[NLA] Discourse on adult literacy

[hforster]

Hi Andrea,

Your  post encouraged me as I have been looking for a group like you
describe.   I am very encouraged about the use of cognitive concepts with
language to develop new tools for teaching.  I think that it is time to start
the reduction of theory to practice.

First about being a programmer.   I have been paid to for programming but I
would not say that my main activity is programming.  I now use programming to
achieve other goals.

I developed some software for working with a student with a reading
disability.  I use words as a brain probe to measure how the students mind is
working relative to various findings that have come from neurosciences and
other disciplines.  Computers are a necessary power boost to the instructor and
not a replacement.  At this time everything is experimental and can not be
subjected to either cost benefit analysis or the government requirements of
"The Reading Excellence Act of 1998" or the education act passed by Congress.
>From my perspective these acts are counter productive and eliminate new
ideas.   They enforce a system that is a failure and results in excessive work
for the Adult Ed field.

The software is primitive and I am now looking at a new system that would be
based on what I have learned from the initial efforts.

I have refrained from saying anything on this list as I feel it is a
distraction from the very useful main purpose of the list.   Maybe we can use
this list to identify those persons who may be interested in this field and
then see where we can go from there.   I have thought of setting up a "Denken's
World" for such matters.   This is one application I have for the lessons that
I get from David's efforts.


I look forward to hearing more from the group.   Contact me directly if you
please.

Harry



AWilder106 at aol.com wrote:

> Hi Harry,
>
> Your note about words and concepts mirrors much understanding of how the
> brain works, learns, and builds up new associative systems, that is why I
> think it is a natural for adult literacy.  There are a bunch of us who have
> thrashed through some of these words and concepts over half a year or so
> (more?) on this list.  We are kind of a small community.
>
> I wish other lurkers would speak up, there is a tremendous amount of useful
> knowledge out there.
>
> Are you a computer programmer?
>
> Andrea
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