National Literacy Secretariat - National Funding Stream 2002-2003

BRITISH COLOMBIA

Ms. Linda Mitchell
LITERACY BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIETY
510 West Hastings Street Suite 601
Vancouver,BRITISH COLOMBIA
V6B1L8
Tel. (604) 684-0624

First Steps: Towards a National Literacy Electronic Conferencing Service

The 1996 report ("Needs Assessment for an Electronic Infrastructure for the Canadian Literacy Community"), conducted by Consulting and Audit Canada (CAC), identified the need and support for a Canada-wide electronic infrastructure for literacy. In response to this need, Literacy BC will form a partnership of three key stakeholders: the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD), the AlphaPlus Centre, and the "eLit" conferencing service (a cooperative formed by the Alberta Association for Adult Literacy, Saskatchewan Literacy Network, and Literacy Partners of Manitoba). Literacy BC will set up a steering committee as a decision-making entity with representation from the three stakeholders; and work together to develop consensus around the terms of reference for a research and strategic planning process to determine the best way to create this service. Project staff will establish working collaboration among stakeholders; and develop a future plan of action. The final report will include a concept paper in the form of a proposal for a future plan of action.

Ms. Sylvia Provenski
LITERACY PARTNERS OF MANITOBA
167 Lombard Avenue Suite 998
Winnipeg,MANITOBA
R3B0V3
Tel. (204) 957-5757

Building on Success

Literacy Partners of Manitoba (LPM) will carry out a project aimed at increasing practitioners and public understanding of the unique benefits of the adult and family literacy. The objectives of this project are: 1) to develop new partnerships to increase support to adult literacy programs in Manitoba: Targeted outcomes include increased referrals to programs and donations; 2) to consult with literacy organizations to produce a Manitoba- based response to the Skills and Learning Paper; 3) to improve public awareness by acting as a centralized Information Centre through the provision of services such as: quality newsletters, operation of the LEARN Line to link learners to programs, and the promotion of the Learner Speaker Bureau; 4) to decrease isolation and reduce duplication in the adult literacy field by moderating an electronic network and coordinating by-monthly resource sharing sessions at various programs to encourage peer support and leadership development. The success of each objective will be evaluated against its expected outcome, and a final report will be submitted to the NLS.

Danielle Michaud
FÉDÉRATION D'ALPHABÉTISATION DU NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK INC.
147B Court Street
Grand-Sault, New Brunswick
E3Z 2R1
Tel. (506) 473-4404

Co-operative action in French literacy training in New Brunswick

The Fédération d'alphabétisation du Nouveau-Brunswick (FANB) will conduct a survey of Francophone literacy training boards in New Brunswick to develop a promotional plan and tools to help board volunteers promote literacy training consistently province-wide. To do so, an advisory committee will be formed to prepare a questionnaire for administration to FANB board members to obtain information on their activities, operation, promotion, awareness, communication and volunteer recruitment programs. The survey will also include a major family literacy training component. In particular, we will try to determine the role that boards can play in this area. The survey results will then be compiled, analysed and publicized at a provincial meeting with the boards. A final survey report including avenues for action to produce the plan and promotional tools will be distributed to literacy training boards and various provincial literacy training partners as well as being available on the FANB Web site and at the resource centre. In addition, press releases will be sent to the media. Analysis of the data collected in the survey and the extent to which project objectives have been met will determine project success.

Mr. Charles Ramsey
NATIONAL ADULT LITERACY DATABASE INC. /
BASE DE DONNÉES EN ALPHABÉTISATION DES ADULTES INC.
Scovil House 703 Brunswick Street
Fredericton,NEW BRUNSWICK
E3B1H8
Tel. (506) 457-6900

Applying New Technology to the NALD SmartSite

The National Adult Literacy Database Inc. (NALD) has been in existence since 1989 and has existed in its current model, as a World Wide Web-based information and resource and distribution system since 1995. NALD is on the brink of a new era in provision of service to the literacy community in Canada on the World Wide Web. A national evaluation of NALD's services has recently been completed and the results will provide NALD with the opportunity to meet more closely the needs of the users. This project will permit NALD to evaluate the data of the evaluation and build a three-year plan that will be submitted to the NLS by September 2002. NALD will begin the conversion of some of its technology and structure to meet the demands of the new generation of technology, and the growing sophistication of the NALD user contingent. NALD will also: 1) create fifteen new web sites for literacy organizations across Canada, 2) add and reshape the collection of existing resources so they become more accessible, 3) increase the Francophone content and 4) establish a network of people to help seek other sources of funding. This project will provide the technology infrastructure and support to the literacy community in Canada in both official languages.

Mrs. Marian Zaichkowski
NEW BRUNSWICK COALITION FOR LITERACY
944 Prospect Street West
Fredericton,NEW BRUNSWICK
E3B9M6
Tel. (506) 457-1227

Building Literacy Capacity in New Brunswick

The New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy (NBCL) will undertake initiatives designed to enable growth, and to create dialogue and cohesion within the New Brunswick literacy community. To do this, the NBCL will develop and test a tool kit that literacy programs across the province can use to raise awareness for their programs as well as provide them with fundraising strategies. NBCL will establish a content working group that will be responsible for consulting with community partners and conducting environmental scans to gather information on already developed resources. These materials will be tested with a focus group to obtain feedback on the appropriateness of the materials. NBCL will then undertake the implementation phase of the above-mentioned toolkit. Workshops and training materials to support the tool kit will be developed, and approximately twenty literacy facilitators will be recruited to participate. A "Train the Trainer" course will also be offered to community based literacy workers and volunteers, to train them on how to promote the toolkit and resources, so to properly integrate them into their respective literacy programs. In addition, NBCL will deliver the Foundational Training in Family Literacy, developed by the Centre for Family Literacy in Alberta. This will include providing professional development workshops to family literacy practitioners in the province on best practices and theoretical issues related to family literacy. Lastly, NBCL will develop and pilot a family literacy workshop package to be delivered as a community clinic model, where parents of pre-school aged children will learn about the importance of early reading and learning. NBCL will pilot the clinics in three rural communities, as well as train others so to sustain the project for the future. The project components will be evaluated, using such tools as workshop evaluation forms, feedback and participation monitoring.

Ms. Susan Toews
ALPHAPLUS CENTRE
2040 Yonge Street 3rd Floor
Toronto,ONTARIO
M4S1Z9
Tel. (416) 322-1012

Alpharoute Pilot Partnership with College of the Rockies 2002- 2003

Alpha Plus Centre will pilot a partnership with the College of the Rockies literacy program in British Columbia for the development, promotion and delivery of AlphaRoute, Alpha Plus Centre's online interactive literacy learning environment, outside of Ontario. Alpha Plus will act as the project coordinator and steering committee leader for this pilot project. Alpha Plus will organize and deliver a two-day training session to College of the Rockies staff to train them on how to use AlphaRoute, as well as provide them with on-going support and guidance through conference calls and online symposiums. They will also develop data collection tools and methods, and train the College staff on collecting meaningful research data during the pilot. The data will then be compiled and included in a report on AlphaRoute usage outside of Ontario that will be available through Alpha Plus' library and website. Alpha Plus will also determine the current use, expertise and interest in e-learning for adult literacy of the partner involved in the pilot, as well as the concerns and needs surrounding this issue, and include this information in another report. Feedback from piloting agencies, as well as the success with which working relationships with them will have been established will determine the project's effectiveness.

Mr. Alexandre Reeves
CANADA POST CORPORATION
2701 Prom Riverside Drive
Suite/Bureau N0610
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1A0B1
Tel. (613) 734-3491

Canada Post Literacy Awards

The 2002 Canada Post Literacy Awards will celebrate literacy achievements of Canadians in four categories, Individual Achievement, Educator, Community Leadership and Business Leadership. They will do this through a national awards program. Canada Post will work with local literacy organizations across the country to organize awards presentation events in September and October, beginning with International Literacy Day. The NLS is the sponsor of the Community Leadership award, which honours the long-term achievement, innovation, leadership and organizational excellence of up to 13 non-profit, volunteer or labour organizations across the country who have furthered the cause of literacy. This project supports promotion and public awareness of literacy through highlighting the accomplishments of the literacy community and promoting literacy through coverage in local and national media. Other entities such as Health Canada, Lowe-Martin Group, National Post, Les Affaires and MacLeans are providing support to the Canada Post Literacy Awards.

Dr. Julius Buski
CANADIAN TEACHERS' FEDERATION
2490 Don Reid
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1H1E1
Tel. (613) 232-1505

Hit the Books - 2002

The Canadian Teachers' Federation through the "Hit the Books" literacy program distributed 325,000 activity books and 1.2 million bookmarks and posters to schools and literacy organizations across Canada. This year it will support educators across Canada by developing and distributing literacy promotional and learning materials that will encourage reading across the country. Hit the Books, edition 2002 will include different modules such as: a Space module for the Montreal Expos' activity book; a Geology module where readers will enjoy digging into the world of earth and sciences; and a Language Arts module with a number of challenging activities. The CTF will also target the younger reader by developing a Word Workbook including puzzles and word games that will help strengthen their reading skills. These materials will be developed in cooperation with teachers and students and also by using role models, players from the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos baseball team. They will also develop a website page facilitating tutor exchange of information sharing of ideas on using the Hit the Books materials. An evaluation form will be developed and distributed with the materials. A final written report with a copy of all the materials developed will be submitted to the NLS.

Mrs. Leigh Poirier
CANADIAN TOY TESTING COUNCIL
22 Anteres Drive
Suite 102
Nepean,ONTARIO
K2E7Z6
Tel. (613) 228-3155

The Importance of Reading with Children(Supplement)

The annual Toy report of the Canadian Toy Testing Council will be enhanced with the introduction of a 20 pages supplement describing ways to encourage children to read. It will also include a list of new children's books selected with the help of the Canadian Library Association. The basic premise behind the project is to show children that learning is fun. The supplement will represent a major statement about family literacy and herald a significant partnership that will carry this message into the millennium. Every attempt will be made to reach both parents and their children through a national media conference a year- long promotional campaign, and the substantial networks of the sponsors. The SUPPLEMENT will provide an opportunity for the organization to make the bilingual booklet available on their web site and print an extra 15,000 copies for distribution.

Madame Yolande Clément
CENTRE FRANCO-ONTARIEN DE RESSOURCES EN ALPHABÉTISATION (FORA)
432, avenue Westmount Unité H
Sudbury,ONTARIO
P3A5Z8
Tel. (705) 524-3672

National distribution service (ATN)

The Centre franco-ontarien de ressources en alphabétisation (FORA) will make its national distribution service better known to organizations working in adult literacy and basic skills (LBS) in Francophone Canada. The service distributes Alpha-Trousses to allow organizations to review and consult newly published documents in the field as well as other appropriate and relevant adult education documents. In the course of the project, the Centre FORA intends to individually contact at least 100 adult basic training organizations in Francophone Canada, distribute 100 to 120 Alpha-Trousses nationally, distribute 300 to 400 advertising mailouts and establish from 20 to 30 partnerships for distribution of new documents. The Centre FORA will also participate in one or two fairs, design advertisements for journals, newsletters and newspapers and solicit book donations from literacy centres and publishers. The distribution service will be evaluated using forms sent to all Alpha-Trousse recipients.

Mr. David Walden
COMMISSION CANADIENNE POUR L'UNESCO/CANADIAN COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
Boite postale 1047
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1P5V8
Tel. (613) 566-4414

Intenational Adult Learners Week - Canadian launch

Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCU) will be launching the Canadian International Adult Learners' Week (ALW), sheduled September 8 to 14 each year. This project will be funded equally by the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS), the Office of Learning Technologies (OLT), and Learning Strategies Support (LSS). Partners in the project include provinces and territories, and a wide range of adult education NGOs and institutions. International Adult Learners' Week, currently celebrated in a number of countries, will promote the culture of education and lifelong learning in all sectors of society. Activities promoting International Adult Learners' Week to the media and various networks will draw on an information kit, a web site and a pan-Canadian launching event. The information kit will include a wide range of information about adult learning, Knowledge Matters and HRDC's learning activities and programs. The Web site will provide links to ALW activities in other countries as well as links to learning programs and resources in Canada. The Pan-Canadian event will serve to promote ALW, both to the media and the various networks. The success of the event will be evaluated at a post-mortem meeting in the fall 2002 and will be based on feedback received from partners.

Dr. Anne Golden
CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA
255 Smyth Road
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1H8M7
Tel. (613) 526-3280

Best Practice National Workshop on Literacy

The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) is a national not-for-profit applied research organization which has a mission to help build leadership capacity for a better Canada by creating and sharing insights on economic trends, public policy issues, and organizational performance. The CBoC will organize and host a Best Practices National Workshop on Literacy to be held from October 2 to 4, 2002. The workshop will provide a public forum to bring together leaders and practitioners in literacy, government, NGO's, national associations, business and labour to share information and learn about best practices. The workshop will provide the literacy community in Canada the opportunity to highlight best practices in literacy in areas such as program delivery, family literacy, adult literacy, workplace literacy, and research. This gathering will result in raising awareness of the importance of investing more in literacy skills development among government officials, employers, unions and communities. It will also provide the opportunity to build the connections between workplace, family and other issues related to literacy such as health, justice, disability, culture and Aboriginal. The Conference Board of Canada will submit a written report including all workshop findings and all other research data resulting from this initiative.

Mr. Terry Barnhardt
FIRST NATIONS TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - OHAHASE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Old York Road R.R.#1
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory,ONTARIO
K0K1X0
Tel. (613) 396-2122

National Aboriginal Literacy Activities

First Nations Technical Institute in partnership with the National Aboriginal Design Committee (NADC) will formalize the business plan that was drafted as a result of National Aboriginal gatherings of the past year. The plan will include strategies and literacy activities that will help enhance the literacy skills of the Aboriginal people in Canada. They will also develop a position paper on Aboriginal Literacy that will identify and address the literacy requirements of potential learners and provide opportunities to share information on a continuous basis. This paper will also include statistics pertinent to Aboriginal literacy models and detailed recommendations for action. This paper will be synthesized and shared with the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, the Aboriginal literacy movement in Canada and the National Literacy Secretariat. This project will provide the opportunity to: 1) provide support to Aboriginal literacy practitioners, learners and elders across Canada; 2) network with stakeholders in Aboriginal literacy and 3) conduct informal research to support these initiatives. This project will help meet the needs of aboriginal learners in the areas of resources, methodologies, consultative support, professional development and networking opportunities. The organization will develop a specific questionnaire for each initiative and will include the results of the evaluation in the final report.

Ms. Wendy DesBrisay
MOVEMENT FOR CANADIAN LITERACY
180 Metcalfe Street
Suite 300
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K2P1P5
Tel. (613) 563-2464

MCL Literacy Action Plan 2002-2003

The Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL), a national, non-profit organization that has been representing literacy coalitions, organizations and individuals from across Canada since 1978, will assist in developing a vision and agenda for advancing literacy in Canada. It will consult with member coalitions, learner representatives, and the wider literacy community to develop a framework for a national literacy agenda to complement the federal government's initiatives around "Knowledge Matters" and the Skills and Learning Agenda. MCL will disseminate information through six issues of a policy bulletin ("Federal Literacy Facts"); ensure that the interests of the literacy community are well represented; organize and coordinate Literacy Action Day by developing a media and communications strategy; provide a forum to address the needs of provincial/territorial literacy coalitions through a two-day meeting of the Executive Directors of member coalitions; and develop a database on national statistics on literacy delivery. MCL will also strengthen learner representation through a workshop run by the Manitoba Learner Speakers' Bureau and through involvement with the upcoming UNESCO's Adult Learners' Week. In addition, MCL will produce and distribute four issues of their newsletter, "Literacy.ca"; develop partnerships with non-literacy national organizations; and establish a planning committee to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Project activities will be evaluated through a year-end survey, documentation of materials, and through feedback from stakeholders.

Mr. Bob Rice
NINGWAKWE LEARNING PRESS
237897 Inglis Falls Road R.R. # 4
Owen Sound,ONTARIO
N4K5N6
Tel. (519) 372-9855

Story Keepers

The Ningwakwe Learning Press, an organization focused on producing learning materials for adult Native learners, will work with Storykeepers Productions and Centre Alphaplus to produce, distribute and promote a video series, study guide and teacher resources based on the aboriginal television program Storykeepers: Conversations with Aboriginal Writers. The 13 part-half-hour TV series profiling Aboriginal authors and storytellers and their works will be re-packaged and re-formatted for video. Ningwakwe will also develop literacy practitioner resources and study guides to accompany the videos. The project aims to help increase literacy in Aboriginal communities across the country using Aboriginal literature to motivate learners. The episodes will feature interviews with well-known and emerging writers, profile books, explore different writing styles and tell stories, both ancient and contemporary. The result will be culturally relevant learning materials for literacy practitioners to use in the classroom. Ningwakwe will work with Centre Alphaplus to market and promote the materials to Aboriginal literacy organizations in Canada. The resource material will also be available on the Storykeepers website. The distribution of the material will be tracked and testimonials from literacy programs will be collected as part of the evaluation.

Mr. Sean Wilson
ONENESS-WORLD COMMUNICATIONS
298 Dalhousie Street
Box 52066
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1N7E7
Tel. (613) 562-3844

Ottawa International Writers Festival

Oneness-World Communications will organize the sixth Ottawa International Writers Festival which will take place between September 17 and 28, 2002. The organizers will develop partnerships with a select number of corporate partners along with embassies and the federal, provincial and regional governments. This festival is a proven vehicle for the promotion of literacy. It brings together the young and old, connecting professionals, students and tourists from around the world in a unique celebration. This festival was the first literary event to embrace and showcase the writing of adult literacy learners. This year, in collaboration with "La Nouvelle Scene", Ottawa's premiere francophone arts centre, the organization will develop workshops aimed at encouraging and promoting family literacy. These workshops will include readings, discussions and on-stage interviews with some of the world's finest writers. They are also partnering with the Ottawa Public Library to organize events that will include reading, storytelling, bookmaking and science literacy throughout libraries in the community. This initiative will encourage parents to help their children improve their reading and writing skills. Oneness-World Communications will develop a questionnaire and distribute to all attendees to evaluate the effectiveness of this initiative. A written final report with the result of the evaluation will be submitted to the NLS.

Ms. Mary Wiggin
OTTAWA-CARLETON COALITION FOR LITERACY
107-211 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1R6H5
Tel. (613) 233-3232

Literacy - The Cover Story

The Ottawa-Carleton Coalition for Literacy (OCCL) will undertake a project to provide information to the public about literacy issues in Canada through the magazine Ottawa Life. A six-page cover story on adult literacy in Canada, including statistics and interviews with literacy practitioners will run in the June issue of the magazine and a follow-up piece profiling winners of the 2002 Canada Post Literacy Awards will run in the September issue. Copies of the piece will be distributed across the country, including copies to business professionals and national organizations. This project will increase public awareness about literacy issues by reaching the general public through a mainstream magazine and provide information to potential learners and their family and friends. OCCL will track the referral calls to its ABC Line, and Ottawa Life will track feedback through letters to the Editor.

Ms. Anna Bowles
OTTAWA-CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (OCDSB)
Continuing Education Department
440 Albert Street
Ottawa,ONTARIO
K1R5B5
Tel. (613) 239-2656

CONNECT, Canada's Resource Publication on Technology and Adult Literacy

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) proposes to produce a new volume of CONNECT, Canada's Resource Publication on Technology and Adult Literacy, and will develop a website to support the appropriate use of technology in literacy programs across Canada. The website will contain a summary of current and previous volumes of CONNECT. This publication will provide technical information that will help practitioners and students become proficient at utilizing this technology. It will also include research and curriculum information helping practitioners determine effective ways to integrate technology into literacy instruction. This volume of CONNECT will also deliver a comprehensive set of work processing instructions sheets that could be used as a curriculum guide for literacy programs who want to help learners achieve basic work processing skills necessary in today's technologically-based society. CONNECT will be produced in clear non-technical language and distributed in a paper format to nonprofit literacy programs across Canada. The effectiveness of the publication will be measured from survey results, emails, letters, phone calls and ongoing contact from the existing advisory committee. A final written report with a copy of each publication will be submitted to the NLS.

Mr. Eric Willis
STONG COLLEGE, YORK UNIVERSITY,TORONTO
4700 Keele Street
Toronto,ONTARIO
M3J1P3
Tel. (416) 736-5132

Living Literacies Conference (Supplement)

Stong College, in partnership with York University and Frontier College as an expert in the field of literacy, will develop, organize and host an international conference entitled" The Philosophy of Literacy: Literacies in the 21st Century". They will invite a wide range of international speakers, teachers, philosophers, writers, activists, students and performers to discuss and debate the philosophy of literacy. They will hold a series of lectures, talks, seminars, workshops, performances, debates, on the many literacies that are now emerging in the electronic environment. This conference will also bring together individuals from many parts of our society to emphasize the importance of building bridges between people. This will result in an event that will bring cultural and social significance to stimulate and pursue debate in politics and the media about what literacy means to the world. A written report on all the proceedings of the conference and the series of workshops and lectures surrounding the event will be submitted to the National Literacy Secretariat and shared with the literacy community across the country and also with the international partners. This SUPPLEMENT will provide the organization with the opportunity of producing a publication with all the highlights of this international gathering. It will also enable the college to guarantee and maintain accessibility to all constituent members of the literacy movement in Canada by keeping the registration fee at a minimum.

Ms. Glenna Janzen
VERMONT SQUARE PARENT-CHILD MOTHER GOOSE PROGRAM
720 Bathurst Street
Suite 402
Toronto,ONTARIO
M5S2R4
Tel. (416) 588-5234

The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program Model Regional Development Project

The Vermont Square Parent-Child Mother Goose Program (P-CMGP) enables parents to gain the skill and confidence necessary to instil in their children, through the use of rhymes, songs and stories, a love of language during their crucial early years that sets the stage for reading and writing later on. The goal of this project is to develop a model for cooperation between the P-CMGP National Office and P-CMGP provincial organizations, as well as a model for partnerships among various service providers in the health, family literacy and community development fields. This model will be developed in British Columbia with the intention to be used in the future as a model for regional development in provinces and territories across Canada. The British Columbia Council for Families will be the lead/host agency for the project and will involve P-CMGP National Resource & Training Centre in all aspects of the project. An Advisory Committee for the P-CMGP in British Columbia will be established, and meetings with Literacy BC, community organizations, foundations and private businesses will be held. Standards of practice, training models, and a database of P-CMG programs will be developed as a result of this project. Also, three 10-week mentoring sessions will be offered to new P-CMG programs, and a regular newsletter will be issued via Internet and mail to British Columbia leaders. In order to evaluate the project, P-CMGP leaders, agency management and mentoring site leaders and managers will be interviewed about the services provided through this project. An evaluation questionnaire will also be developed to obtain feedback from participants on the mentoring sessions.

Mr. James W. Sanders
WORLD BLIND UNION OF CANADA
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto,ONTARIO
M4G3E8
Tel. (416) 480-7587

To Develop Print Accessibility Standards

The World Blind Union of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), the Ontario College of Art and Design and the University of Waterloo School of Optometry will undertake a project to develop better visual materials for people with low vision. The results of the research will provide data required to establish preliminary typographic standards and recommendations for print material, will build upon the CNIB Standards Manual and form the basis of further research leading to a Typographic Standards Handbook for national and international distribution. Text presentation elements, for example text size and fonts, will be tested with 200 visually impaired people in common real world applications such as books, instruction manuals, food and medicine labels. The outcome of the research will be presented in a report. In order to raise awareness of the issues related to literacy and vision loss, the second component of the project involves co- ordinating events to promote Braille literacy for International Literacy Day 2002 in Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

Charlotte Ouellet
ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE D'ÉDUCATION DE LANGUE FRANÇAISE
268 Marie-de-l'Incarnation Street
Quebec City, Quebec
G1N 3G4
Tel. (418) 681-4661

National literacy development internship

The Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française, a Canada-wide organization working to promote and develop French-language education in Canada's ten provinces and three territories, plans to organize a literacy development internship for trainers and managers working in minority Francophone communities. The five-day internship will enable approximately 20 participants to take individualized training on four major topics: identity, Frenchness and literacy training; identity, language and culture; the challenges of literacy training; and family literacy. Special workshops will also be offered for trainers and managers. The internship, organized in co-operation with the Fédération canadienne pour l'alphabétisation en français, is supervised by a committee of resource people responsible for course content preparation, planning for the event and its evaluation. Project evaluation will be based on workshop evaluation forms completed by participants and facilitators.

Renald Legendre
CENTRE D'ÉTUDES, DE RECHERCHE ET DE CONSULTATIONS LEXICOLOGIQUES EN ÉDUCATION (CERCLE)
Université du Québec à Montréal
1205 St-Denis Street
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 3R9
Tel. (514) 987-3000

Literacy training vocabulary definition, update and development

The Centre d'Études, de Recherches et de Consultations Lexicologiques en Éducation (CERCLE) plans to continue terminology research to develop and update the vocabulary used in literacy training, thus enhancing the section on this area in the Dictionnaire actuel de l'éducation. Approximately 70 of the most common terms are to be analysed, summarized and added to the 150 already analysed. The proposed process is an exhaustive literature review followed by studies and expert exchange to agree on a definition with explanatory notes. This involves identifying a concept or term, rather than classifying a term from an indexing point of view, which is the objective of a thesaurus. Five or six recognized, respected specialists in the area of research in education and literacy training will participate in the exchange and definition work, subject to expanded consultation with the literacy training community. This project meets a pressing need for consistency in French literacy training vocabulary.

Rosalie Ndejuru
CENTRE DE DOCUMENTATION SUR L'ÉDUCATION DES ADULTES ET LA CONDITION FÉMININE
110 Ste-Thérèse Street Suite 101
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 1E6
Tel. (514) 876-1180

Literacy training community ownership and enhancement of information

The Centre de documentation sur l'éducation des adultes et la condition féminine (CDEACF) plans to develop a series of activities to meet information and training needs of trainers and learners in the whole literacy training network in Quebec. To do so, the CDEACF will increase the distribution of kits on the productions of literacy training groups and school boards, implement self-serve mini-libraries for learners and also conduct awareness activities, in co-operation with public libraries, for illiterate individuals and produce various facilitation activities for use of the book and technical support. Aiming to create a virtual library of 3,000 new titles, the CDEACF also wants to train and support the staff of literacy training organizations in document research and management. Finally, the CDEACF will continue to ensure the development and administration of the French literacy training collection, in partnership with educational and documentary networks in Quebec and Canada. The completion of these activities will be closely tracked by a newly-appointed board of directors and assessed by a series of performance indicators specific to each activity.

Jean-Marc Lord
GAZETTE POPULAIRE INC.
942 Ste-Geneviève
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
G9A 3X6
Tel. (819) 375-4012

Senior citizens: Clients adversely affected by social exclusion and illiteracy

The Gazette populaire, in partnership with another community newspaper, a literacy training group and the Social Communication department of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières plans to raise awareness among people in the Mauricie region of the high rate of illiteracy affecting the 55 to 69 age group and to promote the distribution of information on existing programs, services and resources in the area. A one-page article will be published each month for six months in the Gazette and the Bulletin des Chenaux, two community newspapers with a circulation of 78,000, an awareness and resource guide published and distributed as an insert in the two newspapers and a Web page established on-line at the Gazette Internet site. The project also aims to promote inter-generational links by soliciting and using the reporting talents of young people registered in literacy training. Finally, the project as a whole will run for a seven-month period, instead of the 12 months planned, under the supervision of an editorial committee of volunteers involved in partner organizations and other literacy training groups in the area.

Denis Thériault
GROUPE ACTION POUR S'EN SORTIR INC.
630 des Mésanges Street
St-Lambert-de-Lévis, Quebec
G0S 2W0
Tel. (418) 889-8161

Alpha Media No. 1, English version

Groupe Action pour s'en sortir inc. on Quebec's south shore will adapt and translate into English multimedia interactive software for progressive learning of French-language and mathematics concepts already produced on CD-ROM under the name "Alpha-Média." To do so, it will rely on participation by various resource people: two programmer-script integraters, six actor-narrators for links and animation, a sound technician and a co-ordinator and will also use video-editing for synchronization and a recording studio. The software was based on functional situations and tasks in everyday life, as defined in the Quebec Department of Education customized training guide. Francophone groups and school boards have welcomed the production, as attested by the sale of 70 copies in two months. The same reaction can be expected from Anglophone organizations in Quebec and eventually in Canada.

Colette Dubuisson
GROUPE DE RECHERCHE SUR LA LSQ ET LE BILINGUISME SOURD DE L'UQAM
320 Ste-Catherine Street East
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 1M5
Tel. (514) 987-6660

French-language courseware for adults with hearing impairments (Supplement)

The Groupe de recherche sur la LSQ et le bilinguisme sourd de l'UQAM will design, evaluate and distribute language-learning courseware to help persons with hearing impairments recognize and understand basic written French vocabulary more fully in order to improve their reading performance. The courseware will approach learning from a bilingual perspective, using sign language and iconicity as an instructional, linguistic and metalinguistic resource to deal with written French vocabulary, from a French second language teaching perspective. The project is supported by Francophone literacy training centres for adult clients with hearing impairments; a significant sample of those clients will evaluate and validate each component of the courseware content, which targets elementary division two knowledge and skills. The Supplement will be used to insert an "activity follow-up" section in the courseware for persons with hearing impairments, to record and assess user progress. Insertion of the section involves changes in the current programming and the addition of new graphics.

Mr. Claude Lauzon
LAUBACH LITERACY OF CANADA
60-C Elizabeth Street
Bedford,QUEBEC
J0J1A0
Tel. (450) 248-2898

Helping Youth Help Youth - Partnership Potential

Laubach Literacy of Canada (LLC) will conduct a needs assessment to determine the literacy program needs of youth service agencies (YSAs), in order to provide direction in planning the growth of LLC's youth programs and creating partnerships with community-based YSAs across Canada. The needs assessment will involve a literature review of studies on at risk youth, an assessment of the literacy services offered by YSAs and a focus group comprised of youth being served by these agencies. It will aim to define: which community organizations have the capacity/capability to partner in incorporating literacy into their programs; the tools for Laubach to partner with community based organizations; the literacy tutoring needs of local learning/community centres; and the capacity of Laubach's youth programs to meet those needs. LLC will also develop a database of youth service agencies across Canada, as well as review the methods and materials used in their peer youth tutoring programs, to determine the relevancy of these programs within YSAs and to ascertain what other materials may need to be developed. This project will increase the depth and breadth of Laubach's youth programs as well as the involvement of youth service agencies in addressing the literacy needs of the youth they serve. The evaluation of the entire project will focus on the analysis of the results of the needs assessment.

Ms. Robin Jones
LAUBACH LITERACY OF CANADA
60-C Elizabeth Street
Bedford,QUEBEC J0J1A0
Tel. (450) 248-2898

Volunteer Inservicing and Training for Adult Literacy (VITAL) Projects

Laubach Literacy of Canada (LLC) will carry out four projects in the area of volunteer literacy delivery, through learners, tutors, trainers, and Laubach councils/provincial organizations. In the first project, LLC will: establish a volunteer-based network of support systems to provide volunteer literacy tutors with the information and resources they require to improve their skills; develop and field-test leadership workshops for literacy learners; develop and pilot a program that will provide volunteers with tools, such as criteria, guidelines, documentation and workshops, to create partnership with organizations who service or employ potential adult learners; and research and develop an evaluation tool kit and tracking process for adult literacy learners. The second project consists of two main activities: supporting the training and certification of volunteer tutors and trainers; and conducting research to revise LLC's current Volunteer Tutor Literacy Training workshop content and certification process in order to adapt it to the emerging trends in the volunteer literacy sector. The third project is a communication and information sharing project to maintain and enhance the ongoing communication between LLC and its membership and supporters. LLC will publish and distribute four issues of their national newsletter to 10,000 members, as well as produce three brochures, two posters and bookmarks. In the fourth project, LLC will publish, promote and distribute an easy-to-read book, written by an adult learner, that will focus on practical life skills for literacy learners. Several evaluation processes will be used throughout these projects to ensure that the activities are on track, to bring modifications when necessary and to determine the success of the various initiatives.

Ms. Renée Yardley
LITERACY PARTNERS OF QUEBEC
4855 Kensington Avenue
Montreal,QUEBEC
H3X3S6
Tel. (514) 369-7962

Family Literacy - Outreach and Training 2002-2003

Literacy Partners of Quebec (LPQ) will develop a comprehensive program of outreach and training that will combine best practices in Family Literacy and Volunteer Management in order to promote family literacy in English Quebec. This project will provide a series of proven and effective family literacy training sessions to practitioners in community organizations and school boards. The following training programs will be offered: 1) Volunteer Recruitment and Management; 2) Family Literacy Awareness; 3) Parent/Child Mother Goose Program to be offered in partnership with The Montreal Children's Library; and 4) Creating a Learning Culture in the Home, to be offered in partnership with Laubach Literacy of Canada/Quebec and the Yamaska Literacy Council. LPQ will hire a Family Literacy Training Co-ordinator to: co-ordinate, plan and schedule all training sessions; act as a facilitator during and following the training sessions; oversee the co-ordination of family literacy activities at the various sites as programs are put into place following training; and supervise programs as required in order to ensure standards of practice and application. LPQ will also work with community organizations and school boards to establish strong infrastructures to enable them to incorporate family literacy practices into their program. An evaluation questionnaire will be developed to obtain feedback from participants at the end of the training. The project co-ordinator will do an analysis of all the evaluations and will as well assess the entire project.

Phuoc Thi Nguyen
SERVICE D'INTERPRÈTE D'AIDE ET DE RÉFÉRENCE AUX IMMIGRANTS (SIARI)
6767 Côte des Neiges Road Suite 499
Montreal, Quebec
H3S 2T6
Tel. (514) 738-4763

Macintosh adaptation of the "Canada: Citizenship" CD-ROM

The Service d'interprète d'aide et de référence aux Indochinois (SIARI) will adapt a Macintosh version of the "Canada: Citizenship" CD-ROM already produced in a Windows version in both official languages. It also plans to produce a demonstration version in Windows to promote the product and increase distribution. The CD-ROM, intended primarily for illiterate and under-educated immigrants but which can be used by all adults in training, will be available to all Francophone and Anglophone clients in the country, no matter what type of computer they use, in adult education centres and groups.

Ms. Karen Smith
YUKON LEARN
308 Hanson Street
Whitehorse,YUKON
Y1A1Y6
Tel. (867) 668-6280

Representing and Uniting Literacy in the Yukon

Based on a recently conducted mandate review of the organization, Yukon Learn will revisit its role as the territorial coalition for literacy; position itself to act as the voice of literacy in the Yukon; develop meaningful and long-term partnerships within communities; raise public awareness; and identify professional training needs for literacy workers. As proposed through the recommendations and concerns listed in the mandate review, Yukon Learn will explore ways to meet the challenges posed by vast geographic distances; economic concerns related to transient populations; seasonal work; settlement of First Nations land claims; and the issue of community-based leadership and sustainability. A consultation meeting will be held to offer literacy stakeholders from isolated communities to share information; identify best practices; and develop a future plan of action. The project will also produce a publicly accessible literacy database of delivery agencies and practitioners across the territory; coordinate activities for Literacy Week and Family Literacy Day; publish articles for the Yukon News; and prepare and run short radio plays around literacy in the Yukon. The outcomes of the project will be evaluated through both an internal evaluation process and community feedback. Success will also be determined through attendance at the community consultation meeting and through the level of community interest generated by the initiative.

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