Workplace literacy is a movement that has gained popularity in our society in the last decade. Despite the prolific amount of literature on the subject, very little research has been done to determine how teachers are functioning in this new setting. The problem addressed by this study involved how teachers move into a new workplace literacy setting and the issues they face as they establish their classes in this new setting. The purpose of the study was to determine the kinds of issues which teachers might encounter as they move into this setting. Questions about how teachers experience moving into a workplace literacy setting located at the job site was examined through qualitative research. A case study narrative providing rich description was conducted. about one national workplace literacy project from the beginning of the project throughout the eighteen-month grant period. Classroom observations, participant observations, and interviews were completed. The method of constant comparison was used to analyze the data for patterns of similarity and dissimilarity. Six principal categories emerged from the data. The findings are presented in six broad categories: (a) a definition of workplace literacy; (b) awareness of company culture; (c) company involvement; (d) the workplace literacy student; (e) the workplace literacy classroom; and (f) the role of the teacher. From these findings, conclusions were drawn about teacher training materials for individuals in workplace literacy settings. It was determined that a need does exist for a usable teacher's manual containing information regarding workplace literacy programs. Additional research is necessary; one suggestion included replicating this study in another workplace literacy project to determine whether similar issues would emerge. / Ed. D.

This study was designed to determine if individuals in administrative support occupations are equipped with the necessary reading skills, including proofreading, verifying, and comprehending detail, needed to perform efficiently on the job. To address the problem of the study, the following specific research questions were answered: 1. What is the reading level of documents actually used by selected administrative support workers? 2. What level of proficiency do selected administrative support workers display in reading office documents? 3. Does reading proficiency differ for them by age, educational level, length of job experience, or by job level. Participants were 60 administrative support workers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Participants completed tests to measure their performance on the three skills. Additionally, these individuals provided examples of reading they complete as part of their work. Findings from the study are as follows: 1. The average reading level for all documents submitted was 11.6. 2. The mean for all participants on the total test was 53.15 with a minimum score of 40 and a maximum score of 58 out of a total of sixty points. 3. No significant differences were found in the reading proficiency level of participants according to age, educational level, length of job experience, or job title. Based on the findings and conclusions in this study a number of implications for classroom instruction and further research are provided. / Master of Science

This study was designed to determine (a) the most important knowledge and skills for functional literacy teachers; (b) the most important competencies to be covered in in-service training; (c) whether there were any differences between the perceptions of functional literacy teachers, supervisors, and administrators in terms of needed competencies or areas of training; and (d) whether there were any differences in the perceptions of teachers, supervisors and administrators regarding the need for competencies and for training of functional literacy teachers based upon these variables: age, years of experience in formal and nonformal education, and training in the functional literacy program. It was found that teachers, supervisors, and administrators agreed that most competencies listed in the instrument were important. No significant difference was found in their perceptions of the importance of the competencies. A significant difference was found in the perceptions of the needs for training among these three groups.

Diploma thesis "Functional literacy among adolescents" discusses the components of functional literacy. The theoretical part of the thesis briefly introduces the development of functional literacy. It shows the functional literacy, and how its properties affect the individual. It describes each specialization components of functional literacy and represents social views in defined areas of the company (community). It also states components of functional literacy, describes their active participation in the field of functional literacy and the effect on the overall formation. It focuses on the potential negative impacts of these components. In the research, part of the thesis presents the conclusions of the survey.

Submitted by Rosina Valeria Lanzellotti Mattiussi Teixeira (rosina.teixeira@unisantos.br) on 2015-04-24T18:32:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thalita Di Bella Costa Monteiro.pdf: 805836 bytes, checksum: 14cab85c2d8c35ad1d08b95228b87c9b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-24T18:32:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thalita Di Bella Costa Monteiro.pdf: 805836 bytes, checksum: 14cab85c2d8c35ad1d08b95228b87c9b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-26 / The Brazilian Literacy Movement (MOBRAL), the exception´s government program for adult and young adult education, who commanded the country between 1964 and 1985, was an initiative to solve the illiteracy of the Brazilian population. The program´s structure privileged local performance and the object of this research is to find out how the movement had been installed in Santos, which is far 80km from the principal city and is the most important gateway to export agriculture and industrial products. Because of the National Security Area, during the movement install the population of the city was prohibited to choose own major, in 1969. The settlement of MOBRAL in Santos, apparently, would work automatically because of close relationship between the man who was chosen by military government to lead the city and the president. However, Education Municipal Department documents presents resistance to implement the initiative, beyond it had been denied until the new major and all the secretaries enjoin the city in 1974. Understanding the historical investigation depends on all elements to produce material that under science analysis will have singular results (VEYNE, 1983; GINZBURG, 1989; CHARTIER, 1991; CERTEAU, 2002; LE GOFF, 2003) the present research focus about MOBRAL in Santos city between 1970 and 1984 and was made with law-making documents and officials documents and interviews about how was the initiative´s implement in the city which is relevant to country´s development and is the most important gateway to the produced wealth through the sea. / O Movimento Brasileiro de Alfabetização - MOBRAL, programa voltado para a educação de jovens e adultos adotado pelo governo do regime de exceção que comandou o País entre 1964 a 1985, foi uma tentativa de acabar com o analfabetismo disseminado entre a população brasileira. Sua estrutura privilegiou a atuação municipal e objeto desta pesquisa é a maneira como se deu o movimento na cidade de Santos, localizada a 80km da Capital paulista, principal escoadouro da produção agroindustrial do País por meio do porto e, durante a implementação do movimento, vítima do cerceamento da escolha dos dirigentes municipais por ter sido caracterizada como Área de Segurança Nacional, a partir de 1969. A instauração do MOBRAL em Santos, aparentemente, funcionaria de modo "automático" devido à estreita ligação do interventor com a cúpula do governo federal. No entanto, documentos da Secretaria Municipal de Educação mostram certa resistência em implementá-lo, além de ter sido relegado até a mudança do dirigente municipal e todo o secretariado, em 1974. Entendendo-se que a investigação histórica depende daqueles elementos para produzir um material que, sob a análise da ciência, terá resultados únicos (VEYNE, 1983; GINZBURG, 1989; CHARTIER, 1991; CERTEAU, 2002; LE GOFF, 2003), a presente pesquisa se atém ao MOBRAL na cidade de Santos, de 1970 a 1984, buscando com as pesquisas em fontes primárias - em diplomas legislativos e documentos oficiais - e em entrevista o modo como se deu a instalação do movimento na cidade que tem destaque relevante no desenvolvimento do País por ser a principal porta de entrada e de saída pelo mar das riquezas produzidas.

This study investigates the strategies and resources a group of non-native English speakers with limited reading ability use to fulfill literacy functions work. The nineteen study subjects are employed as production workers in a large electronics manufacturing company. Using in-depth interview data, limited testing and document analysis, the study addresses three major research questions: 1) For what functions are reading and writing actually used in the workplace? What level of reading and writing do these functions assume? 2) How do these literacy functions relate to the rest of the work system? 3) How do limited readers fulfill these literacy functions? What kinds of individual literacy skills, social networks and alternative approaches do they use? How can findings be applied to workplace, ESL, job training, and employee communications? The findings show that the primary function of literacy in this workplace is to maintain process quality and flow. Secondary functions include maintenance of the social organization and the use of literacy for learning the job or learning English. The study finds that limited readers can accomplish literacy functions even if they cannot read documents connected to the function. They use extensive social networks as one strategy for accomplishing literacy functions. They also use job aids, watch processes being performed, or memorize processes. English verbal skills are necessary for many alternative strategies. The study illustrates systemic relationships among work process design, individual literacy skill, and alternative literacy strategies such as using help networks. The study also finds that participants take ESL class as a means to advance as well as to succeed on the current job. The study suggests that employers support ESL instruction as a long-term skill-improvement strategy, but look at redesigning work systems, job training, and employee communications to solve immediate performance problems with limited readers. The study recommends that workplace ESL instructors balance student and employee needs by using workplace materials as one part of a wider curriculum; it also suggests that ESL instructors may have an important role to play in the workplace by acting as performance consultants. going beyond the classroom to recommend changes in the entire work system as they affect English and literacy learning. Because of the small sample size, more research is needed.

Historically in South Africa, the education and social systems have worked together to deny black people both competencies and opportunities for significant participation.There are over nine million people in South Africa who cannot read or write. (Hutton, 1992) South Africa is not the only country with this problem, newly liberated countries have also had to respond to the problem of illiteracy. In South Africa many progressive organizations have initiated literacy work and have recognized the need for adult basic education. Workplace literacy has become an important national issue. It is of concern to employees, employers, unions, vocational and adult educators. But what does it mean to workers on the shopfloor and how can they benefit from such programmes. In our increasingly technological society, different workplace demands are being placed on workers. Companies try to assist their workers by offering training and retraining programmes. It sounds good, a problem has been recognized and steps are being taken to fix it, but there is something missing. Little mention is being made of the needs and rights of workers themselves. The objective of this study is to identify the literacy skills of workers and the necessity for determining job literacy requirements for employment positions. Research has shown that the level of literacy in the workplace is not determined by a grade equivalent but by the literacy needs of the workplace. In trying to identify the above objective it is important to look at what is meant by workplace literacy as well as significance of workplace literacy and its importance within a social and economic context. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

The content of books published for adult beginner readers reveals as much about how literacy is understood and valued as it does about how literacy learners are viewed and constructed. This research consists of a description and analysis of the corpus of easy readers or stories published specifically for adult beginner readers in South Africa from 1990 to 2000. It is based on the assumption that texts can be used as evidence of the educational theories which underpin and inform them. The research consist of three parts: the development of analytical tools; a broad descriptive review of books published in all South Africa's official languages; a detailed content analysis of English books. The analytical tools are derived from research into children's literature, dominant conceptions of the meanings and purposes of adult literacy and research into gender and language. The corpus of books is examined in terms of literary quality, pedagogy and ideology. 120 books published in all South African languages are analysed according to various criteria relating to genre, theme, setting and design. The 38 English books in the sample are, in addition, analysed in depth in relation to plot, narrative features, character, emotions, direct speech, gender, imagery and readability. The research reveals that unlike fiction for children beginner readers, fiction for adult beginner readers in South Africa is relatively restricted in terms of genre, theme and literary quality in general. While a significant number of stories conform to conventional notions of what constitutes good fiction, many others are simply overdetermined vehicles for "development" messages - non-fiction masquerading as fiction. Despite the presence of a surprising number of humorous titles, many of the books are characterised by overtly moralising and didactic themes.The majority of the books do not substantially challenge stereotypes. The readership is generally portrayed as docile, predictable, hard-working, decent and stoical. Male characters tend to be more varied and complex and female characters conform to their stereotypical roles. Stories are mostly set in domestic, racially homogeneous domains populated by poor African people. Although there are notable exceptions to the above trends, the stories generally depict an uncontested, harmonious, homogeneous and docile world. In terms of issues relating to pedagogy the corpus reveals an overwhelming dominance of English second language books. This suggests that literacy acquisition in mother tongue African languages is not a serious endeavour in the current South African context. In terms of readability features, aside from surface similarities, there are wide discrepancies between publishers. Books are mainly written in naturally occurring language and do not appear to be written with predictability or decodability features particularly in mind. The analysis overall illustrates the complex nature of fiction for adult beginner readers which has to meet the simultaneous demands of readability and engagement. The corpus of books for adult beginner readers reflects competing conceptions of the purposes of promoting adult literacy: functionality, immediate application and relevance versus long-term development of reading through the evocation of emotion and imagination. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This was a comparative study of FAL and REFLECT'S adult literacy facilitator training processes in Uganda. It was based on the government's Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programme, and Action Aid Uganda's (AAU) REFLECT Programmes.The purpose of this study was to: Find out the similarities and differences between the FAL and REFLECT facilitator training process. Establish how FAL and REFLECT facilitator training is organised. Establish how FAL and REFLECT facilitators are selected for training. Identify the teaching and learning materials used for training FAL and REFLECT literacy facilitators. Find out how the trained facilitators of FAL and REFLECT feel about the training and the approach they have been trained to use. Establish the kind of post training support arrangements provided for the trained adult literacy facilitators under FAL and REFLECT. These issues were all raised in the form of research questions and answered by the study. A qualitative research study was used to address the research questions. This included the use of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, questionnaires, direct observation and documentary analysis. The findings of this study are presented in chapter four under various headings applicable to both FAL and REFLECT. These are: the ideological view of literacy, selection of trainees and trainers, the training programmes, the training materials, funding for the training, employment arrangements after training, post training support arrangements, and evaluation of the training programme. From the findings, a general conclusion was drawn that the training processes of FAL and REFLECT were similar in the areas of organisation of the training programmes, selection of trainees, the sources of funding for the training programmes, deployment of trainees and evaluation of the training. Differences were found in the ideology which informs the two literacy approaches and therefore the training programmes for the literacy facilitators, the training methods and materials used and the post training support arrangements made for the trained literacy facilitators. The study concludes that the FAL and REFLECT literacy facilitator training is different. REFLECT has a better approach to training their literacy facilitators than FAL, although both approaches have many areas which should be improved for better training of their literacy facilitators. It was also noted that the differences between FAL and REFLECT occur in areas which are crucial for the success of a training programme and the performance of the trainees. This could explain the difference in the performance and effectiveness of the programmes using the two approaches. The recommendations call for serious attention to be given to the training of adult literacy facilitators to ensure that only qualified people are entrusted with the work of teaching adult literacy. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The study investigates the use of the Asifunde! materials by educators and learners in mother tongue literacy classes at two learning sites namely, Msunduzi and uMngeni Municipalities located in KwaZulu-Natal. The study focuses on the ways in which the Asifunde! Materials (learners' workbook, educators guide and easy readers) are used in the classroom. The study contributes to a gap in current literature on the use of materials by adult educators and learners. The study poses one critical question: "How do educators and learners in ABE classes use the Asifunde! materials?" This question is further elaborated into six subquestions: • Do educators mediate the content? If so, how? • How much time do educators spend on each section/page/unit? • To what extent do educators discuss the content and exercises with learners? • What is the learners' response (interest/extent of engagement/amount of discussion and enjoyment)? • How does the level of the material match the learners' needs? • How much communication is there between learners about the content of the material? Asifunde! materials were developed in response to call of the then Minister of Education Kader Asmal for a National Literacy Campaign in 1999. The Asifunde! material is a literacy course developed specifically for adults who have not had educational opportunities in the past. Its emphasis is on reading and writing mother tongue as well as on the implementation of these skills. The study is on literacy and literacy learning, which is understood here as the study of reading and writing processes that learners use as they engage in interpreting text Topics such as: literacy acquisition; purposes of literacy; the role of materials in acquisition of literacy; approaches to teaching reading and writing; and the educator as mediator of learning, are explored in the literature review as they are pertinent to the study. The study revealed that: 1. The use of the learner's book and the educator's guide varies between educators. 2. The educators do not fully understand the educational rationale behind the materials. 3. Learners respond positively to the materials. 4. There is very little use of the easy readers by both the educators and the learners. 5. Learners' learning and progress is largely influenced by the educator's use of the materials. 6. The learners are very excited about learning to read English now that they are competent in reading and writing their mother tongue. The study presents the following recommendations: 1. Training of educators in the use of the material. 2. The revision of the educator's guide to accommodate a range of educators in terms of experience and creativity. 3. Clarification of the focus and purpose of the materials regarding reading and writing. 4. Emphasis on the importance of the easy readers. 5. Inclusion of longer writing exercises towards the end of the book. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.