Follow OLC over December and January as they visit dynamic literacy programs across Ontario to showcase “Agents of Change” in the literacy field.
Six literacy programs from varying geographical locations and sectors were selected through an application process to participate in an exciting and unique learning model – the first of its kind in the literacy field. The OLC developed this model to ensure learning continues and translates into action after the Spotlight on Learning: Becoming Agents of Change conference ends.
OLC’s road trip will highlight all the amazing work these programs are doing to increase the literacy and essential skills of Ontarians: stories, videos, photos and much more will be available on OLC’s brand new Spotlight on Learning website, launching at the end of January, 2011.
Within this model, participants had the opportunity to map learning objectives they felt important to their program and organization. To facilitate continued learning and change initiatives, programs participate in focused discussion, follow-up and resource sharing.
The lucky road trippers? Allison Mullin, OLC’s Communications and Marketing Coordinator, and Vijaya Chikermane, OLC’s Knowledge Exchange Coordinator. During their visits to these sites, they will be blogging and updating live via Twitter and Facebook about where they are, what they’re doing and all the great things they’re learning.
Follow them as they blog their way through Ontario and showcase Agents of Change in the literacy field!
For more information contact olc@on.literacy.ca.
Locations and Dates of Visits
Atikokan Adult Learning Centre, Atikokan: Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
A.C.E.: Academic and Career Entrance, St. Clair College, Thames Campus, Chatham: Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
North Bay Literacy Council, North Bay: TBD
Avon Maitland District School Board, The Learning Hub, Sudbury: Friday, December 17th, 2010
YMCA Learning Oppotunities, Toronto: TBD
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Hamilton: TBD
Quality People, Quality Programming
October 26, 2009 — ontarioliteracycoalitionCBC Radio One’s Metro Morning Show (a personal favourite of mine) recently aired a commentary by Michael Hlinka, questioning the practices – and quality – of adult literacy programs. This questioning was based on hearsay. Hence, I must comment.
The literacy field has risen out of the church basement and become an illustrious industry that permeates this province – and country.
You can find literacy in your school, in your college, in your library, in your community, in your local YMCA/YWCA, in your health care system and in your workplace.
We include the volunteers in your community-based organizations but the majority of us are the adult educators and administrators in the not-for-profit and public spheres, which include your libraries, schools and colleges, and other such institutions.
We are the editors re-writing documents in clear language.
We are the public speakers presenting governments and businesses with the literacy tools that makes a more productive society.
We are the project managers researching and creating teaching tools, establishing brand new programs and marketing our products.
We are the social workers bringing literacy students from every race, religion, and socio-economic class together through learning.
We are the conveners developing partnerships between people, social service providers, governments and private companies.
We are the accountants managing all of this on unbelievably minuscule budgets.
We are the professionals making our society a truly accessible one.
When you take a team of professionals, like those that exist in the literacy industry, and you combine it with people who want to learn and a supportive government body, you surely find high quality programs – and a high quality field.