Adult Literacy

Silicon Goblin Technologies Owner and Chief Goblin Steve Linberg, although a programmer/etc. by profession, has a special history of service to the field of adult literacy. His story goes like this:

In 1993, after about ten years of programming, I was burning out working for big corporate megaclients, and decided to turn to the field of education. I found myself volunteering at a small literacy program called the HALO Center (Holyoke Adult Learning Opportunities) in Holyoke, MA, USA, primarily because they were the first school to return my call. The school itself was tiny: two teachers in a small storefront building on Suffolk St. I taught basic literacy and math to adult learners who were not yet ready to enter the classes.

After about eight months of volunteering, a teaching position opened at the school, and I found myself suddenly stepping into the world of teaching pre-GED and GED-level classes full-time. It was enormously rewarding to be working with adults eager to better themselves. I brought my technology skills into the fold, creating the Center's first website in 1995 and doing a great deal of technical trainings and support for teachers throughout Massachusetts.

In 1997 I was recruited to the National Center on Adult Literacy in Philadelphia, PA to design and build PBS LiteracyLink, a Star Schools project to provide distance learning and training to adult learners and their teachers. I remained in the Philadelphia area for two years, and in 1999 returned to my home in western Massachusetts and founded Silicon Goblin Technologies, through which I continue to serve the field and the private sector as a consultant.

My work on adult-literacy related projects continues, and I also provide discounted web hosting and additional services to the field through my portal site literacytent.org. I believe strongly in the cause of adult literacy and continue to serve the field with technology in whatever capacity I can.