Dear All,
 
I've used the study circle approach in my teaching, training, and
professional development work and have found it to be very useful.  Most
recently, I had a group of health communication graduate students
explore select health literacy topics using a study circle format. 
Students developed guides on a variety of health literacy topics,
including international health literacy, measuring health literacy,
materials development and assessment, etc.  In brief, they explored
issues related to these topics by reading select research article, and
then developing and facilitating a study circle discussion.  
 
In terms of the Health Literacy Study Circle Plus, I was wondering how
the topic of searched for and using health information on the Internet
is covered?  Thanks so much for this informative topic and discussion. 
 
- Sabrina
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------
Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi
World Education
44 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA  02210
617-482-9485
skurtz at worlded.org
 
 


>>> julie_mcKinney at worlded.org 06/20 12:50 PM >>>

Hi Everyone,

It is so nice to hear about the interesting things you are all doing
in
this field! I would like to think about the study circles themselves
and
how they could be used in the different venues that you all represent.


I would like to know if you David, Karyn, Bill and others can see
using
the study circles in your organizations. What do you think of the
study
circle approach to professional development of health educators or
health care providers? Would this work within the culture of your
organization?

How would it work for any of you to do a study circle wth a mixed
group
of health and literacy professionals the way June did? (How
exciting--I
love the idea of health educators, pharmacists, and adult educators
working together to create lessons!)

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? 

Perhaps we can get a better sense of the experience using the study
circles in order to explore this question. If you have questions for
Winston and Lisa and June to help think about it, please ask!

All the best,

Julie

Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
World Education/NCSALL
jmckinney at worlded.org 


>>> JuneW3963 at aol.com 06/20/06 10:06 AM >>>

Dear Colleagues:

I have been enjoying the discussion thus far and would like to add my 
perspective as an adult educator and facilitator of at least four
study
circles in 
the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

I was trained at the LAC by my health literacy mentor and friend, Dr. 
Winston Lawrence. After learning the model and putting it into
practice,
I then 
took Dr. Rima Rudd and Lisa Soricone's suggestions to heart....I used
the 
materials and ran! Our study circles included health professionals,
i.e., 
pharmacists, registered nurses, LPN's, technicians, etc, many of whom
were retired. 
Adding their expertise to that of adult education teachers created
many
Ah Ha 
moments. Powerful? Yes, indeed. The discussion took off in many
different 
directions but always reverted to how can we help low functioning
adults

navigate the health care system, manage chronic diseases, and become 
better able 
to advocate for themselves.

We adapted the lesson plans provided by NCSALL to meet the needs of the


diverse population served in the Hudson Valley. The expertise of the
adult 
educators was invaluable. The convening of three study circles gave
teachers the 
opportunity to not only adapt their lesson plans, but to put them into
practice 
and report back to their colleagues. The lessons became even more
relevant 
with the inclusion of the expertise of the health care professionals as

they 
worked side by side with the adult ed teachers to create lesson plans
that 
were accurate and challenging.

I'm looking forward to following the discussion.

Sincerely,

June White
Director of Adult and Continuing Education
Afton Central School
29 Academy St.
Afton, NY 13730



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