Handbook on best practice methods for Basic skills trainings Best practice handbook | Page 16

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BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES IN ADULTS’
TRAINING
Literacy through the media
State and implementing organization
Ireland; National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).
Short description
This experience is a distance education project for adults with literacy and numeracy difficulty,
which originally used the medium of radio, eventually using also television. It is currently
developing and delivering distance learning programme in adult basic education, consisting of
a series of 12 television programmes supported by a printed study pack, which help adults
improve their literacy skills in the privacy of their own homes. An average of 190,000 people
tunes in each week to the Read Write Now TV series; as a consequence, there was a general
increase in awareness in the adult literacy issue amongst Irish TV viewers. This experience
has demonstrated how electronic mass communication media can be a powerful means of
involving low-skilled populations in basic education distance learning programmes.
Target group
Adults with reading and writing difficulties.
Products / Outcomes
The products of the project include: learner packs that go with all series consisting of a
workbook and a support book. These packs are free to adult learners and are available from
the free phone tutor support line. The free phone tutor support line is staffed by experienced
tutors who help with any queries about the learning in the TV and radio programmes and
learner pack. It is a free and confidential service.
Transferability
Issues and outcomes around programme structure, content, learning process, materials and
support structures are documented and evaluated in the evaluation report. These will be
useful reference for other countries embarking on a similar project and some elements may
be transferable after consideration.
The use of television and radio ensures great exposure to the experience.
Contact details
[e-mail] https://www.nala.ie/