Submitted by:
Lynn Foley - Pre-GED/ASE III
Michael Moise - Pre-GED/ASE II
Project RIRAL Providence Adult Learning Center 170 Broad Street YMCA Building Providence, RI 331-0766
Please describe the problem/question you are posing, and the thinking/events that have led you to pose this question/problem.
Problem 1: Learners' resistance to the writing process. Generally speaking, the learners donít like to write. They claim it is tedious and boring. We believe one of the main reasons is they have great difficulty expressing themselves in written language. Also, whenever they have writing assignments due, there is a noticeable decrease in class attendance.
Problem 2: Learners lack of computer knowledge. Students visit the computer lab at the PALC for an average of two hours per week. Although given assignments to do while in the lab, learners claim this is also tedious and boring. Possible reasons for this are, 1) theyíre given writing assignments, and 2) they have no prior knowledge of computers.
What do you hope to accomplish as a result of exploring your question/problem?
1. We hope to give the learners a purpose and an incentive to write. We hope to increase their desire to want to enthusiastically accept the writing process. We hope to help them to succeed at writing.
2. We hope to help them become computer literate.
What action do you plan to undertake in order to address your question/problem?
We hope to help the learners generate a school newspaper. Learners will be responsible for all aspects of it, including, but not limited to:
Researching newspapers - including other adult education agency newspapers, children's school newspapers, local city newspapers, etc.
Coordinating duties - deciding what type of articles will be included, delegating responsibilities, reporting, typing, layout design, distribution, budgeting costs, etc.
Use of technology - including word processing, programming, formatting, scanning, picture taking, etc.
Editing - within articles, newspaper as a whole, and deciding on changes for next issue.
Rough Timeline
January - We will introduce this project to the learners and start brainstorming ideas. Newspapers from other agencies and schools will be reviewed. A field trip to the Providence Journal will be arranged. Computer classes will focus on word processing and formatting. Writing classes will focus on the 5 W's, (who, what, where, when, how).
February - Outlines for first edition of the newspaper will be reviewed, jobs will be given to each learner, deadlines will be set, and articles will be written.
March - Continue with articles being written, editing, and final preparations for meeting deadlines. First edition of newspaper will be completed and distributed.
April - We will review the first edition and start to plan the second. Jobs and responsibilities will be redistributed. Learners will brainstorm changes and new ideas for next edition.
May - Outlines for the second edition will be reviewed, deadlines will be set, and articles will be written and edited.
June- Second edition of newspaper will be completed and distributed. Learners will be asked for feedback about this project. Plans will be made to continue work on this newspaper during the summer and/or fall, or discontinue it.
How will you evaluate your progress with this project?
Learners will be asked to give feedback concerning the newspaper project as a whole and the writing and technology components. Feedback will be gathered by journal writing and/or a questionnaire.
How will you share the results of your work with colleagues at the program in which you intend to conduct the inquiry? Each edition of the newspaper will be distributed to all members of the staff and student body. Also, final reports on this project will be shared with any colleagues who are interested.
interim report - March, 2000
April 3, 2000 Lynn Foley, Michael Moise
Our original Inquiry project focus has not changed. We hope to
help students improve their writing skills and gain computer knowledge
by writing and putting together a school newspaper.
Pros
- We had a guest journalist from the Providence
Journal (Lora Kirk), speak to the students about reporting. Students
gained a lot of information from her. Some used it to help get them
started on their articles and others used it to rewrite theirs. The
favorite piece of advice was, "So what, who cares".
- Because of one student's interest in writing an article about voting,
we helped to register 12 new voters.
- About 40% of students have become more enthusiastic and conscientious
about their writing.
- We have received about 15 to 20 completed articles. Subjects
range from parenting, to sports heroes, to poetry, to cartoons, to movie
reviews, to voting.
Cons
- Our computer teacher resigned, which has left us with no technical
support.
- About 25% of students didn't submit anything. About
half of them tried, but for one reason or another failed. The other
half didn't make an effort to submit anything.
- We've had an overwhelming number of students entering
the program and
leaving the program. This has made it very difficult to keep focused
on this project.
What's next? We need to get our first newspaper out - as is. Unfortunately, this will mean retyping everything so it is all together. Also, because of the lack of a computer teacher, it will mean less student involvement in the technical process.
For the next publication, we hope to have the old students introduce the project to the new students thereby creating peer motivation and enthusiasm.
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