Send us your unsung heroes

We would like to hear about the unsung heroes of your community promoting literacy. Be it one individual, or an entire organization, they will receive their choice of complimentary JEDlet^® tutorials to aid them in their teaching.
Email submissions to journalcontest@jedlet.com

Browse all JEDlet topics at www.jedlet.com

In the past challenge we asked for e-learning award organizations. Here are a few favorites:

www.elearningawards.eun.org
www.elearningnetwork.org/elearningawards.htm
www.brandon-hall.com/awards/awards.shtml
www.elearningage.co.uk/awards

According to UNESCO, “Worldwide, 771 million adults are illiterate and about 100 million children are out of school.” Those statistics are staggering when we think about how far we have come in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially when these numbers also reflect a sizeable contingent of people in highly developed countries.

The encouraging news is that it can be ICT that will play a huge role in teaching those in need to not only read, but to also become technologically literate at the same time. As the very nature of information is rapidly changing, educators the world over must seize the new tools for teaching to comprehensively address the challenges of the “new literacy”. E-learning in particular can be a natural complement to any literacy program with its inherent use of audio, video, graphics, animation, interaction, and quizzes providing immediate results.

The International Reading Association states:

“The Internet and other forms of information and communication technology (ICT) are redefining the nature of literacy. To become fully literate in today’s world, students must become proficient in the new literacies of ICT. Therefore, literacy educators have a responsibility to integrate these technologies into their literacy curricula.”
(Source: Integrating Literacy and Technology in the Curriculum, www.reading.org/resources/issues/positions_technology.html

www.portal.unesco.org/education
www.nald.ca/INTERORG/world.htm

Note: International Literacy Day is September 8, 2006.

JED New Media is also promoting literacy.

We have recently initiated the pilot program for a comprehensive 14 part e-learning program in conjunction with the SQE (Society for Quality Education) to promote English literacy entitled “Frolicking with Phonics.” We invite interested parties to try it out (this offer expires in a few weeks) in exchange for detailed feedback. The pilot requires Flash 7 or higher and preferably a high-speed line.
Visit http://stage.jedlet.com/FWP_PILOT

To view additional literacy enhancing JEDlet topics such as Bias-free Communications, English Expressions for ESL Learners, Grammatical Relationships and more, visit the Writing Skills section at www.jedlet.com

René J. Aerdts, Ph.D., EDS Fellow, EDS

For a large portion of the world population, English as a Second Language (ESL) is key to survival in the business world. One of the major benefits of e-learning is participant interaction. With the increases in processing capabilities and bandwidth, synchronous communication between e-learners becomes reality.

Through the use of virtual communities, the personal language learning experience is enhanced through real-time interaction with fellow learners.

As technology continues to advance, e-learning will play an ever-increasing role in providing training, education, guidance, and intercommunications skills for English and other languages.

Events

For a comprehensive list of e-learning and industry events see www.infojed.com

News

We are offering complimentary access to
“Dealing with Dementia I” until February 15, 2006.
Visit www.jedlet.com/demo.asp and enter the word “Dementia” into the “Access Code” section.

Noteworthy Snippets

JED New Media would like to congratulate the Next Generation Foundation for their innovative project entitled the Creativity Map. We are proud to be participants in this unique international resource offering.
Visit www.ngf.org.uk/flash.htm

“The JEDlet “Understanding Financial Statements: the Basics” was a great refresher on the main three Financial Statements used in business. I am in the early stages of setting up my company and was looking for exactly this type of information. Your online course was not only informative but also very enjoyable and interactive, especially with the quizzes throughout. It took me only 30 minutes to learn everything that I needed.”

Olivia Sofer, Lifexport.com.

“I passed your JEDlet tutorials Dealing with Dementia 1 to my 80+ support group facilitators. I've received quite a few rave reviews from those knowledgeable, experienced people, many who are professional caregivers, personal caregivers or both. Bravo to you for your high standards.”

Cat Zimmerman
Support Group Coordinator, Oregon Chapter, Alzheimer's Association.

Have feedback? Email info@jedlet.com