Course Technology--InfoWeb: Literacy

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According to the UN, almost 97 percent of adult populations in Western developed countries are literate. But the media in the U.S. often claims that 20 to 30 percent of Americans are functionally illiterate--they cannot read well enough to understand a newspaper, understand a paycheck stub, or complete a simple form. What is the cause of this discrepancy? To find out, you can read the article "Measuring the Nation's Literacy: Important Considerations" by Terrence Wiley at www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed334870.html. Literacy is important because how well you read and write influences your ability to participate in economic, social, and political life. Although nearly 10 years old, the classic book Illiterate America by Jonathan Kozol (New American Library Trade, 1988) will give you a good start in understanding what problems are associated with illiteracy, why literacy is critical to success in life, and what you can do about illiteracy. On the World Wide Web, connect to Summer Institute of Linguistics at www.sil.org where you can find information about literacy around the world and the connection between economic development and literacy. At the Laubach Literacy Web site, www.laubach.org, you can find information about volunteer-based literacy programs around the world.

Additional Links

Literacy Online Literacy Online is the Web site of the National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL) and the International Literacy Institute (ILI). NCAL has three major goals: to "improve understanding of adult learners and their learning, foster innovation and increase effectiveness in adult basic education and literacy work, and expand access to information and build capacity for adult literacy service provision." The ILI focuses on research, development, and training in international literacy. At the Web site, you can find papers on literacy-related public policy, literacy research, technology and literacy, innovations in literacy programs, and training programs. You can read the most recent edition of the NCAL newsletter, Connections, and you can browse the NCAL/ILI bookstore.

Literacy Volunteers of America Literacy Volunteers of America's (LVA) network of more than 50,000 volunteers teaches reading, writing, and English speaking skills to adults with limited or non-existent literacy skills. At their Web site, you can learn about the history of the organization, read facts about illiteracy in the United States, and learn about legislative issues that have an impact on literacy activities. You can also find a calendar of events, access the LVA affiliates directory, and find links to other literacy resources on the Internet.