Redlands program teaches computer skills to adult learners
Redlands program teaches computer skills to adult learners Redlands Daily Facts
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Adult Literacy Program and the Importance of Computer Literacy
The Adult Literacy Program aims to improve the reading and writing skills of adults through one-on-one tutoring sessions with volunteers. This program not only helps adults secure employment and further their education but also enables them to assist their children with schoolwork. However, there is a growing recognition among tutors and learners that adult learners also need to acquire digital skills, as computer literacy has become increasingly vital in today’s world.
Benefits of Computer Literacy
Being computer literate offers numerous advantages, including:
- More job opportunities: Basic computer literacy is necessary for job applications and effective communication with supervisors and colleagues. Higher levels of computer proficiency can give employees a competitive edge in many workplaces.
- Better communication: Computer networks facilitate convenient communication through email, allowing people to connect with others who they may not have been able to interact with otherwise. Whether it’s staying in touch with friends, teachers, or medical professionals, or sending resumes to potential employers, internet-based communication is essential.
- Access to up-to-date news and information sources: The internet provides a wealth of information on local, national, and global news, as well as practical resources related to community activities, travel, health issues, medication side effects, restaurant menus, school calendars, driving directions, and more.
- Being prepared for the future: Although technology continues to evolve, the skills learned and utilized in computer literacy classes provide a solid foundation for adapting to new technologies.
Computer Literacy Classes in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program
The Redlands Adult Literacy Program has been offering computer literacy classes since 2015 to meet the evolving needs of its participants. Initially, the classes were divided into three skill levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Intermediate 2. As adult learners became more proficient, they expressed a desire to learn additional skills. In response, the computer literacy classes have expanded to include literacy lessons, writing projects, and presentation opportunities.
Participants in these classes have diverse goals, such as finding employment, advancing in their current positions, staying connected with distant family members, and acquiring the necessary skills to start their own businesses.
One notable learner is Sotheavy Chev, who joined the computer literacy classes in spring 2023, nearly two decades after taking a typing class and learning basic Excel in her native Cambodia. Chev quickly adapted to the class environment and appreciated the encouragement to ask questions at any time. Through one of the computer literacy classes, she even had a poem about oysters published in the adult literacy anthology, “Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 6.”
As a busy mother of three young boys, Chev values the 90-minute classes. She shares, “Even though class is only an hour and a half per week, I am learning – slow and steady like the turtle in the story. Improving my computer skills has given me my confidence back, and I am happier. I enjoy being with the other people in computer class, and I like how we are asked what we want to learn next.” With her enhanced computer skills and increased confidence, Chev looks forward to furthering her education.
Get Involved with the Adult Literacy Program
The Adult Literacy Program is in need of more volunteers to help adults improve their reading and writing skills. If you have any questions about the program, wish to participate, or are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Diane Shimota, the adult literacy coordinator, at 909-798-7565, ext. 4109, or email literacy@akspl.org. All literacy services are free and confidential, and training, materials, and ongoing support are provided.
Kim Green, computer literacy instructor, and Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator at A.K. Smiley Public Library, 125 W. Vine St., Redlands.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
- SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of adult learners enrolled in computer literacy classes
- Number of adult learners who improve their computer skills
- Number of adult learners who find jobs or advance in their current positions after acquiring computer literacy skills
- Number of adult learners who use their computer skills to communicate with family members
- Number of adult learners who start their own businesses after acquiring computer literacy skills
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. | – Number of adult learners enrolled in computer literacy classes – Number of adult learners who improve their computer skills |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | – Number of adult learners who find jobs or advance in their current positions after acquiring computer literacy skills |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. | – Number of adult learners who use their computer skills to communicate with family members – Number of adult learners who start their own businesses after acquiring computer literacy skills |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | – Number of adult learners who improve their computer skills – Number of adult learners who use their computer skills to communicate with family members – Number of adult learners who start their own businesses after acquiring computer literacy skills |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: redlandsdailyfacts.com
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