Presents the instructional rationale used in design of the Basic Skills Learning System, a modularized network of computer assisted tutorials, drills, tests, printed materials, and videotaped presentations directed at improving basic reading, math, and language skills of adults below eighth-grade level. Teaching strategies that impact reading…

Cost effectiveness analysis in terms of personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, and overhead was made of two adult basic reading programs: Technology for Literacy Center's tutor-based program and Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System (PALS), computer-assisted instruction. Costs per unit of gain in reading skills clearly favored the PALS…

A diverse group of 27 adults completed 100 hours of computer-assisted reading instruction. Reading gains ranged from 0.4-7.5 grade levels and were greatest for subjects with a minimum pretest second grade reading level. Participants indicated the importance of skilled and empathic support from staff. (SV)

The Basic Skills Learning System is a modularized network of computer assisted tutorials, drills, tests, printed materials, and videotaped presentations directed at improving the basic reading, math, and language skills of adults who have mastered these skills at a level above third grade but below the eighth. (Author)

A study compared the effectiveness of computer-assisted reading instruction to that of a direct teaching model. Nineteen adult male inmates from Windham School System's Ellis II Unit (located in Texas) special education classrooms served as subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups each of which spent one hour a day on reading. One group…

This collection of 71 lesson plans, which is designed to assist volunteer tutors involved in the Computer-Assisted Literacy in Libraries (CALL) program, contains guidelines and materials to help tutors correlate the words-only textbook "Basic Reading for Adults" by Metra-Summerhays with other reading materials selected by students. One…

A project in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, investigated whether the use of computers along with Laubach literacy materials could significantly raise the reading level of adults presently reading at the 0-4 grade levels. Adults in a control and an experimental group (15 in each) worked one-on-one with volunteer tutors using the "Laubach Way to…

This evaluation used ethnographic data collection methods to discover why IBM's PALS (Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System met with different degrees of success at the two Massachusetts pilot sites after 2 years of operation: the North Central Correctional Institute (NCCI) in Gardner, and the Brightwood Branch Library in Springfield. Three…

Discusses the content and structure of a computer-based instructional program in reading for disadvantaged adults and describes the design, test materials, procedures, and results of a formative evaluation with 36 pre-GED students in an Illinois Correctional Center. Results support the value of such complete computer-based reading comprehension…

The objectives of a research project were to: (1) give an account of the adult literacy movement in New Zealand between 1974 and 1988; (2) gather, analyze, and report on the number of students in adult literacy programs between 1974 and 1987; (3) examine the nature of adult literacy programs; (4) describe the development of funding arrangements of…

The University of Akron's Reading Assessment Component (RAC) research study assessed the effectiveness of a computer-based literacy program, Principles of the Alphabet Literacy System (PALS), as an alternative to classroom instruction for functionally illiterate adults living in Summit County, Ohio. The RAC study assessed four objectives: (1)…

The effectiveness of using computer courseware developed for adults reading below the fourth-grade level was investigated with inmates at Rockview State Correctional Institution. Data were collected both to establish multiple baseline data and to permit experimental group comparison with a control group. The multiple baselines portion of the study…

This annotated bibliography reviews 41 pieces of educational software that are marketed for use in basic reading and conversational English programs. A variety of educational games, drill and practice programs, tutorials, problem-solving programs, and utility and authoring systems is included. Reading, math, writing, vocabulary, grammar, spelling,…

This document provides advance information on the symposia, workshops, and presentations of a conference the purpose of which was to teach about new techniques and methodologies for applying technology as a solution to adult illiteracy. Brief summaries are provided of the content of the symposia, workshops, and presentations. Representative topics…

The 1988-89 Highlands Educational Literacy Project (HELP) in southwest Virginia was initially designed to provide local volunteer tutors with intensive training in the Laubach one-to-one method of teaching reading. HELP was a cooperative effort of community service agencies, church and civic groups, and interested individuals to provide free…