National Adult Literacy Database

The Montreal symposium April 12-13, 2012, explores competencies for training and development professionals in an interactive and intimate setting designed to ensure you’ll learn as much from your co-participants as you will from the program.

Join Harold Stolovitch, PhD, and a panel of expert speakers to discover more about the five core competency areas of the workplace learning profession including: assessing performance needs, designing training, facilitating training, supporting transfer of learning and evaluating training.

This two-day symposium will also explore how the competencies explored might be different for the design of e-learning versus more traditional face-to-face training programs. While the program and materials will be delivered in English, all speakers at this two-day event are bilingual and are happy to address participant questions in either English or French. Furthermoe, tables will be clearly labeled so that participants may complete group work during the workshops in the language of their choice.

Keynote presentations:
* It Ain’t Necessarily So: Science versus Lore in Learning and Performance with Harold Stolovitch, PhD
* The Future of the Training Department with Harold Jarche

Registration online available at: https://www.cvent.com/events/cstd-montr-al-symposium/registration-b180080a9c15430da3d72c85f12b3583.aspx

When
Thursday, April 12, 2012 - Friday, April 13, 2012

The Centre for Literacy and its partners are inviting you to attend their Summer Institute 2012, June 27 to 29 in Montreal.

The Summer Institute 2012 will consolidate the learning from the last three years on Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills (WLES) issues and focus on questions that have been raised through the Centre's and others' research about the roles of political context and workplace culture as factors in program outcomes. Participants will examine several models of WLES that been effective in specific contexts and ask how and why they worked, and why so few transfer well to other settings.

The Institute offers a unique opportunity to share and create knowledge in a collaborative environment with a limited number of participants (100). It builds the program around the experience and expertise of those who register. If you register, you may become a presenter. Participants stay together for three days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours, there are optional sessions with demonstrations, and small group discussions for those who want to explore a specific issue or study a model in greater depth.

If you simply want to listen but not present, they still ask you to identify relevant topics or themes from your own experience to weave into the discussions. Time is allotted each day to talk, reflect and debate with colleagues. You can share information and post displays on free tables, and use the breakfast, lunch, breaks and after-hours sessions to network.

You will leave with a new understanding of the issues, access to new resources, people and practices, and ideas for adaptations and new collaborations in your own milieu.

Online registration is available at http://www.regonline.ca/builder/site/default.aspx?EventID=1040708

To download the poster, go to http://www.centreforliteracy.qc.ca/sites/default/files/SUM_INSTITUTE_2012.pdf

Literacy Partners of Manitoba, in partnership with the Ontario Literacy Coalition, will host a webinar with John MacLaughlin, manager of program, business and partnership development at the OLC and one of the authors of the report Menial No More: A Discussion Paper on Advancing Our Workforce through Digital Skills. With International Adult Learners' Week (March 24-April 1, 2012) around the corner, it is more important than ever to bring adult literacy and essential skills to the forefront in Canada.

When : Tuesday, March 20, at 1 p.m. CDT

Space is limited so reserve your seat at
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/266715014

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

The Northwest Territories Literacy Council is sponsoring an Introduction to Family Literacy Training Institute in the Beaufort Delta Region. Registration is free of charge.

The institute is geared for anyone with an interest in running family literacy programs in their community including:
* Early childhood educators
* Adult educators
* CPNP program staff
* Teachers or educational assistants
* Community health representatives (CHRs)
* Family literacy coordinators
* Aboriginal Head Start program staff
* Preschool Program staff
* Librarians
* Anyone interested in family literacy

Where: MacKenzie Hotel, Inuvik, NT
When: February 20 to 22, 2012

Workshop List:
*Introduction to Family Literacy
*1-2-3 Rhyme with Me
*Choosing Books
*Family Literacy in Your Community
*Science Fun
*Little Chefs
*Storytime Adventures

Registration is limited, so please apply early!
Forms must be received by Monday February 6, 2012. Participants will receive confirmation after that date.

To download the Information and Registration Form (PDF), go to http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/whatsnew/2012/pdf/nwt_fam_lit_train_2012_reg_form.pdf

College Mathieu-SEFFA is offering French for Parents classes in Regina starting February 7, 2012.

Where: Collège Mathieu-SEFFA
When: Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, 2 hours per week
Cost: $150

An orientation session will be held at College Mathieu-SEFFA, 2445, 13th Avenue, Suite 340, Regina, February 3rd (Friday) at 7p.m. with the teacher.

Collège Mathieu-SEFFA is offering French classes for adults in Regina.

When: February 10-April 13 - Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Collège Mathieu-SEFFA.
Cost: $150

An orientation session with the teacher will be held at College Mathieu-SEFFA at 2445 13th Avenue, Suite 340, in Regina on Friday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m.

Aboriginal PRINTS is a family literacy program that explores the many ways in which parents can support their children’s literacy development. APRINTS explores the importance of Aboriginal culture and values and the ways in which families can respect and honour their culture.

The Aboriginal PRINTS program attempts to engage parents by helping them:
• value and explore their Aboriginal heritage;
• understand and become aware of their own strengths as parents;
• understand their vital role in their children’s learning;
• make links between aspects of traditional Aboriginal culture and their children’s literacy development;
• create a literacy-rich environment within their homes and engage their children in literacy activities on a regular basis; and
• create stronger relationships with their children through the sharing of literacy and culture.

Length of facilitator training: one-day Introduction to Family Literacy (Feb. 20) and two days APRINTS (Feb. 21 and 22)

Cost: $300. Please register early as space is limited.

In partnership with Literacy Nova Scotia, John MacLaughlin, manager of program, business and partnership development at the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) and one of the authors of the report, will:
* Talk about the emerging research on complex communication and problem solving in technology-rich environments (TRE)
* Discuss how all levels of work are dramatically changing – including jobs that have been previously classified as lower skilled
* Talk about the potential of integrated training, career ladders and a new generation of Literacy and Essential Skills delivery models, drawing on research and promising program initiatives in other jurisdictions

There will be time for questions at the end of the webinar.

When: February 8, 2012, at 12 noon AST.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/609553190

Background information:
Menial No More: A Discussion Paper on Advancing our Workforce through Digital Skills, a recent discussion paper produced by the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC), suggests that as a result of emerging technology, consumer expectations, and increased global competition, jobs perceived as ‘low-skilled’ or ‘entry level’ need new kinds of skills – and that the economy may depend on our ability to train current and future workers in these types of positions.

You can download the Discussion Paper: Menial No More with this URL: http://library.nald.ca/item/9734.

You are welcome to comment on this document in the NALD Library.

Literacy Nova Scotia will host a presentation by Craig Alexander, senior vice-president and chief economist, TD Bank Financial Group, on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at 3 p.m. He will examine the economic cost of low literacy in Canada and how governments and businesses can address it.

Craig holds a graduate degree in economics from the University of Toronto and has 15 years of experience in the private sector as an economic and financial forecaster. He spent four years as an economist at Statistics Canada and is a regular commentator on public policy.

Craig is the author of Literacy Matters: A Call to Action, a report on the state of literacy in Canada. In addition to his role at TD, Craig is a strong advocate for the cause of literacy and is a champion of the charitable sector.

To download the registration form, you can use this URL: http://www.ns.literacy.ca/LNSregistrationforms/RegForm_CraigA.php

Literacy Nova Scotia is holding a provincial forum that will explore Nova Scotia’s labour market needs and the role of literacy and essential skills. Immediately following a light lunch, they will begin the afternoon with a panel discussion about the government’s new workforce strategy from the perspective of government, labour and business. There will be time for discussion and questions from the audience.

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 12 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Westin Hotel Halifax - Harbour Suites A & B

This forum will be of interest to governments, business, labour, adult literacy and essential skills practitioners, and workplace practitioners.

Travel subsidies are available in some cases. To register, send an email to the contact below.