Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h48EVMC22856; Thu, 8 May 2003 10:31:23 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 10:31:23 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <A1064140F022D3118EBE0008C791936404573662@fegsmail1.fegs.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Hacker, Emily" <EHacker@fegs.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2825] Unweaving the Web: Introduction X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Status: O Content-Length: 3949 Lines: 89 Hello List: In preparation for our discussion next week on "Unweaving the Web: An Exploratory Study of Low-Literate Adults' Navigation Skills on the World Wide Web," Christina Zarcadoolas e-mailed me the following introduction and some questions to think about. We will get officially get started with the discussion with Christina, Andrew and Mercedes on Monday. Please get ready to jump in with your comments/questions/ideas so we can have a rich, active dialogue. Thanks, --Emily *************************************************************************** Hello all, Thank you for taking an interest in our work and more importantly, in the web and literacy. Emily said it might be useful for me to post some questions related to web based comprehension that we think about. These questions certainly have propelled our research. We've only begun to answer our own questions. I have asked 2 co-authors, Andrew Pleasant, a communications expert ( Brown and Cornel) and Mercedes Blanco ( Maximus Inc., a cultural competency expert, to join the discussion. I am a sociolinguist ( studies how people use al forms of language - spoken, written, visual) to make meaning. I've spent the last 30 years working in literacy and health and environmental issues. With so many people online and going online it's clear we need to know far more about the usability of this stuff. N. Jakobson's wonderful work ( useit.com) is ongoing and rich. However there is very little research getting published on how less literate people manage on the web nor on how literacy and web reading interface. Here are some questions you might want to keep in mind for our discussion next week. We look forward to your questions and the dialogue. * How are print and web based information similar? * How are they different? * What can web based info do that print material can't? * What "principles" of readability may defy what we know about reading in hard copy? * What do we assume users can do when they're using our websites? * What are common problems in websites? * What characteristics of the web do "we" like - are these preferences shared by low literate users? * What are some principles of written and spoken language at work on the web? * What are some technology fixes to the barriers that the web presents? * Who should be on a web design team? * What areas of future research and discussion are needed to identify how to tailor web sites for comprehensibility? Thanks, Chris Christina Zarcadoolas, PhD Center for Environmental Studies Director, Environmental Literacy Initiative Box 1943 Brown University Providence, RI 02912 (401) 863-7347 fax (401) 863-3503 email: caz@brown.edu ************************************************************ Emily Hacker Moderator - NIFL Technology Director, Learning Technologies F.E.G.S (212)366-8122 ehacker@fegs.org ******************************************************************* Please List Your Job Openings with FEGS at (212)366-8039 If You Are interested in Making a Donation to FEGS to Help Us Continue To Provide Essential Crisis Support Services, please contact Gail Magaliff, COO at (212)366-8551 or send an e-email to gmagaliff@fegs.org PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.fegs.org ************************NOTE************************************** The information contained in this email message is intended only for use of the addressee(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify us by tel (212-366-8400), and discard the original message. Thank you for your cooperation. *******************************************************************
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