I agree about the intuitive nature of Macs. Applications such as  
iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, GarageBand, Keynote, Pages, etc. were designed  
to work together. Your students can create movies, slideshows and  
podcasts using PCs but it is more difficult since all multimedia  
applications were designed by different people so weren't created to  
work together. With a Mac's Media browser found on iMovie, iDVD,  
Keynote, Pages, etc, you and your students can access music, photos,  
and movies and easily pull them into slideshows, podcasts, or other  
multimedia creations.

The newest Macs come with built in cameras that can be used to take  
still pictures, video or used for video chat activities between  
classes. The built in camera can be used in place of a scanner, too,  
if your students hold up a picture, hand drawn poster, or photograph  
in front of the camera. They can do interviews or simulated newscasts  
using the camera and edit what's been taped in iMovie.

Apple's built in Universal Access features found in System Preferences  
can support adult education students, too. It is easy to set a  
keyboard command to read text aloud (any text .... whether it be text  
on any website or on a Word or Pages document as long as it is  
highlighted). The new voice in Leopard, Alex, does not sound at all  
robotic.

You can use keyboard strokes, Command + and Command -, to zoom in or  
out to make text larger or smaller for students who might have vision  
issues.

The Mac also comes with a built in dictionary (complete with  
thesaurus) where the items can be read aloud. And the latest version  
of Safari links to the dictionary so students can easily learn  
definitions of unknown words found on webpages. The new Find feature  
in Safari also makes scanning for specific information very easy.

I think the Mac would be a great addition to any adult education  
program.

Linda

Linda Perry
Beyond The Text, Educational Consulting
http://web.mac.com/linda_perry/
linda_perry at mac.com


On Dec 20, 2007, at 1:51 PM, Marilyn Rymniak wrote:


> I’m sure other Mac users can jump in here –  but for me, the  

> intuitive nature of the Mac’s graphic interface makes using a  

> computer more accessible to a wider swatch of the general  

> population, including learners who have had difficulties with  

> Literacy in general.  Creativity is unleashed.  – Marilyn

>

> Marilyn J. Rymniak

> Project Leader -  NYSED Statewide Professional Development System

> Literacy Assistance Center

> 32 Broadway, 10th Floor

> New York, NY 10004

> Voice: 212-803-3322

> Fax:  212-785-3685

> E-Mail:  marilynr at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

>

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology- 

> bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Mariann Fedele

> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 4:46 PM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 1423] Re: retrospective

>

> Thanks Marilyn, and good to hear from you on the list!

> On the Mac front, I have only one adult literacy program using a Mac  

> based lab, and in was decided in large part by a grant they received  

> to do video making that required IMac editing.

> I know Mac fans are dedicated, what would be your argument for using  

> Macs in an adult ed. setting?

> Best,

> Mariann

>

>

> Mariann Fedele

> Director,

> NYC Regional Adult Education Network

> Literacy Assistance Center

> Moderator,

> NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> 32 Broadway 10th Floor

> New York, New York 10004

> 212-803-3325

> mariannf at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology- 

> bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Marilyn Rymniak

> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 4:27 PM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 1421] Re: retrospective

>

> Great question, Mariann!

>

> For me… there’s no doubt about it … my  “I’m in techno-love” moment  

> came in December 1983  when I first saw that beautiful 18-page  

> brochure inside my Newsweek subscription that month announcing the  

> January 1984 debut of the original Apple Macintosh 128K.  By the  

> time I saw the famous Ridley Scott “Big Brother” commercial on  

> January 22,1984 during halftime of the Raiders-Redskins Super Bowl  

> game, I was sold.  I just had to have a Mac!

>

> The 1984 price was $2,495 US.  It had a beige case containing a 9- 

> inch monitor, and came with a keyboard and mouse and those cute  

> little MacWrite + MacPaint disks (all of which I still have).  An  

> indentation in the top of the case allowed the computer to be lifted  

> and carried.   I still have that little fellow (in storage) with his  

> later siblings (The 512K, the Classic, the Mac SE,  the Mac II and  

> the iMac) along with that beautiful 18-page brochure and the  

> November 1984 Newsweek when Apple bought all 39 pages of advertising  

> to launch their “Test Drive a Macintosh” promotion.

>

> Macintosh unleashed a lot of creative energy in a lot of people –  

> including many educators – Apple is still doing this with ipods and  

> other interactive media devices.

>

> Happy Holidays!!  --  Marilyn

>

>

> Marilyn J. Rymniak

> Project Leader -  NYSED Statewide Professional Development System

> Literacy Assistance Center

> 32 Broadway, 10th Floor

> New York, NY 10004

> Voice: 212-803-3322

> Fax:  212-785-3685

> E-Mail:  marilynr at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

>

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology- 

> bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Mariann Fedele

> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 3:52 PM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 1419] retrospective

>

> Hello all,

> It’s a good time of the year to take stock and reflect. A recent CNN  

> article (link below) begins, “Like a first love or a first car, a  

> first computer can hold a special place in people's hearts. For  

> millions of kids who grew up in the 1980s, that first computer was  

> the Commodore 64. Twenty-five years later, that first brush with  

> computer addiction is as strong as ever.”

>

> For you, what was that first piece of hardware, software, or  

> internet application that captured your imagination and brought you  

> in to the technophile/techie fold?

> When working with your students is there something that is sure to  

> get them hooked and motivated to explore using new technologies?

>

> I was a Commodore 64 owner myself. It was mostly used for playing  

> Pong, but it was fun and was a gateway. How about you?

>

> http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/12/07/c64/index.html

>

>

> Mariann Fedele

> Director,

> NYC Regional Adult Education Network

> Literacy Assistance Center

> Moderator,

> NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> 32 Broadway 10th Floor

> New York, New York 10004

> 212-803-3325

> mariannf at lacnyc.org

> www.lacnyc.org

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Technology and Literacy mailing list

> Technology at nifl.gov

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> Email delivered to linda_c_perry at sbcglobal.net


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