The Drum Beat 267 - Communication for Literacy

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We would like to take this opportunity to welcome two new partners to The Communication Initiative - the Bernard van Leer Foundation and the Department for International Development (DFID).

The Bernard van Leer Foundation works to improve the chances of young children living in disadvantaged situations by supporting early childhood development (ECD) projects through close partnerships with local implementing partners and by gathering, analysing and sharing experiences and information.

The Department for International Development (DFID) - the UK Government department responsible for promoting sustainable development and reducing poverty. DFID's assistance is concentrated in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, but also contributes to poverty reduction and sustainable development in middle-income countries, including those in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

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We would also like to respectfully acknowledge the passing of our friend and colleague at Sesame Workshop, Joel Schneider. In his memory, the Workshop is establishing the Joel Schneider International Research Fund for Global Health to honor his passion and work on their global health initiative. Condolences may be sent to Claire Schneider, P.O. Box 7111, Gloucester, MA 01930.

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COMMUNICATION FOR LITERACY

Literacy has often been defined as the ability to read and write, or the posession of a particular kind of competence, such as "computer literacy". Why might literacy be of interest to communication for development practitioners? The director of the first project, below, offers one reason: "The more literate a person is, the better able they are to form an opinion. And the more opinions you can bring to the discussion, the greater the collective knowledge."

This issue of the Drum Beat highlights communication's potential to empower people through literacy.

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DIMENSIONS OF LITERACY

1.Rainforest Literacy Project - Papua New Guinea

"There's just no point addressing literacy without addressing issues of sustainable, economic development....you teach literacy by focusing on hot topics, topics that matter to the daily lives" of villagers. Using radio programmes and printed materials designed for semi-literate audiences, this initiative works within the existing system of community self-governance to empower land groups in the Managalas Plateau, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea to make informed decisions and take action for rainforest survival. Laying the groundwork for genuine informed participation is a literacy challenge addressed through "Multichannel Learning".

Contact Micael Olsson molsson@edc.org OR Douglas Bell douglasbell99@aol.com

2.Backward and Forward Linkages That Strengthen Primary Education

by V. Ramachandran

Why do specific communities fall short when it comes to literacy? This paper highlights rural issues, exploring the intensity of social barriers (higher in areas distanced from the mainstream), and lack of proximity to centres of political power and visibility (can compound problems with infrastructure and personnel). The report finds that "literacy figures do not reveal the full picture. The 2001 headcount has generated a debate on the interlinkages between women's status, education, literacy and economic development. There are no easy answers..."

3.Programme of Bi-literacy In Matters of Economic Development, The Environment, Gender and Community

This Chile-based programme teaches simultaneous bilingual literacy using themes chosen based on learners' specific sociocultural and age-specific characteristics, e.g., micro enterprises, environmental protection, gender equality, civil rights, community health. The hope is that, by learning to read and write in both English and Spanish, the indigenous population will assimilate symbols, words, phrases, and sentences into daily life. Community members are trained to facilitate classes using a playful teaching method.

Contact María José Hernández mhernandez@eclac.cl

4.View from Bangladesh: The New Literacy

by Mir Lutful Kabir Saadi

"The definition of literacy changed in the last decade of the 20th century. This new concept of "computer literacy" is 'the ability to achieve desired outcomes via a computer'....[C]omputer literacy can be said to have three components: understanding of basic computing principles, knowing how to use at least one computer operating system, and proficiency with specific software programs."

5.Media Education: Literacy, Learning and Contemporary Culture

by David Buckingham

"How should education respond to the challenges of an increasingly mediated world? How can it enable young people to become active, critical participants in the media culture that surrounds them? And how can it keep pace with the complex technological, cultural and economic changes that are currently reshaping the contemporary media environment?" These are some of the questions that arise in the area of media literacy.

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO LITERACY

6.Illustrated Manuals for Development Projects (IMDP) - Global

IMDP is a technique for producing simple, short training manuals for non-literate farmers worldwide. Using sequences of linked pictures on a particular topic, these manuals depict the task without the use of words. Developed by the Institute of Ecology and Resource Management at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with West African farmers, IMDP aims to help development organisations produce cheap, effective training materials (which are then shared on the project website).

Contact Rose Clarkson enquiries@imdp.org.uk

7.World Literacy of Canada

An international organisation whose literacy programmes focus on women's needs and teacher training.

8.Rural Literacy and Self Reliance Program (RLSRP) - Nepal

The Committee for the Promotion of Public Awareness and Development Studies is working to build self-reliance as well as leadership and literacy skills among extremely poor women in Lamjung District, Nepal. Activities include organisation building; awareness-building sessions on literacy, health, gender, environment, and rights; and savings and credit cooperatives.

Contact coppades@ntc.net.np

9.Literacy Skills for the World of Tomorrow: Further Results from PISA 2000

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) measures how well 15-year-olds "are prepared to meet the challenges of today's societies. PISA administers tests and background questionnaires to between 4,500 and 10,000 students in each participating country to assess three forms of literacy: reading, mathematical and scientific. The assessments focus on how well students apply knowledge and skills to tasks that are relevant to their future life, rather than on the memorisation of subject matter knowledge."

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4th International Entertainment Education Conference (EE4) - September 26-30, 2004 - Cape Town, South Africa

Discussions will focus on recent developments in entertainment-education programmes around the world, sharing experiences in EE, opportunities and challenges, and developing a consensus towards further enhancing the Entertainment-Education methodology and field practice.

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TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR LITERACY

10.Interactive Radio Instruction for Somalis (IRIS) Project - Ethiopia

To overcome obstacles associated with educating Ethiopia's pastoralist children, the Education Development Center is building the capacity of Somali educators and technicians to produce and broadcast interactive radio instruction programmes that deliver official curriculum in reading, basic math, and life skills. Students participate through question-and-answer sessions, drama, and songs.

Contact Stephanie Foerster Sfoerster@edc.org

11.Marginalised tribal groups get education by TV

In 2003, a government school featuring television-based teaching aids opened in the Mangyan community of Purnaga, the Philippines. Adults from indigenous groups are educated in nationalism, English, and other subjects. Lack of roads and the remoteness of their colonies had prevented teachers from reaching the area.

12.OOPS iSee - India

Low-cost technology is being provided to rural Indians who might not otherwise have the opportunity to get educated, communicate with a physician and family members, or acquire agricultural information. Kiosks equipped with a personal computer, a web cam, and a dial-up connection enable villagers to speak to - and view - someone "on the other end", rather than being forced to type an email message (which might be impossible in communities with very low literacy rates).

Contact isee@oops-india.com

13.Look Again! A Teaching Guide to Using Film and Television with 3- to 11-year Olds

Offers 8 basic teaching techniques for the close study of TV, and advocates the educational value of such work. Outlines connections between teaching literacy and cineliteracy; details strategies for engaging children in discussion and analysis of moving image media; and suggests means of integrating these activities across the curriculum in primary schools.

14.St. Mary's Institute - Your Caribbean Literacy Portal

Focuses on raising literacy awareness in the English-speaking Caribbean, especially via the Internet.

15.Educational Video Center [EVC] - New York City, USA

EVC uses creative, community-based video and multi-media to develop the literacy, research, public speaking, and work preparation skills of at-risk youth. A documentary project researched, scripted, shot, and edited by students (in the city, a learning space) becomes a creative group learning experience - one that is perhaps different from any other they might have in-school and that can result in a concrete product to be shared with teachers, family, and fellow citizens.

Contact Steven Goodman sgoodman@evc.org OR info@evc.org

MAKING LEARNING FUN

16.Pleasure Through Reading - Zambia

This project will use television to encourage a reading and research culture among Zambians. Window Images-Media in Development and its partners hope to motivate a broad cross-section of people to take up reading, making reading an interactive group process. At the end of each episode, a quiz will be conducted on the featured book. Bookstores and other community partners will be asked to donate books and cover postage.

Contact Annie Chimbuvu Chiluba windowimages@yahoo.com

17.Spinning Yarns Around the Digital Fire: Storytelling & Dialogue Among Youth on the Internet

by David Huffaker

"Storytelling introduces children to the initial stages of communication and literacy....[O]nline forums and virtual communities, including message boards, Weblogs and instant messaging software (IM), allow children important spaces to share ideas and feelings, discuss issues and projects, ask and answer each other's questions, and promote a prosocial spirit."

18.Using Videos to Educate Marginally Literate Girls Along the Mekong River - Laos & Thailand

This project used low-cost, entertaining video compact disc (VCD) technology to meet literacy needs of young, at-risk girls who cross the Mekong in search of a more exciting, financially rewarding life. Music, dialogue, images, and subtitles - in multiple-language sound tracks - are designed to stimulate and reinforce learning among users and peer facilitators. Literacy is a means of reducing risk of sexual exploitation, exposure to HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, and forced labour.

Contact Stephanie Foerster Sfoerster@edc.org

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PULSE POLL

If you are journalist then you are a development communicator.

[For context, please see The Drum Beat 265]

Do you agree or disagree?

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This issue was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.

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The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.


Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com


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