Iowa Virtual Literacy Initiative (IVLI) for Education and Workforce Training Virtual Literacy to Succeed Equipping Adults with Low Literacy for Future Work Readiness
Iowa Virtual Literacy Initiative (IVLI) for Education and Workforce Training
Virtual Literacy to Succeed
Equipping Adults with Low Literacy for Future Work Readiness
2008 National Commission on Adult Literacy
Reach Higher, AMERICA Report
Employment needs of low-skilled workers must be met in order to remain competitive in today's global economy
For adults with low literacy skills, reading and writing is the barrier to needed education and training
As many as 38% of U.S. adults over the age of 18 (as many as 90,000,000) lack the literacy skills to be successful in the 21st century workplace.
Iowa Virtual Literacy Initiative (IVLI)
An Iowa initiative preparing adult learners with low literacy for future work readiness
Spearheaded by the Drake University Adult Literacy Center (DUALC)
Public-private partnership
Virtual Literacy Pilots
With an objective to significantly reduce timeframes and increase completion rates, virtual literacy technology and methods are infused into employment training programs including:
GED Training certifications including the
Career Readiness Certificate
Round 1 Pilots
GED Program—Correctional Facility Career Readiness Certificate—Supported
Education Program GED Program—Community College
Round 2
Corporate training program
Customized programming created to address the literacy needs of multiple populations:
Low-skilled worker Unemployed worker Underemployed individuals Immigrant workers Incarcerated individuals Formerly incarcerated individuals Minority populations Individuals with cultural and language barriers to employment Workers with disabilities Displaced workers College students in remediation Transitioning youth Mature workers
Technology Working Models
Software
Kurzweil 3000 Read & Write Gold 9 Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred kReader PC (Beta)
Hardware
ClassMate Reader kReader Mobile
(Nokia N82)
Freeware
Natural Readers VozMe ReadPlease Voicethread Dial 2DO Scan R Bookshare Google Book Search Project Gutenberg
Stressing the role of workforce creation and economic stability is dependent upon an
investment in human capital and the harnessing of technology to make the most of the
opportunities and information.
—Secretary Thomas E. Perez, Maryland Department of Labor (October 2008)
For more information
Anne Murr, M.S.CoordinatorDrake University Adult Literacy [email protected]
Linda KellyProject [email protected] 515-201-5158