ALRiO E-bulletin #7 - March, 2008
Welcome to the seventh issue of the Adult Literacy Research in Ontario (ALRiO) E-bulletin.
Flexible Learning, E-Learning, Distance Learning in Adult Literacy
Crossing the Great Divides
The report of an in-depth research study of Distance Learning in 4 adult literacy and basic skills programs in Ontario. The research was conducted over a two year period in the following programs.
Community Learning Centre Napanee (Kingston Literacy)
This program provided mentor-assisted literacy learning at a distance to adults in Southeastern Ontario who were in need of life and literacy skills but who had difficulty accessing regular programs due to transportation and scheduling problems.
Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
Adult learners in a large area of Northwestern Ontario, including rural remote and isolated communities, who had difficulty accessing regular literacy programs due to transportation and scheduling issues were successfully reached by the distance learning options offered by this program.
Confederation College
This program developed a delivery model for adults in need of literacy basic skills upgrading as a requirement of social assistance programs and for adults considering postsecondary education.
Centre de formation pour adultes J’aime apprendre inc. (Now CAF+)
Improving accessibility and providing more flexible options for literacy learning services to Francophone communities in the region of Cornwall was the focus of this program, reaching out to adults with transportation and scheduling difficulties.
Download the full report at: http://distance.alphaplus.ca/
Getting Online: Distance Education Promising Practices for Canadian Literacy Practitioners (GO Project)
The GO Project which runs from June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2009 is hosted by Athabasca University, in partnership with Writing Out Loud (Alberta), Capilano College (British Columbia), and Community Literacy of Ontario This project will examine trends, technologies and promising practices in online and distance learning in Canada. A research report and a Promising Practices manual for literacy practitioners will be published at the end of the project – and information will also be made available on the web site at: http://www.nald.ca/gettingonline/
Australian Flexible Learning Framework
A collection of information and links to all aspects of Flexible Learning in adult education
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go
A list of downloadable documents and reports from distance learning projects, programs and initiatives in Canada, Australia and the U.S.
http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/Distance+Learning/Research/?url_expand=2917,105
Literacy and Digital Technologies: Linkages and Outcomes
B. Veenhof, Y. Clermont and G. Sciadas (Statistics Canada)
Using data from the Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey this paper examines relationships between adult literacy skills and the use of information technology.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/56F0004MIE/56F0004MIE2005012.pdf
Adult Learning in Canada: A Comparative Perspective Results from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey
Kjell Rubenson, Richard Desjardins and Ee-Seul Yoon. (Statistics Canada)
This report reviews differences in levels and types participation in formal and informal learning between selected countries and within Canada and notes changes in participation patterns and provides a comparison of findings from the 2003 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey and results from the 1994-1998 International Adult Literacy Survey.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/89-552-MIE/89-552-MIE2007017.htm
Research News
Connecting the Dots: Improving Accountability in the Adult Literacy Field in Canada is a two-year project funded by the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, (HRSDC) and sponsored by The Centre for Literacy of Quebec, Movement for Canadian Literacy, Literacy BC, and Research in Practice for Adult Literacy - BC (RiPAL-BC).
The Project examines the impact of accountability on the adult literacy field across the country and will explore alternative approaches to accountability. Visit the web site for full details of the project.
http://www.literacyandaccountability.ca/
Integrating Equity, Addressing Barriers: Innovative Learning Practices by Unions is the report of a project by the Labour Education Centre (Toronto) and the Work and Learning Knowledge Centre of the Canadian Council on Learning. The report provides a vivid portrait of innovation education programs in Canada’s labour movement and looks at the wide range of programs that are flourishing in unions – helping individual members support in achieving their work, union and personal goals and supporting collective efforts to improve the conditions of all workers.
http://www.laboureducation.org/resources/FINAL%20REPORT%20E%20-%20LEC-CSEW.pdf
The ALRiO Web site, at research.alphaplus.ca, was created by AlphaPlus and the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) to maintain a database on adult literacy research in Ontario and to provide links to information about adult literacy research in Canada and around the world. Literacy practitioners can visit this site to explore adult literacy research in Ontario, to learn about adult literacy research projects, and to share their research work.
If you have questions or comments about ALRiO, please contact us at: research@alphaplus.ca