For 23 years, the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (Alta) has continued to thrive, thanks to the work of our committed volunteers and the passion of Alta’s founder and CEO, Paula Lucie-Smith. This was clearly evident at Alta’s annual tutors meeting, held on June 27, where over 100 active and newly trained volunteers came together to chart the way forward into another successful academic year.
Present amidst the volunteers were committed and equally passionate partners, namely Alta’s patron Zalayhar Hassanali and the developers of Alta’s newest innovation, Alta Online.
The hours spent at this year’s tutors meeting included time viewing the Cuban film Maestra, a discussion on Alta’s anti-stigma campaign, and a preview of Alta Online. The film, a documentary on the Cuban literacy campaign, brought volunteers face-to-face with the shared realities of the Cuban literacy campaign of 1961, which in some cases mirrored their own.
If there is one thing that can be said about Alta’s volunteers, it is that they remain undaunted by seemingly difficult situations, and by the end of the film tutors were on their feet fired up with ideas for Alta’s annual student registration.
Long-serving Alta tutor and co-ordinator Noreen de la Rosa, also took the time to share her earliest volunteer memories from when Alta undertook the first national literacy survey in 1994. Even after almost 22 years as a volunteer de la Rosa’s passion for community reach continues to shine bright. Without the longstanding commitment of volunteers like her, Alta could not be the association it is today.
Entering into the world of e-learning with Alta Online would not have been possible without support from Alta tutors, who have continued to feed into the Alta Programme their insight and suggestions on ways to reach students long after they’ve left the classroom. Therefore, it was only natural that tutors would be the first to see how their ideas have today evolved from lessons and student workbooks into an online tool.
The electronic “smartboard,” a donation Alta received in 2013, has been a great asset and last Saturday, it allowed tutors to view the Alta Online software as a typical computer user/student during the demonstration. Tutors saw their routine of phonics and sight word review, dictation, spelling and teaching elements presented with voices and faces that weren’t their own, yet there was no mention of being replaced by computers.
Instead, tutors were intrigued by the ways in which Alta Online can aid and support the delivery of classroom instruction, as well as reach people who may never enter a classroom.
• Have you considered becoming a volunteer or are you interested in joining an ALTA class? New student registration starts Sept 8, 9. Call 624-2582/653-4656 for more info. Volunteer, donate, sponsor a student. Like us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Adult Literacy Tutors Association.