June 1998
The "What's New!" page is intended to showcase current news, events, publications, projects, and any other items that concern literacy and the Region IV Hub. Check out past issues under What's New Oldies.
On June 4, the GTE Foundation awarded $50,000 to the Western/Pacific Literacy Network (Western/Pacific LINCS. This grant is a part of GTE's support of adult literacy across the country.
Jorge Jackson, vice president public affairs-GTE California, presented a $50,000 check to Paul Heavenridge, Director, W/PLN and Carole Talan, Director, SLRC of CA. This is one of four grants totaling $200,000 that are being given to each of the four literacy technology regional hubs (LINCS) of the National Institute for Literacy. The University of Tennessee (Southern LINCS), Kent State University-Ohio Literacy Resource Center (Midwest LINCS) and World Education, Inc. (Northeast LINCS), Western/Pacific Literacy Network/State Literacy Resource Center of CA (Western/Pacific LINCS) are the four GTE grant recipients. All support the work of the National Institute for Literacy.
The grant to the Western/Pacific Literacy Network will support the work of the Western/Pacific Literacy Network's electronic adult literacy communication program. GTE's funding will support W/PLN's development and implementation of curriculum for adult literacy projects and specifically delivers literacy information and resource materials at no charge over the Internet.
GTE Foundation
The GTE Foundation will provide more than $27 million in financial support to educational and charitable organizations in the United States and its possessions on behalf of GTE and its subsidiaries in 1998. One of the world's largest telecommunications companies and ranking among the country's top corporate foundations in annual contributions, GTE is a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. GTE is fast becoming known as the "literacy" company.
As part of the National Institute for Literacy's LINCS Special Literacy Collections, the Western/Pacific Literacy Network is co-producing two new Web sites.
The English as a Second Language site at http://literacynet.org/esl is being maintained by Fran Keenan, National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE) Assistant Director. This site will provide current Adult ESL news, resources, educational material, and an review of new material added to the ERIC Adult ESL database.
Susan Cowles, a former NIFL Fellow and an instructor at Linn-Benton College, Oregon, is developing the Science and Technology web site at http://literacynet.org/science. The aim of this special collection is to provide the opportunity for instructors and learners to increase their scientific and technological literacy. This collection will allow instructors to incorporate into their teaching and learning processes a series of content-based activities in science and technology. This site will target scientific resources for families and family literacy programs for adult learners and their families. It will include: Science News, Education Standards, Teaching Materials, Electronic Field Trips, Events, and Discussion/Distribution Lists.
Other Special Collections maintained by the other three NIFL LINCS technology hubs are:
- Region I -Eastern Literacy Information and Communication Network System
- Region II - Southern Literacy Information and Communication Network System
- Region III - Midwest Literacy Information and Communication Network System
Is there a literacy question that's keeping you up late at night? Questions about literacy manners, literacy relationships, literacy trivia? Caroline has the answers! Email her at cdobison@literacynet.org.
Dear Caroline:I am an adult ESL Instructor with lots of students interested in science, but I cant seem to find age appropriate resources on the Internet. Do you have any ideas of where I can begin my search?
Signed,
Science Illiterate
Dear Science Illiterate,
Coincidentally, this month two new site which may be of interest to you and your students debut: the WPLN Science & Technology Special Collection and the WPLN Adult ESL Special Collection. Surprisingly there are many adults who feel they are literate in science, but really aren't, myself included. They're finding out things they never knew through our new web site.
I was especially impressed with the information provided on current science news events, such as El Nino, a phenomenon, we are getting to know all too well. You will also find Teaching Materials, Discussion & Distribution Lists as well as Electronic Field Trips. Check it out!
I welcome any additional suggestions on science or ESL resources on the net.
