Hi NIFLers,

Tina writes: "What is the greater global concern, the technology gap or the 
literacy gap? What good are computers if the people cannot read in their own 
language? I do believe that computers are great tools for learning how to 
read in their own language."

Surely the illiteracy gap is more important than the technology gap. 
Computers are pretty useless without literacy.  And the Internet is mostly 
in English.  Computers can be used to teach English and literacy at the same 
time.  For example Cloudworld's software, WordAloud, has been used on cheap 
computers in Sri Lanka, running Windows.  (I'm told the computers cost about 
$100 including the OS).  WordAloud features a large character, 
word-at-a-time display.  Thus text on a 15" screen can be seen and read at 
the back of the class.  The software can be used for writing as well as 
reading.  The teacher can use the screen instead of flash cards.  Better 
still, the teacher can make the constituent sounds/phonemes of a word while 
typing the corresponding letters/graphemes.  Thus the teacher can 
demonstrate segmentation of words into sounds for spelling.  Then, in 
reading back the text, the teacher can demonstrate blending of sounds into 
words for decoding, as well as explaining the meaning of new words.  (BTW, 
segmentation and blending are the essential skills taught "first and fast" 
in synthetic phonics, recently accepted for the literacy strategy in 
England.  See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4485062.stm.)

After a lesson, pupils/students try reading and writing by themselves. 
There is a built-in speech synthesiser, to help the pupils.  Optionally 
pictures can be displayed alongside text to help in comprehension and so the 
pupils can associate meaning with the words.

(BTW, there is a free demo of WordAloud you can download from the Cloudworld 
web site:  http://www.cloudworld.co.uk/.)

So a lot can be done with a cheap computer and inexpensive software. 
(Cloudworld  offered WordAloud free to schools in Sri Lanka because of the 
tsunami.)

Cheers from Chiswick.

John

John Nissen
Cloudworld Ltd - http://www.cloudworld.co.uk
maker of the assistive reader, WordAloud.
Try WordAloud with synthetic phonics:
http://www.cloudworld.co.uk/teaching-synthetic-phonics.htm
Tel: +44 208 742 3170  Fax: +44 208 742 0202
Email: info at cloudworld.co.uk



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Tina_Luffman at yc.edu
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensivehome 
computers


Hi NIFL,

I also asked my husband last night and he said that another way for students 
to save money is to buy computers with Linux since it saves the $100+ 
operating system fee for Windows. He has heard of groups buying up laptops 
and desktop computers with Linux operating systems to send to third world 
countries. Some computers are even made with hand cranks for power 
generation. In Cottonwood, AZ where I live there is actually a non-profit 
business that recycles computers that people donate and then gives them away 
to those who can't afford a computer.

Another idea--my daughter's friend just came home from two years in Morocco 
with the Peace Corps, and her question is this: What is the greater global 
concern, the technology gap or the literacy gap? What good are computers if 
the people cannot read in their own language? I do believe that computers 
are great tools for learning how to read in their own language. Any other 
input?

Tina

Tina Luffman
Coordinator, Developmental Education
Verde Valley Campus
928-634-6544
tina_luffman at yc.edu



-----technology-bounces at nifl.gov wrote: -----


To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov>
From: Tina_Luffman at yc.edu
Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov
Date: 12/13/2005 01:25PM
Subject: Re: [Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensive home 
computers


Hi David and all,

Another good possibility is to have students watch for schools to hold 
auctions. I know that the school district where my husband works and the 
college where I work often hold auctions and sell used computers that are 
still quite usable for a really low price, like < $100.

Tina

Tina Luffman
Coordinator, Developmental Education
Verde Valley Campus
928-634-6544
tina_luffman at yc.edu


David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net>
Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov
12/13/2005 05:51 AM Please respond to
The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov>

To technology at nifl.gov
cc
Subject [Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensive home computers

Technology colleagues,

What are the best choices for a really inexpensive new home computer
which has Internet access capability?

It could be a desktop or laptop.  It would be for a very low-income
adult learner who has little or no experience using computers.  It
would be used in many ways, but would would need to be able to access
the Web for distance learning instruction sites, including wireless
access.

One example is a $300 computer, described in my July posting here

                http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Cheap_Computers

The M.I.T. laptop (under $100) might be another -- someday -- but I
am looking for currently available models.  Can anyone point us to
one for under $300?

[snip]