Publications - Working Papers on Literacy

Working Papers on Literacy is an initiative of The Centre Literacy. Though this occasional series of monographs, we hope to broaden perspectives and stimulate debate on literacy-related issues.

Some of the papers in the series will be reprints of articles that have previously appeared in our newsletter, Literacy Across the Curriculum, and have generated interest and requests for copies. Others will be papers that we have produced as outcomes of our research projects.

The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the philosophy of The Centre for Literacy. We welcome responses.

Cognitive tools and the acquisition of literacy

Working Paper on Literacy | Published on 2001
Authored by Kieran Egan, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia

Working Paper No.1

Working Paper on Literacy | Published on 1998
Authored by Harvey J. Graff, Brian V. Street, Stan Jones

Three articles reflecting a debate on literacy between two schools of thought which have been variously called the autonomous and the socio-cultural.

Working Paper No. 3: Behaviour and beliefs of volunteer literacy tutors

Working Paper on Literacy | Published on 1998

The role of volunteers in literacy has not been subject to much systematic research. This qualitative study of volunteers' beliefs and behaviours had the full cooperation of a volunteer organization which was interested in examining itself. The author acknowledges the limitations of the work and cautions against generalizing to all volunteer organizations. However, she has raised questions worth asking in other groups. Beyond the interest of the paper itself, the research has had practical outcomes. The organization studied is using it as the starting point for some critical self-assessment that they hope will lead to improved service provision to their clients. The field can only benefit from such research-practice links. A condensed version of this paper appeared in Literacy Across the Curriculum/Media Focus, Volume 13, No. 3.

Working Paper No. 4 Literacy and ICT: A Discussion Paper

Working Paper on Literacy | Published on 1998
Authored by Chris Abott

This 1998 paper touches on some of the major issues relating to ICT and literacy which had until then been treated as separate subjects. It argues for a convergence of the two and recommends that government agencies coordinate their visions instead of sending contradictory messages to teachers and students. In this new Paper, he has touched on some of the major issues relating to ICT and literacy which have until now been treated as separate subjects. He argues for a convergence of the two and recommends that government agencies coordinate their visions instead of sending contradictory messages to teachers and students. This Paper was included as part of Literacy Across the Curriculumedia Focus, Volume 14, No.1&2.

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