ERIC ED460253: Literacy across the Curriculum: Connecting Literacy in the Schools, Community and Workplace, 1995-1996.

114 Pages·1996·7.5 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CE 071 129
ED 460 253
Shohet, Linda, Ed.
AUTHOR
Literacy across the Curriculum: Connecting Literacy in the
TITLE
Schools, Community and Workplace, 1995-1996.
Centre for Literacy, Montreal (Quebec).
INSTITUTION
National Literacy Secretariat, Ottawa (Ontario).; Human
SPONS AGENCY
Resources Development Canada, Ottawa (Ontario).; Dawson
Coll., Montreal (Quebec).
ISSN-1192-3288
ISSN
PUB DATE
1996-00-00
114p.; Includes "Media Focus" Volume 5, Numbers 1-4.
NOTE
AVAILABLE FROM
Centre for Literacy, 3040 Sherbrooke Street,West, Montreal,
Quebec H3Z 1A4, Canada.
PUB TYPE
Collected Works - Serials (022)
JOURNAL CIT Literacy across the Curriculum; v11 n1-4 Spr 1995-Win 1996
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Adult Basic Education; *Adult Literacy; *Educational
Research; *Educational Resources; Educational Technology;
Foreign Countries; Instructional Materials; *Literacy
Education; Reading Instruction; Research Reports; Writing
Instruction
IDENTIFIERS
Canada; *Media Education
ABSTRACT
This document contains four issues of a journal that aims to
connect literacy in the schools, the community, and the workplace. Each issue
also contains an insert focusing on media literacy. Some of the topics
covered in the spring 1995 issue include the following: positioning
literacy--naming literacy; literacy and machines--an overview of the use of
technology in adult literacy programs; the United Kingdom experience of
workplace literacy; families and literacy; writing and roadkill on the
information highway; surfing the net in pursuit of the muse; turned off,
tuned out--left out (television); what do employers really want?; and what
adults need to know and be able to do. The summer 1995 issue features the
following: health and literacy; the United Kingdom experience of investing in
people; work-based learning; the new reading disk; computer technology survey
of Ontario adult literacy programs; David Buckingham on media literacy; Spain
1995--International Conference on Media Education; Prime Time Parent Media
Literacy workshop kit; policy conversation on new technologies and literacy;
and adult literacy software evaluation criteria. In the Fall 1995 issue, the
following are addressed: knowing more, doing less; international comparison
of adult literacy released; what happens to kids with learning disabilities
when they grow up?; inquiry projects and inquiry maps; participatory action
research; making peace with the media; media education in English Quebec--an
overview; and substance abuse and media education. The Winter 1996 issue
includes the following: participation and the pleasure principle (of literacy
education); a grammar of the visual?; literacy and technology--trying to
reach adults where they are; evaluating television for teaching literacy; and
adult literacy media alliance; poetry lessons for literacy--conversation
poems; assessing media work; and New York City's public schools get support
for critical media use in the information age. All issues include teaching
methods, resources, reviews, conference notes, and announcements.
(KC)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
Literacy across the Curriculum:
Connecting Literacy in the Schools,
Community and Workplace, 1995-1996
Linda Shohet, Editor
Volume 11, Numbers 1-4
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
CENTER (ERIC)
BEEN GRANTED BY
This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
L. Shohet
originating it.
Minor changes have been made to improve
I:I
reproduction quality
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
Points of view or opinions stated in this
document do not necessarily represent official
OERI position or policy.
1
AVAILABLF,
BEST COPY
2
SPRING 1995 Vol. 11 No. 1
IncOmang
JL
F 4111MCLik
Conne©Ung neracy In the schooGls, comnwri.Ry and workpflace
Naming literacy
-
Positioning
literacy
Have we extended the meaning of
literacy so far in the past 15 years
The
that it is in danger of becoming
turn
devoid of meaning? Gunther
Kress thinks so.
of the
visual
Professor of Education at the
University of London's Institute of
Kress
Education, Kress is a developer of
spoke in
critical linguistics, best known in
March
academic circles for his work on
at the
childrens' reading and genre
Conference on College
theory. But it is his current work
Composition and Communication
on literacy and what he calls
in Washington D.C. He talked
"multimodal" text that should win
about the displacement of writing
_D)
him a following among a much
from its central position in
4
To ponder
broader audience.
communication as technology,
globalization and multicultural
Literacy and machines
5
He believes that using the term
social realities intensify the "turn
Positioning literacy
6
literacy as a metaphor to describe
of the visual." To illustrate his
- The U.K. experience
something that seems to mean
point, Kress used three examples,
10 In the classroom: Families and
"not much more than (competence
comparing two children's books,
in) some form of culturally
two science textbooks and two
literacy
significant behaviour" [see BOX 11
newspapers.
12 What do employers really want?
has caused us to lose the literal
14 What adults need to know
meaning of the word [see BOX 21
The children's books were a
Resources: ALBSU materials
and to blur or misconstrue the
15
British Ladybird story and a Dick
questions connected to it.
Bruna book from Holland. The
Conferences
16
Ladybird story carried the text on
18 Announcements
continued on page 2
The Centre for Literacy
Rilontreai, Quebec
3
2
.rritu
Uterecy
continued from page 1
broadcasting established the BBC
dis
as the official national standard of
the left side and the image on the
Across the
language and interpretation.
right; the language tells the
Curuicadum
Texts in the two countries reflect
reader how to see the world. The
those cultural positions.
Bruna book was entirely
The Centre for
illustration around which readers
Literacy
Now the shift to the visual seen in
can tell stories depending on
3040 Sherbrooke
Dick Bruna has spread.
where they stand; here, the
Street West,
Comparing traditional and tabloid
unifying principle resides in the
Montreal, Quebec,
newspapers, we find that
image. Kress contextualized this
Canada,
language has shrunk and
example by noting that the Dutch
H3Z 1A4
graphics/images carry more of
from the time they introduced
Editor: Linda Shohet
the meaning. Science textbooks
radio in Holland gave air time to
Layout & design:
provide another example. Until
many cultural groups while the
the 1960s, language was the
British from the beginning of
Depot legal
1991
ISSN 11924288
BOX 1.
Bibliothèque Nationale du Quebec
The problem of literacy as a metaphor
The Centre for Literacy/Le centre
a resource
dalphabatisation is
This metaphoric extension facilitates a rapid move from a concern
centre and
with the detail of the formal aspects of literacy to a consideration of
teacher-training project designed to provide
training, research, and information services
its uses and effects...lt mirrors precisely the shift from the lettered
which promote and link the advancement of
person as the possessor of specific linguistic/cultural skills to the
literacy in the schools, the workplace and
homme cultivé as the possessor of a broad range of desirable
the community. The Centre gratefully
cultural attitudes.
acknowledges the support of the National
... The slippage between linguistic and cultural meanings can have
Literacy Secretariat, Human Resources
the political effect that cultural values and social practices which
Development Canada, and Dawson College.
are seen as undesirable are attacked under the guise of an attack
on literacy standards.
Differentiating
AO
writing and reading
Writing is the production of a text which exists potentially for many
readers; the text establishes the domain, 'sets the agenda,' for the
Literacy for the 21st century
reader's engagement with the text. While that does not determine
Literacy encompasses a complex set of
the specific readings of the text...it does determine the ground on
abilities to understand and use the
which reading takes place. Reading is the production of a text for
dominant symbol systems of a culture for
one reader, the self, in a response to a text which both establishes
personal and community development. In a
the domain, and attempts to structure its reception. The political
technological society, the concept of literacy
potential of writing and reading are...radically distinct;
to gloss
and
is expanding to include the media and
over that distinction in contemporary approaches to reading or to
electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and
literacy seems to me a fundamental political and social problem. In
number systems. These abilities vary in
my view, it amounts to a spurious empowerment of those who are
different social and cultural contexts
readers, in the name of democratic, egalitarian social structures,
according to need and demand. Individuals
while leaving real power unchallenged with those who have the
must be given life-long learning
means for the production of texts for many, who have full control of
opportunities to move along a continuum
the technology of literacy.
that includes the reading and writing,
critical understanding, and decision-making
Gunther Kress. "Questions in a social theory of literacy," Learning to Write,
abilities they need in their community.
Rout ledge, (London/New York1994):
pp. 194-195 & 197-198.
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Spring 1995
The Centre for Literacy
Vol. 1111 No. 1
Issues arising
central medium for carrying the
information with images as
Kress's analysis provides me with
illustration. Today, image is
a frame for discussing a recent
central and language is
study tour in the U.K. where I
comment. Kress suggests this
spent a week with four Canadian
is a reflection of science having
colleagues meeting researchers,
lost its sense of who it is
policy-makers and practitioners
addressing in the classroom.
at the Adult Literacy and Basic
Skills Unit (ALBSU) and visiting
literal meaning
cic to
workplace and community-based
program sites.
Kress does not see these trends as
"the end of civilization." A fuller
and written representations and
This issue of LAC contains reports
account of his thinking is given in
other representations of meaning
and observations on that visit
the second edition of his book
such as drawing, music, dance.
with a focus on the way that
Learning to Read where he has
He also wants to reestablish the
literacy/basic skills has been
added a critical chapter entitled
fundamental distinction between
positioned on the British social
"Questions in a social theory of
reading and writing which have
and political agenda (pp. 6-9). It
literacy." He calls for a return to
been blurred as the terms have
also has excerpts from some
precision in talking about literacy
been replaced by the word
current reports from Canada and
that distinguishes between verbal
"literacy." [see BOX 2IFrom this
the U.S.which indicate trends
reassessment follows a changed
related to school, work and basic
pedagogy in schools and a
BOX 2
skills, some of them contradictory
changed politics of workplace and
to each other (pp. 12-14). With the
'What is literacy?'
community literacy.
exception of New Brunswick,
there is no place in Canada where
For a start I wish to make a
Kress has deep convictions about
literacy/basic skills has been
distinction between verbal
the power of [literal] literacy to
incorporated into the social vision
literacy on the one hand, and
produce "a culture of innovation"
beyond rhetoric. Without that
literacy as a description of any
which he believes is essential for
deeper analysis and political
form or means of representation
our survival in a rapidly changing
action, it is more than possible
- 'media literacy"computer
world of technology and
that literacy could literally fall off
literacy'- and, more decisively,
information.
the agenda entirely within two
as a word describing 'cultured'
years in most parts of this
aspects of human practices
country. [LSI
=cultural literacy', 'moral
literacy' - on the other hand.
BOX 3
Equally I wish to rule out the
plural form literacies' for the
The multi-modality of literacy
moment. This leaves 'literacy'
as a word which describes one
... no message ever appears in one
mode. Written language inevitably
aspect of human
involves the medium of typography, or of handwriting, and the
communication, namely the
medium of layout. Further, writing has to appear on or with a
form of representation through
medium - paper, stone, textile, a rockface, a marble slab. The
language of socio-cultural
medium with which language appears inevitably adds its meaning;
meanings and in which
the brass plate on which a business's name appears adds a different
language is represented visually
menaing to that of a cheaply printed plastic sign. If the name appears
by means of letters and
on paper, the quality of the paper, for instance, becomes a semiotic
associated graphic signs.
medium so that 'good quality paper' or 'glossy paper' add meaning to
Gunther Kress, "Questions in a
the verbal text willy-nilly. Multi-modality is an unavoidable condition
social theory of literacy," Learning
of verbal literacy in its appearance in text as message.
to Write, Rout ledge, (London/New
Gunther Kress, "Questions in a social theory of literacy," Learning to Write,
York1994): 209.
Rout ledge, (London/New York1994): 211.
The Centre for Literacy
Spring 1995 - 14)11.11 No. 1 Ligeracy Across Me Curriculum
5
TO PONDER
r4
On poetry
comes into play when the
governs the interactive text on the
anonymous diskette opens up into
monitor, too: the reader-user
the unfolding universe of popular,
applies herself to see the text
and
semiserious programs like the
expand. This is the opposite of
city-planning game Simcity or the
cant about the "freedom" readers
software
history game Civilization.
have when dealing with
interactive texts: it is the freedom
The pleasure in these realms is
of the detective trying to solve
What has poetry to do
like that of living with a poem:
a crime, or the captive trying to
with computer
escape, a kind of authorial
say, the 237 words of Willaim
software? They share a
Butler Yeats's "Sailing to
tyranny compared with the
great human myth or
Byzantium" or the mere 96 words
welcoming, available pages
trope, an image that
of Blake's "London" (My computer
of a book.
could be called the secret passage:
counted the words for me.)
the discovery of large, manifold
Reciting the poem, repeating it,
Robert Pinsky, "The Muse in the
channels through a small,
Machine: Or, The Poetics of Zork," The
memorizing it, meditating it, we
ordinary looking or all but
New York Times Book Review, March
play with it and work at it for the
invisible aperture.
19, 1995. pp 3, 27.
pleasure of feeling it unfold to
millions of times the original size.
Pressed to define the special
This sense of effort to see more
attributes of poetry as an art, I
would name speed and memory.
Whipping from image to
abstraction, from narrative to
reflection, from neat epigram to
sensuous trope, poetry can cross
n b
stories she forbade. The result
terrain and change direction with
was the creation by Loeb of his
tremendous swiftness. Compared
fantasy to perpetuate the perfect
to ordinary language, it can be
II
crime
"The books he read by
like ice-skating compared to
day were not the books he read by
walking. (Discursive prose, to
folence
night...Which, think you, shaped
extend the comparison a bit
the life of Dickie Loeb? Is there
mischievously, often resembles
any kind of question about
Darrow even used his
wading staright ahead.) And the
it?...these books became a part of
love of books and their
effort to enlarge memory
to
his dreams and a part of his life,
influence in court. In
recall genealogy or history, for
and as he grew up his visions
defending Richard
is the most obvious
example
grew to hallucinations...to
Loeb and Nathan
source for the development
complete the perfect crime. Can
Leopold, he first noted Leopold's
of verse.
there be any question about it?"
philosopical dependency upon the
[Quoted in Arthur Weinberg (ed.),
theories of Friedrich Nietzsche
Speed and memory: these
Clarence Darrow,
(derived from books, of
qualities link poetry with the
Attorney for the
course), then turned
computer...
Damned, pp. 63-64
his attention to Loeb's
(1957)1.
reading
This fascination with the
habits.
tremendous volume that can be
Jordan D. Luttrell,
While a
indicated or stored in a tiny space
"Clarence Darrow and the
young boy,
is an essential element of our
Books in His Life," AB
Darrow
pleasure in lyric poetry. That the
Bookman'sWeekly,
contended,
same principle also has something
April 24, 1995, 1805.
Loeb was
to do with the pleasures of the
force-fed the
personal computer is suggested
"best books" by a
by the way the idea persists not
well-intentioned
only in Zork descendants like the
governess. At night,
currently popular Myst, which is
surreptitiously, he
full of concealed doorways leading
devoured the detective
to vast mazes. The same principle
Lkerscy Across Ms Curricukim
The Centre for Literacy
Spzing 1995
Voll. 11 No. 1
6
5
Aew d t e
ova
An
cy pro r nne
1t Mane
un a of tachra
hz
flo
The use of
[The National Center on
technology in adult
Adult Literacy (NCAL) in
literacy programs is
Philadelphia is
enhanced or limited
disseminating current
by philosopical and
research findings in a new
historic traditions
format called NCAL Briefs.
within the literacy
These briefs summarize
recently published reports
field. An
understanding of
including research findings,
these traditions
implications and
recommendations, and
facilitates technology
information on how to order
decision making and
the complete report.
places the decision
Reprinted here with
in a larger context.
,
permisson are excerpts from
"Literacy and Machines: An
As issues of access and equity
Overview of the Use of Technology
are debated in the fields of
in Adult Literacy Programs," a
literacy and technology,
Brief released on March 10, 1995,
practitioners need to provide
prepared by Terilyn Turner of
leadership in determining the
IKey n.ecommenel 'Hams:
Saint Paul Lifelong Literacy and
future of technology in the
Technology selection should be
based on NCAL Technical Report
adult literacy field.
based on a previously
TR93-03, March 1993, $9.00
identified need or problem
(ERIC no. ED356 408) (ed.)]
To order hard copies of this full
within the literacy program,
report or other NCAL reports,
and instructional software
Key nindings:
call NCAL Dissemination
should be selected for its
[phone];
ability to address that specific
The value of technology for
Fax: [phone],
gap in the currciulum.
adult literacy instruction is
e-mail: ncalgliteracy.upemmedu.
based on its provision of
Practitioners need to teach
privacy, individual control,
Free electronic copy of the brief:
adult learners how to access
immediate feedback, and
via NCAL's Internet Gopher,
information rather than sound
flexibility for learners.
point your client at
out words; technology becomes
Htserver.11iteracy.upenmedu.
The selection of appropriate
the means by which
o
technology must take into
information and knowledge can
account the larger themes and
be acquired.
issues currently debated in
adult literacy, such as the
Allgernallyes ?or Cilteredry:
nature of the learner, purpose
of literacy instruction, and
Technollogy For Mazy
issues of evaluation and
mild
accountability.
TOITPCMONf
Context should be the primary
o
Adult Literacy and Technology Conference
determinant for appropriate
5, 1995
August 4
technology selection since
Philadelphia, PA
there are marked differences
Information: Tom Andrzejewski or Chris Hopey,
among the programs for work
National Center on Adult Literacy,
force literacy, family literacy,
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone];
adult basic education, GED,
e-mail: [email protected] or
corrections, libraries, and
[email protected]
English as a second language.
The Centre for Lfiteracy
Spring 1995 - Vol]. 11 No. 1 Literacy Across the Curriculum
7
6
ite
ce
ap@daD,
Qi@ lo
linte r tin
U.K. has still moved further in
training certification and
integrating literacy/basic skills
curricula and developed an
sic
into larger political and social
inventory of foundational skills
iii1s
agendas than other Western
that cut across school and
11)
OP(
countries have.
workplace; it has created some
According to Alan Wells, founder
high-profile demonstration
Education in the U.K. has turned
and director of the Adult Literacy
projects, devised program quality
into a battlefield according to
and Basic Skills Unit (ALBSU), the
marks, and engaged in multi-
Gunther Kress with competing
agency has more status today
agency consulting (partnerships
visions of literacy fueling the fight
than it did five years ago. Wells,
in North American terms) which
in the schools and in the
who finds the word "literacy"
have integrated basic skills into
workplace. Further education
problematic, would like to see it
contexts they would not otherwise
colleges are no longer overseen by
dropped from the agency's name.
have been.
local education authorities and
They use the term "basic skills"
competency-based assessment is
and are moving towards "core
Two examples illustrate the way
taking hold in vocational training.
skills." Nevertheless, by
in which basic skills have been
But despite all the contention, the
commissioning research that
integrated into housing and
makes links between basic skills
health. Using census data, ALBSU
and employment, health, housing
has shown connections between
and a variety of other social
poor skills and inadequate
issues, ALBSU has succeeded in
housing, low income and poor
positioning "basic skills" as a
health. Other agencies are using
necessary foundation for further
their findings.
education and retraining and for
Housing nd basic skins
social reform.
A major regeneration project being
The downside of the shift is that
carried out over ten years at one
ALBSU has moved further from
of the largest housing estates
students and practitioners,
(British for slum) in England has
aligning itself with the policy-
included education and training
makers and administrators who
for tenants in its plan. It will see
quantify whatever can be
concrete highrises torn down and
translated into numbers and
SAP.2°
replaced by self-contained
G
constantly call for
townhouses similar to those that
accountability. Wells argues
existed before the 1950s.
that the climate of the times
ov,,Twzmoswel
Recognizing the lack of basic
is such that without that
skills among the tenants, the
move, literacy would have
housing corporation has built in
been lost as an issue on the
educational assessment, basic
national agenda by now.
skills and vocational training. For
Nobody funds good
those who take up the offer, the
feelings" in 1995. They
corporation is committed to hiring
want outcomes.
75% of the project workers from
the estate. The years of work
To its credit, building on
experience is expected to wean
the data it collects,
them off welfare dependency and
ALBSU has created a
make them employable after the
coherent vision, written
project ends. The motivation is
clear-language reports,
the building of their own homes
produced national instructor
as well as their futures.
Literacy Across Me Curriculum
Spring 1995
The Centre for Literacy
Voi. 111 No. 1
m[patmm
auN Maw CCD@
itui
read materials they might
Health and b afic skffis
otherwise have ignored.
In Norwich, an East Anglian city
in the county of Norfolk, Healthy
Assessment is a concern at all
Norfolk 2000 was launched in
levels. In these projects,
1990 to improve the health and
recognizing the impossibility of
well-being of Norfolk residents, to
measuring short-term gains in
reduce inequalities in health and
health in a long-term project,
to encourage co-operation among
planners have wisely built in
all organizations with a
qualitative measures such as
responsibility for health. A basic
number of schools, organizations
skills consultant is involved in
visited or contacted, numbers of
every initiative.
referrals, calls, materials
distributed, etc., concentrating on
Having experienced a false start in
output rather than impact in the
1988, the project started anew in
early stages.
1992 to build multi-agency
cooperation around six key
The Health Promotion Unit in
targets in health of particular
Norwich focuses on health
import to Norfolk: Cancer, Heart
education in the schools and the
Health, Sexual Health, Accidents,
community. They develop
Food Poisoning and Disabilities.
curriculum, consult and design
The project also supports
and rewrite documents for ease of
initiatives apart from Healthy
reading. They have worked in
Norfolk 2000, such as a program
health-education partnerships,
in the town of Thetford which has
drawing in advice from all parties
held public focus groups to get at
involved. Step-to-Health, another
health concerns by posing a more
HN2000 project, provides training
general question: What is it like to
and resources to help people
a.via
live in Thetford? From transcripts
diet and
change their lifestyles
of recorded responses, planners
prevention, smoking. All of these
ep.ta
have identified patterns and
projects have limited resources.
por
0 Bp
issues and created a clear,
concise document identifying the
In addition to these larger
citizens' concerns related to
44PfttrallIte.
initiatives, there are many
health, the agencies that might
-itt."215e4PICE
F71
smaller integrated efforts, such
respond, the projects/changes
as the presence of Dr. Richard
that could be undertaken and the
Redding, a community
commitment required from key
pediatrician in a lower-income
players to carry out particular
area nursery school. The
actions. The emphasis is on
nursery happens to be
eliminating duplication/turf wars
located in the same building
and redirecting those resources to
as the local family literacy
new targets.
project and Dr. Redding has
a high level of awareness
Literacy/basic skills is constantly
that the parents of the
addressed. There is awareness
children he sees often have
that client groups may have
severe basic skills
comprehension or communication
problems. He has
problems and that materials and
accommodated his talk
oral presentations must be
and materials to reduce
written or made dearly and
the anxiety and increase
graphically. A bonus has been
the comprehension
that highly literate but busy
of these parents.
people have also taken the time to
Spring 1995 - Vol. 11 No. 1 Literacy Across the Curriculum
The Centre for Literacy
9
ite
mp@ffbfflm
IDG LOEO
EL
family, it is now part of a
that within a few years, they will
Workplace basic
multinational conglomerate,
no longer need ALBSU
ritish
currently for sale to help finance a
skills-two
consultancy and will take full
billion acquisition in North
responsibility for basic skills
c mpanies
America. Laid out on a sprawling,
provisions within the company's
landscaped estate in Norwich that
training program.
previously housed the Colman
Colman's of Norwich
family home, the low-slung factory
Robots at Ford
Ford's Dagenham
buildings are connected by
Ford's Dagenham, in contrast to
gardens and stone walking-paths.
Colman's, is located on a barren
The ALBSU Basic Skills at Work
The training/education program
expanse, almost the size of central
Programme (1992-95) established
is housed in a converted abbey on
London, on the edge of a working
40 pilot-projects involving 300
the property.
class suburb which provides most
companies. With ALBSU funding
of the 9000 employees who work
now ended, about 70% of the
Having been "down-sized" in
in three connected plants. While
projects are continuing with
recent years as the consequence
Ford used to be managed in each
funding from other sources
of technology and globalization,
country where they
according to ALBSU project
the company currently employs
manufactured, now all
officers.
about 700 local residents with
management is centralized in
little turnover; it has inherited the
Detroit and quality standards
In England, I visited two of the
Quaker philosophy of benevolence
are global.
companies, radically different in
toward employees. According to
organizational structure, which
their director of training, Peter
Dagenham, producer of Fiestas
are committed to maintaining
Leggett, basic skills needs became
and a van, is in the midst of
basic skills as part of their
apparent with the changes in
technological reorganization;
workplace education program.
technology and organization; at
robots have replaced workers in
the time, Colman's assessed all
the most tedious and physically
A benevolent employer
the employees and provided
demanding tasks. Many
Colman's of Norwich is the
individual feedback with the
workstations are monitored
condiment and soft drink division
option to take basic skills
by computer.
of Colman's & Reckitt. Founded
upgrading. As employees have
by the Quaker Colman
recognized the increased
The changes are most evident on
demands, many have been
the die presses which cut out
motivated to take the option. Four
large pieces of the cars. At one
trainers at the company have
point, standing between two
become certified ALBSU
production lines with our host,
instructors who offer small-group
we were told "You are standing
classes and, for those employees
between the past and the future."
who want confidentiality, one-on-
On the left, each section of the
one tuition.
massive presses was manned by
1-2 employees, a total of about 15
Colman's takes the long-term view
per line. On the right, highly
that the increased confidence and
sensitive robots were carrying out
self-esteem of workers who
the identical tasks - with one
achieve qualification benefit the
employee at the head and one at
company in both direct and
the end reading printouts on a
indirect ways - the workers are
screen. The repetitive movements
able to participate in new team
were mind-numbing, the noise
structures and they feel less
deafening. At first, it seemed
threatened by the continuing
reasonable to use machines
changes. The company anticipates
instead of men. Yet the hidden
Littracy Across ehe CurrIcagium
Spring 1995 - Vol. 11 No. 1
The Centre for Literacy
10