I am casting around for some ideas about what to do during Adult Learners week – which is later in the year, but the grant applications have to be submitted this week, in order to ‘fish’ for money to support an event…
Anyone got any good ideas?
I have asked my students but not got much excitement happening there, yet…
I doubt they will want to be involved. Also, by the time that week rolls around (September, I believe), I may have largely a different group of students in my class. So it needs to be an idea (or 2) that I can initiate and maybe manage mostly myself.
Come to think of it, I’m sure 1 or 2 of my volunteer tutors would help me.
“What is my aim?” I need to ask myself…
To reach people in my community who could use our services, but who either don’t know we exist, or don’t realise that they could actually enjoy attending…
That’s probably number 1 priority.
To increase enrolments, or at least to increase the interest that will lead to enrolments, from people who NEED to be with us.
SO, I ask myself: “Who are they (these people)?”
I need to work that out… Would really like some good up-to-the-minute demographic info about my area/my town. I wonder where I can get that? I wonder if the population census information from the national Bureau of Statistics is information ‘in the public domain’? I wonder if it is broken down far enough for my needs? I wonder if the local Development Commission would have this info?
Note to self: Must investigate! And ASAP.
Maybe will try to make this into a bit of a class task tomorrow: “What can we find out about ‘ourselves’? “
Event suggestions very welcome, people !!!
7 Comments
19 May 2008 at 3:00 pm
Just adding a comment to myself!: Surfing around, and came across the idea of holding a student awards ceremony during that week (inviting their family and friends, etc). Would give us a goal, to aim to have some students ready to get Certificates, by that week…may be worth considering. Must check Certificate eligibility criteria…
19 May 2008 at 3:06 pm
Have thought of another promo idea, even though it need not have anything to do with Adult Learner’s Week: One of my volunteers drove around town, during a recent street verge rubbish collection, scavenging free/discarded computer parts. He then took them home and assembled them into working computers, and is donating them, one at a time, to my students who don’t have a computer at home. It’s worthy of a news story – that’s if he doesn’t mind. (I think I mentioned already how wonderful these volunteers are.)
20 May 2008 at 5:21 pm
How about a learners’ newsletter? It could be filed with poems, essays, stories, reviews… some long, some short. If you could get $$ to cover your production costs (paper, photocopy, etc….) and postage, it would also serve as a celebration and promotional tool.
Potential learner’s might not read it, but their friends and relations may (not to mention sponsors – do remember to thank the).
Newsletters can celebrate learning, but also they can give voice: learners get to say what does or doesn’t work for them.
23 May 2008 at 11:14 am
Thanks Wendell – I will think about how such a newsletter could be distributed, because that is what would determine whether or not it had an ongoing effect.
23 May 2008 at 1:35 pm
We used to send (mail) it to politicians, civil servants, business leaders (board of trade, etc.). Copies also went to doctor’s offices and other places with waiting areas. The library received a copy. Each leaner also had several copies to distribute as they saw fit.
Most newsletters were four to eight pages (one or two 11″ by 14″ sheets printed on both sides and folded) which was manageable as mail. Although, when I got my hands on it our newsletter ballooned to 24 or 26 pages… making it very expensive in time and other resources. I turned on online publishing to avoid those expenses, although learner blogging has never caught on the way the newsletter did.
Other promotional ideas … ?
What about posters created with digital camera(s) and computers?
You’d probably have to buy (expensive) printing services at the end, but you and the learners could decide on a theme – what you wanted to say – and make mock-ups, drafts… maybe even test drive a draft to see what people think you’re saying. (We once made a set of family literacy posters that the public thought were about tourism… oops!)
Oh, oh… and ask me about the time we sold $250 worth of tickets on a draw for a $1000 bill…. (actually, don’t ask.)
Can you put on a short play and video it – turning it into a short film available online or as part of a powerpoint?
Maybe you could get funds to organize a learners’ committee or conference where they – not the bigwigs – get to make recommendations and eat little sandwiches cut in triangles.
… I’m just full of ideas of things for other people to do… LOL
;P
23 May 2008 at 3:36 pm
Ooo… ooo… Or a calendar. How about a calendar? Photos and text for each of the month. you’d have your same distribution issues, but you’d also be lined up for Christmas / New Years gifts and sales.
K. I’ll stop now.
26 May 2008 at 11:28 am
Please DON’T stop now!
Thanks Wendell. I am considering these ideas, and thinking that, if it is affordable, the magazine idea might be a good one. I will have to look into the costs.
I simply have no idea, nor do I know much about the work involved in the presentation of a magazine – to make it readable, to present it, in such a way that it’s appealing to read.
Fortunately, there are a couple of printers within a block or two of my house, so I will ask them about the costs, and the work involved.
Thank You Wendell.