Greetings,

That ETS has developed a test to assess "media literacy," and is
currently marketing it to schools and colleges is true: you can find
information about it on the ETS website.  

The sample question--and I do hope everyone understood its tenor and
tone--WAS a joke of my own devising, or rather a commentary about
literacy testing in general, and media literacy assessment,
specifically.

I was not previously aware of the www.snopes.com website or of the cited
e-mail joke.

Regards,

Alan Gerstle, Ph.D.
Montgomery College
Intake/Assessment Specialist
Adult ESOL & Literacy-GED Program
Westfield South
11002 Veirs Mill Rd
Wheaton, MD 20902
301-588-2329 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Susan Jones
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 6:17 PM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Technology 881] Re: Question regarding computer literacyin
agingworkers

  I'd want to check with www.snopes.com ... this reminds me strikingly
of a notorious e-mail joke about the "changes in math word problems."  


Susan Jones
Academic Development Specialist
Academic Development Center
Parkland College
Champaign, IL  61821
sujones at parkland.edu
Webmastress,
http://www.resourceroom.net
http://bicyclecu.blogspot.com



>>> "Gerstle, Alan" <Alan.Gerstle at montgomerycollege.edu> 2/14/2007

11:12 AM >>>
Not an assessment of computer literacy specifically, you should probably
be aware that the ETS (Educational Testing Service)--developers of the
GRE, TOEFL, etc.,--has just developed a media/technology literacy test
for high school students for the benefit of college admissions offices
that may now be re-assessing just what types of literacy they wish their
students to possess--in addition to (or as a replacement for) the more
traditional forms of literacy testing such as verbal reasoning, reading
comprehension, vocabulary, mathematical skills, and the like.  
You may find multiple-choice questions as follows:
 
The entity that paid the rent on Jerry Seinfeld's New York City
apartment was
 
a)  Elaine
b)  Gerry
c)  Kramer
d)  George's parents
e)  the viewers of the show whose numbers and allegiance to the show
were able to generate the income from the sponsors of the show who in
turn paid NBC for the production of the show who in turn paid for the
creation and upkeep of the sets in the show.
 
(Albeit, the questions on the test may be time-bound and biased toward
the technological universe of its developers--whose literacy may be
indicative of aging workers)
 
Alan Gerstle, Ph.D.
Intake/Assessment Specialist
Workforce Development and Continuing Education Montgomery College
Westfield South Office Building
11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 210
Wheaton, MD 20902
301-962-8906
 

________________________________

From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of David Rosen
Sent: Wed 2/14/2007 11:17 AM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Technology 857] Re: Question regarding computer literacy in
agingworkers



Hello Eduardo,

NCES is planning a new computer literacy assessment, I believe for this
year.  I understand that it will focus on measuring adults' 
ability to use digital technologies to access, manage, integrate,
evaluate, generate, and communicate information in order to pursue 
personal, professional, and civic interests and goals.   "The 
computer literacy test will measure the ability to navigate the
Internet, handle emailing and instant messaging, and handle word
processing and spread sheets."  (Sheida White, NCES, at the NIFL BOard
Meeting, March, 2006)

Sheida White at NCES might be able to tell you if there have been other
studies.

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net 


On Feb 14, 2007, at 11:01 AM, <Eduardo.Caso at wellsfargo.com> wrote:


> Good morning,

>

> My name is Eduardo Caso and I am an MBA student at the University of 

> Texas.  Currently, I am working on a research paper that

> involves mature workers and the use of technology.   One area of 

> discussion is related to computer literacy among different age groups 

> (from 25 to 65 years old), unfortunately I have not been able to find 

> any statistical data/information concerning this topic.  Would it be 

> possible to obtain from you some advice or suggestion on where I could



> find this data?

>

> I would really appreciate any information regarding this topic.  

> Thanks

>

> Eduardo

>

>

> This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. 

> If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the 

> addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based 

> on this message or any information herein. If you have received this 

> message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply email 

> and delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation.

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Technology and Literacy mailing list

> Technology at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology


David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net 



----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Technology and Literacy mailing list
Technology at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology 


----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Technology and Literacy mailing list
Technology at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology