National Adult Literacy Database

Series: SCALES Project

Authors: CONNECT Strategic Alliances

This guide is one of the resources developed through the SCALES (Supporting the Canadian Advancement of Literacy and Essential Skills) project, undertaken by CONNECT Strategic Alliances, representing Ontario’s 24 publicly funded colleges.

With funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada-Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (HRSDC-OLES), CONNECT partnered with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and Douglas College in British Columbia to develop a series of tools and best practices intended to help practitioners working with unemployed and low-skilled workers to incorporate a Literacy and Essential Skills (LES) approach into their work.

This facilitator’s guide is designed to help career practitioners offer Essential Skills workshops to other practitioners and to participants who are accessing career services. It complements the CONNECT SCALES Essential Skills Workshop Series sections.

The guide includes copies of the CONNECT SCALES project exercise sheets and handouts for workshop participants; lists of coordinating materials and supplies required for each section of the workshop; a list of video hyperlinks; and samples of workshop options.

For more information about the workshops, visit CONNECT’s website at http://collegeconnect.on.ca/.

Added: 2013-05-17

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See also:

• Guide de l'animateur des ateliers du projet SCALES

Authors: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

This video focuses on a woman who trained for a new, more rewarding job after an injury forced her out of the old one. She had worked for years in the stockroom of a bookstore but, after an injury, wasn’t able to return to the heavy lifting required in her old job.

After being out of work for a year, she enrolled in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW), funded by the Government of Canada in partnership with provinces and territories. The program helps workers either go back to the workplace or determine what training they will require to find another job.

In this case, the woman eventually became a legal assistant in a law firm.

Added: 2013-05-17

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Series: How do your skills measure up?

Authors: SkillPlan and Construction Sector Council (CSC)

This Essential Skills tool is for tradespeople, apprentices, and people interested in construction careers who want to assess their current Essential Skills and their readiness for technical training.

Based on typical construction workplace tasks, the exercises allow users to practice Reading Text, Document Use, and Numeracy. The score sheet allows them to assess their skills, and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

You can purchase a hard copy of this document on the website of the Construction Sector Council, now called BuildForce Canada, at: http://www.buildforce.ca/en/catalog/essential-skills/essential-skills-tools.

Funders:

• Government of Canada
• Sector Council Program of Canada

Added: 2013-05-16

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See also:

• Cahier d'activités d'autoévaluation avec page de résultats – pour les Travailleurs de la construction

Authors: Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN)

This webinar outlines a project undertaken by the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) to get a national picture of Literacy and Essential Skills (LES) practitioners working with adults across Canada.

Presented on March 13, 2013, the webinar features Anne Ramsay, project manager for the labour market study, introducing the online survey that will provide core data for the project. The survey is open to paid LES practitioners of all types, working in a variety of settings.

She notes that while there is substantial information about who accesses LES programs and which tools are used to increase LES skills, recent studies have revealed a gap in knowledge about who works in the LES field. This project aims to close that gap and increase the understanding of human resources issues that may affect Canada’s capacity to improve LES results among Canadians.

In addition to the survey, the project will include the examination of relevant research from Canada and other jurisdictions; interviews with key informants; focus groups of practitioners working with English, French, and Aboriginal learners; and the creation of a database of contacts connected with the field.

The project is funded by the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Added: 2013-05-16

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Series: Audio Centre - HRSDC

Authors: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

This audio file is part of a podcast series developed by Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), describing a research project that will help to update the numeracy element of the Essential Skills framework.

In this segment, OLES policy analyst Katherine Clarke-Nolan discusses one of the most challenging parts of establishing a methodology for the research project: undertaking a comparative analysis of the complexity levels in international assessment frameworks for numeracy.

After comparing and analyzing the complexity ratings used in the international assessments, three complexity scales were proposed to be included in the Essential Skills Research Project methodology.

The first one, the declarative knowledge complexity rating scale, includes two dimensions: the complexity of mathematical concepts involved in the task, ranging from simple concrete to more complex abstract concepts; and the context familiarity, ranging from familiar to novel situations.

The second one consists of a procedural knowledge complexity rating scale, which assesses the complexity of the procedures required to complete a numeracy task effectively.

The third is a mathematical representation complexity rating scale, which evaluates the complexity of the information and the variety of representations of mathematical information in a task.

Added: 2013-05-15

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Authors: Bear Image Productions

This video uses the style and atmosphere of a television crime drama to deliver a message about the importance of Essential Skills in learning, work, and life.

It begins with Essential Skills Investigation (ESI) agents trying to determine who is to blame for the death of a young apprentice in an accident in the auto repair shop where he is working. The immediate cause of his death is obvious, but the agents must determine how deficiencies in Essential Skills contributed to his death.

Their investigations allow them to eliminate several skills, and they eventually focus on problems with the skills of oral communication, critical thinking, continuous learning, and working with others as being key factors in the accident.

The video also delivers a message about the roles and responsibilities of those involved in apprenticeship programs, pointing out that the employer didn’t fully grasp his role as a teacher and mentor, and the late apprentice should have actively sought more guidance about doing his tasks properly and safely.

The video is part of a series was funded by the British Columbia Human Resource Development Society and Sto:lo Nation Human Resource Development.

Funders:

• British Columbia Human Resource Development Society
• Sto:lo Nation Human Resource Development

Added: 2013-05-15

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Authors: Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI)

Since 1986, Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) has helped low-income earners gain financial independence through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and asset building.

SEDI offers a number of annual awards that recognize the success of individuals who have completed its programs. This video features one award winner, a woman who was abused by her husband, developed substance abuse problems, and ended up at a shelter for women recovering from addictions.

She learned about SEDI’s Independent Living Account (ILA) program and enrolled in it. With the help of matching contributions from SEDI, she saved enough money to be able to move out on her own.

Now she has a job at a food bank, enjoys having her own apartment, and is staying sober.

Added: 2013-05-14

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Series: Giving Safety Talks

Authors: Alberta Workforce Essential Skills Society (AWES)

This document is part of a resource package prepared by Alberta Workforce Essential Skills (AWES) to help staff members deliver safety training in the construction sector to workers whose first language is not English. Specifically, this guide is aimed at smaller organizations that may not be able to hire a workshop trainer.

This self-directed guide, as well as the facilitator’s guide and the participant workbook, can be used in conjunction with a set of 50 safety posters illustrating various safety topics.

The authors suggest two different approaches for using the guide. It can be used independently, with the user working through the resource on his own, and asking one or two close colleagues to perform formal evaluations of his safety talks using the checklists at the back of the guide.

Alternatively, a team that regularly gives safety talks can choose to work through the resource together, using the checklists to collaborate on performing formal evaluations of the talks.

For more information about AWES, please click here: http://www.awes.ca.

Funders:

• Alberta Employment and Immigration

Added: 2013-05-13

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Series: Literacy Fact Sheets – Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador

Authors: Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador

This document is one of series of fact sheets prepared by Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador.

The authors point out that while few people are unable to read at all, many have literacy levels that are lower than what is required to function effectively in today’s world.

Strong literacy skills are linked to better jobs, better health, and greater social engagement.

Added: 2013-05-13

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Authors: Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB)

This document contains the stories of 10 adult learners whose efforts have been recognized by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB). All tell their stories in their own words.

The learners come from a variety of backgrounds. One is a recent immigrant, some are Aboriginal people, and one has spent time in jail. Many of them dropped out of school before graduating, and returned to the classroom to earn a General Education Development (GED) diploma.

Their goals included finding a job, setting a good example for their children and grandchildren, and being able to function better in a new language and culture.

Five of the writers are recipients of Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarship Awards, initiated by the LCNB in recognition of the well-known writer and literacy advocate, who serves as the coalition’s honorary patron.

Three are winners of the Adult Learners’ Week in Canada Writing Contest, open to adult learners currently attending an adult learning program in New Brunswick, and two are recipients of Adult Learner Achievement Awards, which are presented to outstanding Adult Basic Education (ABE) learners as part of the annual Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) Golf Tournament for Literacy.

Added: 2013-05-10

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