Entry to English student Yony working on his homework packet at home.
We may not be able to teach classes at Literacy KC but we are striving to provide the best learning opportunities for our students to increase their literacy skills. Many students may not have access to computers in their home and may have limited exposure in using a computer. As Literacy KC launched our distance learning program, we asked students about their access and comfort using a computer to engage in learning. This is what we learned:
- 56% of Literacy KC students have a computer at home
- 41% of Literacy KC students feel comfortable/can independently use a computer for learning
- 57% of Literacy KC students said they are most comfortable learning with paper/pencil materials
Literacy KC has shifted our model of instruction to support the needs of our unique learners. Our instructors have made contact with 96%* of the student body and engaged them in the learning process in a variety of ways:
- We have transformed our instruction to offer online support through instructor-created lessons/videos and continued use of online learning programs.
- We have created various homework packets to meet the needs of each unique learner and mailed them to each student.
- All students are meeting with their class and/or instructor weekly/bi-weekly through conference and/or telephone calls, and video chats.
We are in our fourth week of distance learning. We are inspired by the resilience and commitment of our students. Each student is pushing themselves to navigate this new digital world and they are continuing their goal to increase their literacy skills to meet their goals, and to improve their lives and the lives of their families.
*Data used from Ticket to Read and Entry to English Programs
–Autumn Burton, Director of Programs
To read more in our innovation series, click here to hear from Gillian Helm on Literacy KC’s response to COVID-19, here to hear from J.P. Deckert on creative fundraising, or here to hear from Lindsay Vaughn on advocacy on a state and federal level.