Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h9UCvGV29694; Thu, 30 Oct 2003 07:57:17 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 07:57:17 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <20031030.075601.9270.0.socrates555@juno.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "George E. Demetrion" <socrates555@juno.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2594] Re: query X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 Status: O Content-Length: 7920 Lines: 177 Thanks to everyone for the excellent feedback. It's obvious that there are some programs that are similar enough to ours in which EFF has been successfully implemented. That knoweldege, itself, is important data, regardless of problems that others may have had either (a) in implementing EFF, or (b) in determining whether the framework fits their educational, programmatic, and organizational structure. While briefly introducing EFF to one of our tutors who has a very solid grasp of how systems and organizations work, he emphasized the importance of identifying and articulating the benefits of what EFF potentially could bring to the program. That identification I will be doing, along with an analysis of the barriers and problem in a force-field analysis of costs and benefits. As part of that information gathering process, anyone thinking of moving forward with EFF in volunteer literacy programs would do well to listen closely to the collective experience of Jenny, Taylor, and Caroline. As a start (and I think it's worthwhile to have this discussion on the list, perhaps with more in-depth probing off-list), let me pose a query both to these folks and obviously anyone else who would care to respond: In terms of program implementation, how has EFF shifted what your students and tutors do together in their sessions? More specifically (and perhaps speculatively), can you talk about the shift in emphasis from a program where a wide range of instructional materials on various life themes (related to the instrumental, human interest, cultural, and aesthetic (fiction) has been the basis for both an emphasis on reading development and engaged discussion on a variety of themes (our program), to one that would be more problem focused (I presume) based on a clearer focus on goals for which the EFF model would ideally fit, in particular, for a small group setting organized on approximate reading levels (We no longer provide one-to-one tutoring). In your thinking can you include what would remain the same in terms of curriculum and instructional focus as well as what would likely be different? In bringing this out, if I thought the model we are working on (where a wide array of materials and themes are presented and tutors (mostly) choose what to work on, was working exceedingly well, I wouldn't be at this point in my re-thinking. To be sure, when this model works well, especially with our more gifted tutors who particularly like this format, there may not be much to change--though even with these folks an effective presentation of the EFF framework might well enhance what they are doing. The more perplexing issue is among tutors who may not understand contextual-based instruction well and who equate literacy predominantly (or exclusively) with reading and don't see the value in linking instruction to critical areas in people's lives. We discuss this (of course) in our training and the recommended materials that I have organized (or created) are linked both to levels and to the key topics of employment, family, civics, health, culture, and learning to learn. There are also a lot of other texts available and what often happens is that tutors become comfortable with two or three (and in some cases one!) sources, so that the reality is that instruction becomes material rather than content driven in the dynamic sense in linking up with areas that students are powerfully interested in. To be sure, there's some middle ground here in our student-generated texts, the News for You, the human interest stories, materials on culture, etc., and creative tutors do wonders with these resources. Even still, others seem to be at a loss, which may be linked to not quite having the connection between what they are seeking to accomplish in their sessions and what students want and need. And of course, everyone wants reading and that is always a bottom-line focus, to which obviously, there's much merit, though there's more, much more, and it is that which we also want to include. On a related note, the more improvisational style that I initially fostered coming out of models and themes of progressive adult literacy education of the early 1990s, where I cut my teeth, confronts a general quest for more structure that seems more pervasive in the current area. I personally think the tension between improvisation and structure is an important dynamic tension that I want to honor, to which I think EFF has the potential of helping us to realize, perhaps in a more creative way than that which is currently the case for us. I also have a sense that any serious implementation of EFF would require some significant changes in (a) tutor training and staff development and (b) curriculum design that would require some serious and sustained commitment on our part. That, combined with a lingering apprehension that EFF might very well represent an overshooting of what we could reasonably accomplish in our context. Obviously, stages of implementation and some experimental initiatives are important bridges in the mediation of such a shift, which in any final analysis, may remain partial (to a few of our groups or site), or perhaps program wide. Let me stop at this point. George Demetrion Literacy Volunteers of Greaterv Hartford george.demetrion@lvgh.org socrates555@juno.com On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 09:17:18 -0500 (EST) "Jenny Ransone" <JRansone@jcplin.org> writes: >Hi all, > >I coordinate a volunteer based library literacy program and I have >been >working with EFF in my program since 1999. EFF is imbedded in my >tutor >training and all other aspects of the program. I have to disagree >with >the comment about EFF being a "more structured" approach. I think in >many cases the difficulty in tutors grasping the intent of EFF is that >it is NOT very structured. EFF offers the framework. Everything else >is fluid and student centered. > >If you would like more information about how we incorporate EFF into >our >program, let me know what aspects you are most interested in and I'll >do >my best to address your questions and concerns. > >Jenny > >Jenny Ransone >Program Coordinator >Adult Learning Center >Johnson County Public Library >401 South State Street >Franklin, IN 46131 >(317) 738-4677 > >-----Original Message----- >From: Taylor Willingham [mailto:taylor@austin-pacific.com] >Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 8:28 PM >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2591] RE: query > >George, > >I think that your learning will be very useful. I spoke with the >Director of a volunteer-based literacy program about EFF and her >response was, "Our learners are at too low of a level to really use >EFF." This, of course, flies in the face of my own experience and what >I >believe EFF is about. I'm out of the direct service provider business >so >I didn't have any concrete examples to dispel her bias, but it would >be >nice to point to other programs that have an entirely different >experience! > >Taylor > >Taylor L. Willingham >Austin-Pacific Consulting Co. >P.O. Box 1255 >Salado, TX 76571 >254.947.3793 >866.215.0843 (National Issues Forums) >taylor@austin-pacific.com >www.texasforums.org > >.Connecting people, ideas and communities... > >-----Original Message----- >From: Thomas, Catherine [mailto:CThomas@uws.org] >Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 4:55 PM >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2590] RE: query > >George, >Cleveland Reads would be very interested in your initiative. We feel >strongly that EFF offers meaningful strategies to promote learner >achievement. However, I know that tutor training incorporating EFF >will >require a different kind of tutor orientation piece and therefore will >require a block of time on our part. We're not there yet but it's in >our >future plan, which is why I am enthusiastic about your project. >Catherine > >-----Original Message-----
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