Despite the wonders of the Internet, people's ability to use it in ways that can improve their lives is limited by literacy barriers. At the same time, technology can serve as a tool for learning programmes that address literacy and numeracy needs within communities.

This project description was written by Terry Grunwald for the Scottish Communities Channel in 2001, but is now longer available there. We plan to update here shortly.

What do Literacy through Technology Programmes Do?

• Provide non- threatening incentives for residents to go to learning access centres where literacy is only one of a long menu of learning activities available
• Offer inter-generational and family literacy programmes where parents or grandparents can be encouraged to participate in literacy programmes that employ technology - along with the young people in their family
• Use computer and Internet-based literacy teaching tools for adult and family literacy. For example, e-mail with family members can be used to encourage reading and writing.
• Combine practising literacy skills with learning to use a word processor
• Offer voice recognition tools to enable people with low literacy to listen as information is "read" to them
• Provide resources for computer-based English as a Second Language training
• View IT as a basic skill and pay attention to how IT is best integrated into basic skills provision

Resources

Adult Literacies in Scotland produces information and advice for adult literacy and numeracy programmes in Scotland

National Literacy Trust has an online database to help everyone concerned with promoting literacy in the UK to work collaboratively.

Surfing for Substance (US) is a professional development guide to integrating the World Wide Web into adult literacy instruction. Its appendix provides links to a wealth of Web resources.

The Adult Literacy Resource Institute (US) sponsors Virtual Visits, web pages made from visitors' field trip photos, recordings and writings that represent the visitors' point of view. They enable literacy students who view the visit on the Web to get important information and experience which might not otherwise is available to them.