This month we're found a product called Snakes Alive which uses a "Page Turners" approach to online delivery.

(Page turners? Hmm. Sounds like an insult. Let's have a look.)

PageTurners are short, sharp stories specially designed to encourage and interest adult beginning readers and ESL learners. They now available online with an additional voice-over. Together with the interactive website English at the Beach  they are suitable for use in a variety of ways - in and out of class room situations as resources for learners and teachers.

Background
PageTurners is a successful range of books for beginning adult literacy learners, produced by Material Galz, in collaboration with Preston and Reservoir Adult Community Education. In order to attract more readers and offer a fuller service, PRACE supported the production team to develop an online learning resource. They were also supported with funding from LearnLinks, the RMIT learning Network.

The original ‘pageturners’ are short, witty, illustrated books suitable for readers over the age of 15. They were designed and created by ESL and literacy teachers in the adult and community education sector to meet the demand for appropriate reading content. While the original books can be used as a classroom resource or for individual reading the creators wanted to explore the possibilities of online technology in adding interactivity, extending the range of learners and helping them become familiar with essential communication technologies. “Pageturners online’ also provides voice-over to assist beginning readers and links to a website of activities for ESL and literacy adult students.

Aim of 'Page Turners Online'
The team ( PRACE staff and Material Galz)  created an online learning resource - a small website for literacy-learners, consisting of a story with illustrations and interactive activities.

Features of Page Turners

• Fun, easy-to-read stories
  
• For ESL and Literacy students
  
• For adults and young people
  
• Illustrated with entertaining cartoons
  
• A complete word list at the back of each book
  
• Books are fun, attractive and appealing
  
• Created by experienced teachers and writers.
  
• Published by a community education provider - P.R.A.C.E (Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education)

Levels
There are four different levels. All 4 levels are more accessible to beginners than most of the commercially available reading books.  The levels are not related to C.G.E.A. levels.

For example "Snakes Alive" is a story of two friends who go bushwalking and get into trouble. Page Turner books relate to levels one and two of the CGEA, although they are not exactly matched - Snakes Alive is pitched at Page Turners Level 3 - (200 - 300 words in length, 16 - 20 pages, Approx. 200 unique words).

Activities:

• Use a variety of literacy and ESL methodologies;
  
• Involve both recognition and production;
  
• Focus on reading strategies – at word, sentence, paragraph and whole text levels;
  
• "Read-Along" sound component - learners can follow a pre-recorded version of the story.

Click here for a few pages from Snakes Alive!

You can purchase hard copy PageTurners at the web site http://pageturners.prace.vic.edu.au/

Or explore the potential of PageTurners in other learning activities based on "English at the Beach"  http://home.vicnet.net.au/~prace/beach/.  The website consists of a short, illustrated story plus a wide variety of interactive options such as reading quizzes, discussion board, picture searches, extension vocabulary, language and cultural activities.
 
The navigation is designed for beginner (screen) readers and is used in class or small groups as well as independently.

For more information:
PRACE,
(Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education)
PO Box 510 Reservoir, Vic. 3073.
Ph: (03) 9462 6077 Fax (03) 9462 5077