Welcome to the AlphaPlus Tech Podcasts – in which we talk to adult literacy practitioners about how and why they are using technology and what they think about it. Too often the great work and new ways of doing things are hidden away and we only get to read about them in reports. We decided to make the podcasts so that we could all literally hear from practitioners – these podcast were originally published one each week between April 23, 2009 and June 4, 2009 .
Following are descriptions of each podcast, including download links. Right-click on the link and select “Save as” to download the podcast to your desktop.
If you like you can listen to a short excerpt using the player below.
Podcast #1 (April 23, 2009) Amanda Burdick from Literacy Link South Central and adult literacy network in London, Ontario tells us about how her organization makes use of a Wiki to work collaboratively and about her innovative use of mp3 technology to make the network’s web site more accessible.
Right-click to download Podcast #1
Podcast #2 (April 30, 2009) Rose Strohmaier from the Community Learning Centre, South Frontenac, part of Kingston Literacy , Ontario, who tells us about how she uses a blog with her students and talks about her participation in the Getting Online course and much more.
Right-click to download Podcast #2
Podcast #3 (May 7, 2009) Debera Flynn from the QUILL Learning Network shares her enthusiasm for using technology to save time and to enable communication and collaboration across the literacy field.
Right-click to download Podcast #3
Podcast #4 (May 14, 2009) Karin Meinzer from PTP Adult Learning & Employment Programs in Toronto talks about her experiences in introducing and using technology in her classroom. Karin has made very innovative use of blogging software in her work with students and shares her insights about using technology as a tool to support literacy and numeracy practice.
Right-click to download Podcast #4
Podcast #5 (May 21, 2009) Laurie Gallant from English Montreal School Board shares his perspective, as an adult education instructor on the introduction of a new program in his school board which includes a greater emphasis on the use of technology. Laurie discusses the challenges and opportunities facing instructors with the introduction of the new program and the technology orientation and training needs of instructors.
Right-click to download Podcast #5
Podcast #6 (May 28, 2009) Tracey Mollins, a literacy worker and activist and an amazing online instructor and blogger at Literacies Café – shares her experiences, knowledge and wisdom – based on her extensive experience working with adult literacy students and her invaluable insights about the role that technology can and should play in teaching and learning.
Right-click to download Podcast #6
Podcast #7 (June 4, 2009) Tim Nicholls Harrison a longtime literacy instructor and Manager of the Adult Learning Centres, Grey-Bruce-Georgian in Ontario tells us how he “discovered” Web 2.0 technology and shares his knowledge and experience about how technology can be an exciting and practical tool in support of adult literacy teaching and learning.
Right-click to download Podcast #7
Great podcasts – very inspirational. Awesome use of technology – user-friendly, easy to understand, all the good stuff.
Thanks!
merci trop good alpha people. these are AMAZING! i am learning so much and getting so many good ideas. literacy workers rock the tech.
PS i know i am going to be a podcaster here soon but please note i have commented BEFORE my bit is posted
Just a note to say I’ve listened to several of these podcasts numerous times, and have stuck it in the back of my mind to bring them to a staff training day sometimes (making myself look very so smart just because I know how to surf and download – LOL).
Seriously, these are a great opportunity for me to hear other voices. P.s., I appreciate that you don’t just ask “what works” but also “what doesn’t work.”
Special shout-out to Tracey’s tales of learning to use computers in the class.
W.
Thanks Wendell – glad to know you find the podcasts worthwhile – it was a lot of fun doing them – and we hope to do lots more – hearing the actual voices of practitioners is so powerful – so often we only get to read about what’s going on – if we even get that opportunity – and this just seems like a fairly simple way to talk to each other. Maria