SUNY IT professors Ronni Tichenor and Kris Paap presented their qualitative research on the Literacy Zones in Utica and Herkimer. The Zones work because of the intimate class structure, case management, and staff. Please see the attached presentations for more details. If your organization would like to speak with Ronni or Kris about evaluation, their contact information is: Veronica Tichenor (tichenv@sunyit.edu) and Kris Paap kepaap@gmail.com.
2. Literacy Zone Project
University-Community Organization
partnership
Provide valuable experience for students
Generate useful data for local
organization/agency
“Service-based learning”
3. Literacy Zone Research Questions
What barriers did participants face along
the way in their education?
How did low literacy impact their lives
prior to entering the program?
How were participants able to persevere
and succeed in the literacy program?
What lasting impact did the program
have on participants?
4. Methodological Challenges
Recruitment plan
Recruitment of respondents via Literacy
Zone staff
Students interview respondents
Recruitment even more difficult than
anticipated
Resulted in lower sample size than
called for in original plan
5. Barriers to Education
Respondents faced fewer barriers than
anticipated, based on the literature
Some negative school experiences
Family concerns (providing childcare) or
disruptions served as barriers to school
success
Little evidence of learning disabilities as
substantial barrier
6. Coping with Low Literacy
Again, respondents reported fewer
difficulties in coping with tasks of daily
living than the literature would predict
Individuals faced difficulties in reading on the
job, in voting, and in banking…
And coped largely by “faking it” or asking
others for help
7. Keys to Success
Persistence: many had left the program
and returned several times
A teacher who spent time with them, and
made respondents feel like s/he really
cared about the success of his/her
students
8. Impact of the program
Upward occupational mobility
Improved self-esteem and self-
confidence
9. What Else Do We Want to
Know?
Try to talk to individuals who do not
persist
Get more complete picture of support
services needed to persist and be
successful in the program