not require membership, and eagerly welcomes additional participants. To join the list, please send your email address to janet_isserlis@brown.edu. Anyone with an interest in adult learning is encouraged to join.

RI Latino-American Artists Exhibit Works To Kick Off Hispanic Heritage Month

The work of Rhode Island based Hispanic artists will be exhibited at the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts from September 15, 1999 through October 15, 1999, to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibit entitled "Raices Culturales del Arte Latinoamericano" (" Cultural Roots of Latin American Art) will open on September 15, with a reception from 5pm - 7pm. Works exhibited will include oil paintings by Francisco Hernandez, from the Dominican Republic, metal sculptures by Jaime Carrera, from Colombia and abstract paintings by Newport artist Mary Gallegos originally from Mexico. Works will also be exhibited by Rhode Island artists from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The exhibit is being organized by Raphael Diaz, a Cuban and co-founder of Sol City Group. Contact: Raphael Diaz e-mail:raffa87@hotmail.com other online information: (From: Tomas Alberto Avila)

Latino Happenings During Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations Across Rhode Island http://www.mileniolatino.com/heritageri.htm

WGBH Celebrates Hispanic http://www.mileniolatino.com/heritage.htm

Fiesta de Las Americas http://www.mileniolatino.com/fiesta.htm

Latino Unity Festival @ WaterFire http://www.mileniolatino.com/waterfire.htm

Latinos in the New Millenium Conference http://www.mileniolatino.com/conferences/

RILPAC Fundraiser http://www.mileniolatino.com/conferences/rilpac/

RILPAC Web http://www.mileniolatino.com/RILPAC/

ALSO ON LINE

New discussion groups on Alphaplus: Learning, work and gender equity. Six discussions have been started on these topics: A future for women's literacy? impacts of trauma on learning; Technology and women's learning; Supporting women's learning and Older women learning and changing. To register for the discussions please go to http://alphaplus.ca: Follow the steps to register. After you have registered, choose "AlphaCom discussions". Click on "English Public" for a list of all the English-language, public discussions. Choose the title of the discussion you want to join. (These instructions also appear on LR/RI's women and literacy page).

New report: INTERNET USE BY TEACHERS: Conditions of Professional Use and Teacher-Directed Student Use answers questions such as :How often do teachers and students use the Internet, andhow do they use it? How accessible is the Internet to teachers? The full report is posted at: http://www.crito.uci.edu/TLC/findings/Internet-Use/startpage.htm ["Internet Use by Teachers: Conditions of Professional Use & Teacher-Directed Student Use." By Henry Jay Becker. Teaching, Learning, & Computing: 1998 National Survey, Report #1. Center for Research on Information Technology andOrganizations. The University of California, Irvine, The University of Minnesota February 1999]. Although dealing with K-12 issues, the report could be of interest to adult educators hoping to learn more about intergenerational use of technology and also to gain a sense of how our K - 12 colleagues are working to integrate technology into learning.

conferences

- A positive parenting seminar for parents of kids with AD/HD and learning disabilities is among the 20 plus sessions offering information for parents, adults with learning disabilities, educators and other professionals. Adults with learning disabilities and/or ADD can participate in their own Adult Issues Strand facilitated by Jonathan Scott Halverstadt. Special sessions on literacy issues, medical aspects of LD, workshops for educators, parents and professionals and more. The Learning Disabilities Association of California (LDA-CA) is a state organization devoted to defining and finding solutions for a broad spectrum of learning problems. Originally formed by a group of concerned parents, LDA-CA does crucial work on behalf of children and adults with learning disabilities.

SCALE's 10th Anniversary Literacy Summit October 28-31, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- The Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education (SCALE) works with college students, faculty, administrators, community leaders, literacy practitioners, and New Readers to help create and support campus-based literacy programs. SCALE celebrates its 10th Anniversary and is holding a Literacy Summit to offer a unique learning opportunity to those working in campus-based literacy programs, through two Literacy Institutes: Youth Literacy/ Mentoring or Adult Literacy.

Presenters for the 5 Summit Strands include:

Advocacy & Social Justice: David Rosen, Adult Literacy Resource Institute, Leslie Haynes, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Working Films, Charlotte NC Diversity: Andy Pates, Peppercorn Press Jane Hugo, Laubach Literacy, Participatory Education Techniques: Archie Willard, VALUE, Motheread, Joye Norris, Global Learning Partners, Hal Beder, Rutgers University Community and Community Partnerships: Mary Morrison, Volunteer Center of Tuscon Participatory Program Management: Ed Chaney, NC Youth for Tomorrow, Mary Siedow, NC Literacy Resource Center. Whether you're a volunteer, AmeriCorps member or program coordinator, the Summit is designed to provide support to enhance professional development and help you make real program improvement. Registered participants will: develop goals and action plans for program growth and change; receive a toolbox of resources related to literacy and social justice; establish networks with other literacy leaders, and receive proactive SCALE technical assistance for 1 year. The Summit is geared for all who are interested in offering leadership to campus-based literacy programs (committed tutors, community partners or program coordinators). We encourage you to come with colleagues and form working groups to maximize the potential of the visioning and action planning sessions for your program. While working groups are ideal, we welcome individual participants representing their campus- or community-based literacy programs.

For information, please: call (919) 962-1542, e-mail us at scale@email.unc.edu, or at http://www.unc.edu/depts/scale Please note: website lists conference hotel options; you can secure a discounted room rate if you make reservations soon - David Falk Campus Support Coordinator/Regional Mobilizer (SCALE) dfalk@email.unc.edu

Literacy Volunteers of America annual conference, Nashville, TN November 10-13, 1999.Information available online at http://www.literacyvolunteers.org/conference/index.htm

relatively new on the website:

- Research Agenda for Adult ESL The National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education, in collaboration with National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy and with additional sponsorship and support from Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, has published a Research Agenda for Adult ESL. Its objectives are to provide funders with clear priorities for funding; to provide researchers with support for proposing specific projects; and to provide a focus for dis-cussion about how to improve adult ESL programs. The document incorporates feedback from learners, instructors, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers, and is available, free, from NCLE, 4646 40th street NW, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 362-0700 extension 200, or can be downloaded from NCLE at http://www.cal.org/ncle (and is also linked to LR/RI's ESOL page).

- The Key on line - Monthly newspaper for adults in Wisconsin's basic education and ESL programs.  http://www.keynews.org/ (and is linked to LR/RI's learner page).

from previous bulletins: REMINDERS, RESOURCES:

The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy has recently released a set of informative fact sheets outlining for practitioners and others the projects with which NCSALL researchers are currently engaged. Project histories, plans, and implications for practice are all highlighted in the fact sheets. Projects include studies of Learner Motivation, Impact of Literacy Programs on Adult learners, Adult Multiple Intelligences, Home Literacy Uses, Adult Development and Literacy Learning, Staff Development, Assessment, GED Impact, Health and Literacy, and Reading Diagnostics, Anyone interested in reading about one or all of the projects or anyone who may be interested in project participation information may receive copies by contacting David Hayes at (401) 331-9261. (The PDRN bulletin, including a link to the NCSALL fact sheets is also available online.

list servs:

LEARNER is intended primarily for adult learners. LITERACY is a general list for adult literacy practitioners and others. Information on these electronic lists is below.

LEARNER To subscribe to LEARNER, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LEARNER Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LEARNER should be addressed to: LEARNER@nysernet.org Questions regarding the list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin Moderator, LEARNER bdevlin@dreamscape.com

LITERACY To subscribe to LITERACY, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LITERACY Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LITERACY should be addressed to: LITERACY@nysernet.org Questions regarding the LITERACY list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin bdevlin@dreamscape.com

Welfare to work listserv: from Glenn Young - For those interested in the subject of welfare reform and learning disabilities, there has been a listserv created through NIFL. To sign up, please send a message to: listproc@literacy.nifl.gov write in the body of the message subscribe nifl-wtwld and your name. Do not write anything in the subject line and do not use any dots or dashes other than between nifl and wtwld. (Click here for more information on listservs).

women and literacy listserv.

To participate, subscribe by sending an email message to: LISTPROC@LITERACY.NIFL.GOV with the following request in the body of the message: subscribe NIFL-Womenlit firstname lastname Substitute your first and last name spelled exactly as you would like it to appear. For example, to subscribe to the NIFL-Womenlit list Sue Smith would type: subscribe NIFL-womenlit Sue Smith There should be no other text in the message (e.g., your signature block). It is recommended that the subject line be left blank if possible.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

How is the internet being used in adult education? What are some helpful uses, and how do we sort through the huge amount of material available on line? Susan Gaer is interested in helping programs link to one another, and has been doing so through an email project homepage on-line, at http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/email.htm. If you have or know of similar learner work on line, please contact Susan at SusanG2@aol.com.

David Rosen has asked that we have a look at the inquiry maps on the Adult Literacy Resource Institute's home page. As he explains, "[a]n Inquiry Map is a group participatory research process on a topic of high interest to the group. Participants (in this case, adult learners) make their own questions, and then set about finding answers to them. The Inquiry map is a process which is never finished. Many of the questions go unanswered, are only partially answered, or have only one answer given where other points of view are possible. So, there is room for other participants to join in the process at any time, to add their answers, their comments on the answers already given, and questions which they might also choose to research." Questions, answers and comments can be posted to David Rosen <DJRosen@world.std.com>, and he'll add them to the inquiry map. So, it keeps on being an inquiry process with each new person who reads and adds to it. He welcomes additions of questions and answers; as you may know, many internet sites run threaded conversations on a variety of topics. The ALRI sites are: http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/I.M.html and http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/IM3.html (How to make inquiry maps).