Sarah's literacy from ages 2-5 is documented through this longitudinal interpretative case study. The researcher, Sarah's mother, employed ethnographic techniques and methodologies of data analysis and data collection, including interviews, writing samples, audiotapes, observations, and field notes, to accomplish the research goals and purposes. The initial research goals were twofold: (a) to observe and describe Sarah's literacy in natural settings, particularly at home, beginning formally at age 2; and (b) to analyze, understand, and explain her literacy learning process. The model of literacy learning presented, the generative learning cycle, is grounded and rooted in both the data and the theory and research of others, notably Ken Goodman, Yetta Goodman, and Kathy Short. The data demonstrate that Sarah's learning is continuous and not hierarchically ordered as developmental stages propose. While the qualities of her literacy artifacts, or products, change, the quality of her thinking, strategies, and learning process do not. She perceives, questions, and invents sophisticated solutions to her inquiries concerning literacy, continually utilizing all she knows to outgrow herself and learn what she does not know.

This study researched the effect of a basic computer course on the comfort level with computers and Internet on 17 Spanish-speaking, non-computer literate adults. It also identified any increase of the participants’ integration of computers and Internet into employment related activities. Five male and twelve female Hispanic adults completed a four-day basic computer literacy training course. Data collected through pre and post content exams; pre, post, and follow-up comfort and use surveys, and attendance records at the training center showed positive results. The short-term training course was effective in reducing participants’ fears about using a computer. The training course also proved effective in stimulating the participants to utilize computers and Internet for personal and/or professional benefit. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction. / "May 2006." / Includes bibliographic references (leaves 40-43).

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how first grade English Language Learners (ELL) develop their English literacy skills in an English-only classroom in the U.S. This case study included two Korean English learners in an elementary school who recently came to America. Several forms of data were collected through mainly qualitative methods, and additional informal assessments of reading levels in English and Korean languages were employed to elucidate the students' raw score changes over the five month study period.There were 18 weeks of classroom observation in the first grade classroom. The two Korean students were interviewed informally several times in their native language. Formal and structured interviews with the first grade teacher were conducted twice, once at the beginning and once at end of the study. Home surveys were administered twice to discover the students' home literacy environment. Throughout the study, the students' writing samples were collected both in English and in Korean. Constant comparison method was utilized in data analysis.Results of the study indicated that the two Korean English learners showed noticeable improvement in English literacy skills in many ways. Through the analysis of data, five factors influencing the children's literacy learning emerged, including teacher, ESL support, family, peers, and student factors. These factors were interrelated and they interacted in affecting the two students' English literacy development.These results and factors indicated that the two Korean English learners were affected by each factor differently based on their social context and individual characteristics. Additionally, each student showed improvement when there was concurrent interaction between his/her social context and individual effort. Each student's individual language background, proficiency of native language, and self-motivation in learning were crucial elements in enhancing their English literacy development.The present study illustrates the important factors in English learners' literacy development in the U.S. Several implications for the practice are suggested in order to foster successful school achievement of English Language Learners, an important issue since the number of English learners has dramatically increased in many classrooms in the U.S. / Department of Elementary Education

Despite widespread concern and many attempts to eradicate illiteracy, it persists. Part of the problem is that too little is known about the people for whom literacy programs are designed. Such programs may fail if they are designed by people who view their clientele as deficient. This perspective of deficiency is based on two assumptions: first, that literacy is a necessary pre-condition for success in life and second, that illiterate people are lacking in self-confidence, are unable to maintain employment, are poor, and are caught in a cycle of deprivation and under education. This study examines the characteristics and perceptions of illiterate men who have achieved varying degrees of financial and employment success but do not read beyond the grade-three level. The findings indicate that in spite of deficiencies in reading, illiterate individuals learn a number of coping techniques and manifest innumerable skills and achievements. Thus, a "deficiency" oriented intervention program that over-emphasizes the importance of literacy diminishes the observable accomplishments of the illiterate adult and may fail. Intervention programs designed for illiterate adults need to bolster the participants' sense of accomplishment and teach coping skills as well as literacy skills.

Despite widespread concern and many attempts to eradicate illiteracy, it persists. Part of the problem is that too little is known about the people for whom literacy programs are designed. Such programs may fail if they are designed by people who view their clientele as deficient. This perspective of deficiency is based on two assumptions: first, that literacy is a necessary pre-condition for success in life and second, that illiterate people are lacking in self-confidence, are unable to maintain employment, are poor, and are caught in a cycle of deprivation and under education. This study examines the characteristics and perceptions of illiterate men who have achieved varying degrees of financial and employment success but do not read beyond the grade-three level. The findings indicate that in spite of deficiencies in reading, illiterate individuals learn a number of coping techniques and manifest innumerable skills and achievements. Thus, a "deficiency" oriented intervention program that over-emphasizes the importance of literacy diminishes the observable accomplishments of the illiterate adult and may fail. Intervention programs designed for illiterate adults need to bolster the participants' sense of accomplishment and teach coping skills as well as literacy skills. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

Submitted by Elba Lopes (elba.lopes@fecap.br) on 2016-04-07T18:12:18Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Odilon_Feitosa_da_Silva_Neto.pdf: 802495 bytes, checksum: 2cfe6494011fceeb2dd72a93163e7985 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-07T18:12:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Odilon_Feitosa_da_Silva_Neto.pdf: 802495 bytes, checksum: 2cfe6494011fceeb2dd72a93163e7985 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-24 / The present research has sought to explain the context and usage of credit financial products in Brazil, considering the recent scenario of financial inclusion. Thus, the research has sought to verify the relation between the level of financial literacy of the individuals and the quality in decision making when consuming credit financial products. Also, the research discusses the relevant terms related to the theme and the main credit products recently offered by the financial institutions in the national market. Considering the focus of this research, the present work has allowed evaluation of the level of financial literacy of 317university students interviewed in a private university in the city of Sao Paulo regarding credit usage. Finally, the work proves that the higher the financial literacy level, the better the decision making in credit products consumption by the university students is, since they make choices that involve lower costs. / A presente pesquisa procurou explorar o contexto e utiliza????o de produtos financeiros de cr??dito no Brasil, considerando o recente cen??rio de inclus??o financeira. Assim, o estudo buscou verificar a rela????o entre o grau de alfabetiza????o financeira dos indiv??duos e a qualidade de suas decis??es ao consumir produtos financeiros de cr??dito. O estudo, ainda, discorre sobre os termos pertinentes ao tema e os principais produtos de cr??dito oferecidos atualmente pelas institui????es financeiras que atuam no mercado nacional. Levando-se em considera????o o objeto de pesquisa, o presente trabalho permitiu avaliar o grau de alfabetiza????o financeira de317 estudantes universit??rios entrevistados em uma universidade particular no centro da cidade de S??o Paulo no tocante ?? utiliza????o de produtos de cr??dito. Por fim, o trabalho comprova que quanto maior o n??vel de alfabetiza????o financeira, melhor s??o as tomadas de decis??o pelos universit??rios no consumo de produtos de cr??dito, uma vez que eles optam por opera????es de menor custo