Our Website Planning Doc formatted for Adult Literacy Lessons: Objectives
Project Objectives
Our site planning doc presented as a literacy lesson
After identifying the audience, the next step in planning a document is to define the project objectives. Objectives explain why the project exists and what the author hopes to accomplish.
Why are you doing this? What do you want readers to learn, do, or believe after reading your work?
Background
I volunteered as a literacy coach and received training but had to stop because of other responsibilities. I always felt disappointed that I could not continue that work.
After retiring, I wanted to contribute in a different way. I began building a website that could help volunteer reading coaches who have limited preparation time.
To prepare for this project, I reviewed several literacy resources, including:
- Scholastic – Success with Grammar (levels 1–4)
- Teaching Adults: A Literacy Resource Book (New Readers Press)
- Voyager 1
I also examined older public-domain reading materials. Many of the stories were outdated, so I wondered whether it would be possible to rewrite or create new reading material that would feel more welcoming to adult learners.
---Main Objectives
The main objectives of this project are:
- Save reading coaches time. Provide ready-to-use lessons, exercises, and teaching tools so that volunteer coaches can begin helping a learner quickly.
- Support self-study. Create interactive exercises that allow adult learners to practice reading and spelling independently when a coach is not available.
- Create a positive learning environment. Provide materials that feel practical, encouraging, and respectful of adult learners.
Working on this site also helps me improve my own writing skills. In the future, I hope to write a novel and possibly develop a game based on that story.
Analyzing the Subject
What do you need to learn?
- I have experience with computers, technical writing, and adult education.
- I received training as a reading coach through Niagara Regional Literacy.
- I reviewed several literacy teaching resources to understand common teaching methods.
Visualizing the Deliverable
The deliverable for this project is an interactive literacy website.
Interactive Alphabet
- Introduce the English alphabet and basic sounds.
Word Drills
- Adapt word drills from the public-domain speller The Elementary Spelling Book by Noah Webster.
- Create interactive spelling and pronunciation exercises.
- Add read-aloud sentences using the drill words.
- Use tools such as the Datamuse API to provide definitions, rhymes, and related words.
- Provide printable workbooks so lessons can also be completed offline.
- Show coaches how AI tools such as ChatGPT can help expand lesson plans.
Adult Learning Themes
- Provide reading topics relevant to adult learners.
- Encourage discussions between learners and coaches.
- Use external articles when appropriate.
Writing and Reading Practice
- Include examples of letters, reviews, reports, and short stories.
- Encourage learners to create their own reading material.
Inspirational Material
- Include poetry and reflective writing.
- Introduce critical-thinking exercises in later phases of the project.
Project Scope and Budget
The project grew larger than originally planned because the idea of supporting self-study proved very compelling.
Most of the work has been completed as volunteer time. AI tools such as ChatGPT have helped speed up some tasks and make the project feasible.
The website uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript so that it can be downloaded and run offline in a browser.
Some features depend on internet access (for example online dictionaries or synthesized voice), but the core learning materials remain usable without a connection.
To control the project scope, only about half of the drills from the public-domain spelling book were included in the current phase. Additional drills may be added later.
Coach's Notes
After identifying the audience, the next step in planning a document is defining clear objectives.
Objectives help writers stay focused. They answer the question: "What do I want my readers to gain from this?"
Discussion questions:
- Why is it helpful to define objectives before starting a project?
- Which objective in this chapter seems most important for adult learners?
- How do the objectives influence the design of the website?
Activity:
Ask the learner to imagine a project they might create (a website, article, or report). What do you want your project to accomplish? What would their objectives be?
Encourage them to write two or three clear objectives for their project.
- Website Planning
- Project: guidedreadingjourney.com - a rogue literacy site
- Date: 2019-2024
The steps for planning a document are summarized in the Researching and Gathering Information Chart and the Organizing Information Table from: Markel, Mike. Technical Communications, Bedford/St. Martin's, Boston, MA 2010.