WE LEARN 5th Annual (Net)Working Gathering & Conference on Women & Literacy

Alliances

Building Alliances / Construyendo Alianzas

 Alianzas
In the spirit of building alliances and networking opportunities, WE LEARN invites everyone to participate in the key conference themes through discussion & information sharing forums offered by two key collaborators:

We offer these opportunities in order to experiment with the following format for integrating technology (distance learning) into the WE LEARN conference and into our general networking goals for WE LEARN as an organization.

Goals:

Please join the discussions...

Pre-Conference Discussion:
NIFL Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

During the Conference (available now and after):
Adult Literacy Education Wiki

In anticipation and preparation for the WE LEARN Conference, Margery Freeman and Kathy King (bios found below) will be facilitating on this list from 2/18-2/29 a guest discussion on: "Discussing Diversity and Power Issues for Professional Development in Adult Literacy." Please join us and share with your colleagues and students.

To subscribe to the discussion, go to:http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/subscribe_all.html

Discussing Diversity and Power Issues for Professional Development in Adult Literacy

Dates of Discussion: February 18 - February 29, 2008

Examples of possible questions that will be explored:

  • How are the issues of race, class, culture, gender, and power expressed in our adult literacy classes?
  • Do you find that adult literacy students are willing to discuss issues related to race, class, culture, gender, and power? Why or why not?
  • What are the race, class, culture, gender, and power issues that are not discussed but you think would be beneficial to discuss?
  • What barriers do you as an educator face in facilitating such a discussion?
  • Do you have recommended strategies that you find successful to discussing race, class, culture, gender, and power issues?

Related Readings can be found at:
The Change Agent:
Issue 8 and Issue 19

Rethinking Schools: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/

Our two guest facilitators are Margery Freeman and Kathy King (click names for complete bios):

We hope that you will think about the above questions and join us for the discussion on 2/18!

Daphne Greenberg
List Moderator

----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list
PovertyRaceWomen@nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen

 

As part of the WE LEARN 2008 Conference, we have set up a special section in the Adult Literacy Education Wiki.

Descriptions of each of the sessions at the conference have been uploaded to a separate web pages, and on those pages you are encouraged to post questions or thoughts about the topics addressed. The hope is that ideas and questions posted prior to the conference will be introduced at the conference during the session. Also, after the conference will we ask the presenter and attendees to respond to the questions on the web. In addition, some questions posed on the wiki will be posted on large newsprint and attendees will be able to write responses. Those responses will also be collected and uploaded to the wiki after the conference is over.

As you can gather, this is an experiment to see how a wiki and other digital technology can increase participation (even among those cannot attend physically) and to make the conference part of an ongoing conversation.

Below are links to the different sections. I encourage you to check out the site and to post your thoughts, questions and comments in the various sessions.

Main Conference Page

http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/WE_LEARN_2008_Conference

Friday Schedule (with links to specific sessions)

http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/WE_LEARN_2008_Friday

Saturday Schedule (with links to specific sessions)

http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/WE_LEARN_2008_Saturday

Thanks.

Erik Jacobson
Conference Committee & Wiki Supporter

 

 

 

Return to WE LEARN Conference Information Page

NIFL Guest speaker bios:

Margery Freeman has been an educator for 35 years. Her breadth of experience include public school teaching (middle and high school), early childhood education and child advocacy, and adult literacy education. She has directed programs with local and national organizations, including the National Council of Churches and ProLiteracy America.

Margery roots her work in the principles and practices she has learned through her 25-year relationship with The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, a multi-racial, anti-racist organization that promotes community-based organizing for social change. She is a core trainer/organizer with the People's Institute, leading "Undoing Racism"* workshops across the country, primarily with human service and educational institutions.

In New York, where she lives with her husband, David Billings, Margery is actively involved with the AntiRacist Alliance and the Equity Alliance to promote equitable and humane in situations throughout the tri-state region.

Contact Information:
Margery Freeman
2156 Cruger Avenue, Apt. 2G
Bronx, NY 10462
718-918-2716
margeryfreeman@yahoo.com

Dr. Kathleen P. King is a tenured full professor of adult education specializing in adult education, educational technology, distance learning and professional development in Fordham's Graduate School of Education, New York City, NY. Because of her great passion for the field of adult learning and innovation in teaching and research, she has authored 11 books and over 120 research articles and papers. She is also a frequent keynote speaker for national and international conferences and research presenter. She served as director of university research and professional development center at the Bronx campus for four years leading a complete redesign and revitalization of the center, development of over $10 million in joint grant funding with community partners, and expansion educational services to over 3000 participants locally and 1.5 million globally per year. She is also president of Transformation Education LLC a thriving educational consulting network. Her educational work and research has focused on adult learning contexts since 1978 but has spanned grades and content levels childhood- adult education, training, higher education, corporate organizations, government, international and virtual settings. She is also founding editor of the journal, Perspectives: The New York Journal of Adult Learning (www.retc.fordham.edu/perspectives), which is in 7th year of publication as a partnership among Fordham's MS in Adult Education program and the NY state association of adult education (NYACCE) (www.nyacce.org). "Kathy" lives in the metro-NYC area with her partner Sharon and their 2 lively bichons; they have 2 sons in college (Seamus and Bill). She is especially excited that she is now teaching adult learners online through the university; as in the Summer of 2007 she and Dr. Heuer at Fordham have been able to launch the School's first distance learning program- MS in Adult Education and HRD.

Contact: Kpking@fordham.edu

 

If you have questions about the WE LEARN, these collaboration, or the conference, please contact:

Mev Miller, Director
welearn@litwomen.org
401-383-4374