C

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Contemporary Approaches to Literacy Instruction

Spring 1989

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Instructor: ?

Tom Walker

Mondays

5:30 - 7:20 P. M.

Location: MPX 7600

PREREQUISITES:

Co-requisite Educ. 341

OBJECTIVES:

This course will survey the range of literacy instructional approaches as they appear in adult

literacy programs currently operating in the B.C. Lower Mainland. Emphasis will be on enhancing

the student's practical understanding of literacy instruction. Therefore it should be of particular

interest to students with recent, concurrent or prospective literacy tutoring or teaching

experience. A framework for comparing components of various approaches will be developed in

the first half of the course. In the second half students will be given the opportunity to apply this

frame practically.

TOPICS:

Programs -

A)

Survey and introduction

B)

In depth analysis of selected programs based on accessibility of program, availability

of guest speakers, diversity of program characteristics and interest.

2. ?

Components -

A)

Purpose

B)

Curriculum

C) Techniques

D)

Scope

E)

Organizational Setting

F)

Staff Professionalism

G)

Finance

3.

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Contexts: current federal and provincial initiatives in the adult literacy field.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Paul llsley, Adult Literacy Volunteers: Issues and Ideas, ERIC, Columbus, OH, 1985.

Audrey M. Thomas, Adult Illiteracy in Canada: A Challenge, Canadian Commission for Unesco,

Ottawa, 1984. (If available - otherwise on library reserve)

Paulo Freire and Donaldo Macedo, Literacy: Reading the Word and the World. Bergin and

Gamey, South Hadley, Mass.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Student evaluation will be based on completion of a mid-term exam (30%), a term paper of 10 - 12

pages (40%), and a course project (30%). The midterm will take place on February 20. The term

paper will be due March 20 and the course project will be due on April 3.