Literacy Support for MIT Students

News Release – 25 March 2004

Literacy Support for MIT Students

A new literacy support programme being developed at Manukau Institute of Technology could provide assistance for students in polytechnics throughout New Zealand.

The dual teaching model has been developed by MIT’s Further Education Department and is being utilised in lectures for students studying the Certificate in Contact Centre Operations programme.

The model brings literacy support into the classroom as a normal part of the programme and addresses literacy gaps as they occur in class.

Further Education Department Literacy Advisor Kathleen Krsinich says MIT has offered one-on-one literacy support to MIT students for two years, but recognised that there were still literacy gaps for many students.

“This new model normalises literacy support for all students and students do not feel judged or humiliated for needing help.”

Under the new model, a literacy tutor works with the vocational lecturer to identify the underpinning literacy skills required. They then work as a team in the classroom to provide these literacy skills as part of the course.

“For example, students need to take notes in a lecture, so tips for note-taking are provided within the lecture. This might include modelling on the whiteboard to show ways of taking notes.”

The dual teaching model began at the beginning of this semester and Kathleen says that already there have been positive results.

“Students are gaining a far greater understanding of subject matter because their literacy skills are being improved. Lessons flow better and we’ve had very positive comments.”

MIT’s Further Education Department has been very proactive in supporting literacy for students and this initiative has received funding from the Ministry of Education’s Adult Literacy Learning Funding Pool.

“The Tertiary Education Commission is very interested in this initiative and the model could be further developed to be replicated in other polytechnics.”

ENDS

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