This set of learning modules was developed during a project to deliver workplace literacy instruction to individuals employed in the more than 50 businesses related to the activities of the Port of Baltimore. It is intended to help employees of port businesses improve their spelling and vocabulary. The first module is a preassessment designed to…

A semi-annual refereed publication of research and instructional practices in English/language arts and allied fields, preschool through adult levels, this volume of "Maryland English Journal" presents articles on a variety of subjects and showcases the work of young writers. Articles in volume 28, number 1 focus on ethnographic studies…

This brief report summarizes the legal requirements of nondiscrimination imposed by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as of July 26, 1992, especially in the area of testing. The report emphasizes that literacy tests must be nondiscriminatory and related to the job for which they are given. The following…

These materials for a 16-hour class were designed to prepare shift workers, long out of school, for college courses offered via distance education in their workplace. The course outline lists the following topics: test-taking skills, writing, reading comprehension, math, and learning to learn. Materials are provided for instruction in essay…

This course manual was designed to address problems of attendance during the summer in a manufacturing company's workplace literacy program. Materials from five workshops are provided, including handouts, exercises, worksheets, and instructor notes. "Communications I" addresses the following: what is communication?; evaluating listening skills;…

This document contains three workplace education curriculum frameworks that provide the underlying rationale and competencies for workplace education classes in communication, English as a second language (ESL), and literacy. The frameworks contain basic information about the content of the course, the competencies the students need to master,…

This document reports two literacy task analyses conducted in Burnaby, British Columbia, on a job site designated "large" and another considered "small." The report of the analysis of the "large" job site: (1) describes the goals of the analysis, which include identifying the basic skills required for the jobs studied…

This guide is intended for use in an eight-session course designed to develop the presentation skills required of persons employed in the manufacturing and service industries. The course is structured so that, upon its completion, students will be able to accomplish the following: identify the traits of good and bad speakers; research and organize…

A 16-week, 600-hour Office Skills Training curriculum for limited English proficient (LEP) adults is presented. The course is divided equally between the vocational training component and the language component. It is recommended that students have an intermediate level of English language proficiency, but no experience in typing or filing is…

Experience and research have shown that writing workshops are an excellent tool for improving workers' writing skills. In the past 5 years, the emphasis of writing instruction has shifted from a focus primarily on handwriting, correct spelling, and simple reinforcement of skills to a focus on empowering students by emphasizing fluency and student…

Analysis of reading applications in everyday life and on the job should be done at the task level because a task is the lowest level of behavior that describes the performance of a meaningful function. The main objectives of such an analysis are to identify the technical aspects of the actions a learner performs in a functional setting and to…

Numeracy training was provided for employees of two Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania) manufacturers. The curriculum was designed with a heavy emphasis on basic operation. Ten students began the course; seven completed it successfully. Unit tests evaluated each student's understanding of the material. Three students passed Qualifying Tests successfully;…

This document traces the history of volunteerism in the literacy field, discusses the current role and use of volunteers, and assesses the potential and the limits of volunteerism as a current and future means for overcoming illiteracy in the United States. (The major conclusion is that the current delivery system of literacy activities can go no…

Individuals in 14 job categories at the Analytical Instrument Division of the Hewlett-Packard Corporation were observed and interviewed for six months to determine their reading practices at work and in leisure settings. The individuals ranged from a research chemist and a printed circuit designer, to a quality assurance inspector and a mechanical…

A study explored the relationship between literacy and on-the-job performance. Subjects were 29 electronics technicians who were employed at a technical school, a naval base, a major Fortune 500 electronics plant, and a small local electronics plant. Subjects, classified according to three different employment levels (training, experienced, and…