KEY POINTS:
All learning is based on the ability to read, write, use language and calculate effectively, yet around 40 per cent of the adult population experience literacy difficulties.
This year AUT introduced a master's degree programme for teachers and trainers of adult literacy and numeracy. It is the first master's degree programme of its kind in this country.
The course is conducted online, aside from a compulsory three-day induction at AUT's Wellesley St campus. Content includes the study of contemporary perspectives of literacy and numeracy, teaching strategies, online teaching and learning and programme design and assessment. Students also undertake a project that focuses on a particular interest of theirs.
THE STUDENT
Janet Coup, 57
Adult literacy tutor and tutor trainer
On contract to the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission.
My role is to deliver professional development to adult numeracy and literacy tutors. I have a background in psychology, education and ESOL (English as a second language) teaching and many years' experience of teaching literacy to adults.
I started the masters at the beginning of the year because I felt I needed to understand more about the theoretical framework behind what I was doing. This study is changing my approach. I'm gaining a better theoretical understanding of adult literacy and numeracy and can more effectively answer people's questions because I have a broader theoretical framework to draw upon.
I find myself questioning my approaches from different theoretical perspectives and thinking about how to change things. I'm doing more group work, giving people more opportunities for discussion and providing more opportunities for people to write collaboratively in workshops.
The masters is a quality online course taught by people with really good qualifications and industry experience in adult literacy and numeracy.
We have excellent online discussion forums and it is exciting to go online and have your ideas challenged in a way that builds on your learning experiences.
The hardest part, though, is simply getting on with the study when there is no class to attend.
The assignments vary. For one assignment we created a lesson plan that was critiqued by someone else in the course, before we re-worked and submitted it. We're also learning about developing an online wiki, an interactive internet learning activity that we're doing collaboratively. This is very new to me.
There is no observation of our teaching during the course, though.
AUT has very good online resources; I've been really impressed by the quality and accessibility of journal articles and resources. As an online course, the masters has attracted participants throughout the country.
I'm glad it can be accessed nationally because it can be hard sometimes to access courses from smaller centres. Another plus is that the TEC has funded people to do this course so I'm not paying any fees, which is absolutely fantastic. THE
EMPLOYER
Ann Lee
Chief adviser of adult literacy
Ministry of Education - tertiary education policy branch
To be an effective adult literacy or numeracy tutor you need to be able to teach adults in a wide range of contexts which is one of the factors that makes teaching adults quite different from teaching children.
The masters in adult literacy and numeracy is providing tutor trainers with up to date knowledge of current research and theory. Being exposed to further training in a masters degree can only be beneficial to Janet.
Learning with her counterparts in the course, she is becoming part of a nationwide group of professional adult educators; a learning community sharing ideas and experiences. This collaboration is also known to be of value to learners as it contributes to effective teaching practice.
There will always be demand for professional adult educators and this demand is likely to increase as we need to keep pace with changes in jobs.
* What: Master of adult literacy and numeracy education.
* Where: Auckland University of Technology (AUT) (09) 921 9999 ext 6088 or ext 6840 - languages@aut.ac.nz - http://www.aut.ac.nz/schools/languages/course-information/postgraduate-study.
* Intakes: January and July.
* Entry requirements: A three-year degree plus one-year study at postgraduate level or a four-year degree in a relevant field. Applicants also need at least one-year professional experience in adult education or a relevant field.
* Course Fees 2007: $4887 per full time year. In 2007 TEC education grants covered approximately 90 per cent of the course fees. It is anticipated that a number of grants will be available again in 2008.
* Starting Salary: There can be huge differences in pay rates, depending on location and position; $30-$50 per hour.
