Projects in Progress
Access to Adult Basic Education in the Lower Stl'atl'imx
Capilano College, which offers adult basic education at the Ts' Zil Learning Centre in Mt. Currie, has instituted a project that seeks ways to provide effective education supports for adult education students accessing the Ts'Zil's program from isolated communities. The college received a grant from the Aboriginal Special Projects Fund to hire a Student Support Facilitator who will support enrolment and transitioning of learners from these communities. Adult Literacy Cost Shared Program funds will be used to conduct a needs assessment to determine what approaches should be implemented (e.g., locally-based instructors, mixed mode, distributed learning) and what student supports are needed (e.g., setting up a peer tutor network within the communities). Fall 2005 to Spring 2006.
Contact: Judy Rose, jrose@cdo.capcollege.bc.ca
Adult Numeracy Instructors in BC Apply Research Findings to Their Practice
This project works with adult numeracy instructors in ABE/literacy and community literacy programs in BC to examine and adapt teaching practice in the light of research findings about adult numeracy instruction. A project manual will situate the findings of a research literature review in the context of numeracy instruction in BC and will offer practical suggestions for applying the research. In workshops and electronic discussion, practitioners will be invited to look at the research and consider what changes they might make to their practices and programs. Input from participating practitioners will be used to revise the manual, which will be made available on-line. Fall 2005 to Fall 2006.
Contact: Kate Nonesuch, kate@thehub.literacy.bc.ca
Literacy and Health
Nora Randall of Malaspina University College is involved in a research-in-practice project on literacy and health. Nora works with the learners at the Reading and Writing Centre in Duncan researching materials, collecting information and looking at ways of making health information clearer.
Contact: Nora Randall, randalln@mala.bc.ca
RiPP (Research in Practice Projects)
RiPP (Research in Practice Projects) is a collaborative project that enables practitioners to carry out small, individual research projects within their own daily practice and provides group and individual support. Leonne Beebe of the Fraser Valley is researching the use of guided reflective writing technique in her class. Paula Davies in Prince George is exploring what happens in English class when narrative is used to teach content. Anne Docherty of Hazelton is looking at the impact of getting a group of community literacy practitioners together to reflect on their practice. Dee McRae of Houston is writing about the use of participatory research in a fundamental English class and Melanie Sondergaard, also of Hazelton, is working with a group of youth to effect changes to the community. The reports promise to offer a variety of perspectives on literacy work in the province and are expected to be completed by April 2006.
Contact: Marina Niks, MNiks@thehub.literacy.bc.ca
