SPECIAL PROJECTS

Although the potential benefits of technology for enhancing learning are tremendous, too often technology use has been limited to the placing of learners on computers where lessons are completed in isolation from the world and other learners. During the past year, Project INTER-ALT has used computers and telecommunications in a manner that allows adults to interact with each other about issues that concern them and allows these adults to have input in decisions about curriculum content. Additionally, Project INTER-ALT has provided adult learners and their instructors with access to resources and information that assist in the development of the technological literacies needed for the workplace and society both currently and in the near future.

This special technology project was awarded to the Ten County ACE Co-op by the Adult and Community Education Division of the Texas Education Agency last year. Major objectives of the project included the development of student writing using technology, staff development, and the technological literacy development of learners and adult educators. Project INTER-ALT's efforts in addressing the technological needs of the adult community have included the establishment of an electronic forum dedicated to the issues and problems of adults and adult educators participating in the project. By using modems, telecommunication software, and a toll-free number provided by the Texas Literacy Resource Center (TLRC), ten adult learning centers connected to the TLRC bulletin board system (BBS) located at Texas A&M University - College Station where the electronic forum was housed. Adults participating in the project used the TLRC BBS to write to each other and/or a group about topics they selected as important. Learners were also able to use telecommunications to investigate areas of interest.

In addition to the TLRC BBS, many of the participating learning centers had access to the Internet through either Southwest Texas State University or TENET accounts. Besides providing these centers with access to additional electronic forums, Internet access also provided instructors and their learners with access to resources, information, and software all over the world.

Currently, five adult learning centers continue to participate in writing projects using the TLRC BBS. Of these five centers, four have access to the Internet and learning to use the World Wide Web to access additional resources worldwide. Instructors at these five learning centers continue to investigate the promise of technological applications to adult education. For more information concerning this project, contact Project INTER-ALT at (512) 245-3995 or SA07@swt.edu on the Internet.