Adult Literacy And Distance Education Project Seeks Input

In July of 1997, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network received National Literacy Secretariat funding to hire a research co-ordinator, Dilys Collier, to conduct a ten month (Sept.,1997-June 1998) exploratory, developmental project to document the kinds of adult literacy projects that are being delivered by distance education technology in the western region (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories). Dilys is an adult educator and former Saskatchewan provincial board member now living in Athabasca, Alberta, the home of Athabasca University, one of western Canada's foremost distance education (DE) institutions. For this project, SLN is most interested in the work that is being done with those adult learners assessed at the K-Grade 9 level (Basic, and Intermediate literacy levels).

To set the project in context, contacts have been made in selected areas that share similar, though not identical, issues arising from vast geographic areas and multi-cultural populations. Australia, Africa, and the European Union are three examples. We hope to find out what models these other countries use to deliver adult literacy skills and education through distance education technology. We do not want to waste energy reinventing the wheel. However, whether parts of any of these models would be transferable to Canada would remain to be seen.

Another issue that is to be explored is whether there are provincial or territorial literacy strategies in place to use distance education to deliver adult literacy programming. The question arises whether a strategy of this sort might be more cost effective, as well as and time and energy efficient, if it were to be prepared across provincial/territorial borders, that is, as a regional distance education adult literacy strategy.
How Can You Get Involved?

1. To collect information in the western region of Canada, a literacy practitioner questionnaire will be distributed within each of the provinces and territories.

2. As well, access to learner focus groups will be requested to gain their point of view.

3. Policy makers and administrators will be approached for in-depth personal interviews. Much of the collection of information will take place between the middle of January and the end of March, 1998. The main outcome of the project will be a written status report with a summary and recommendations for further discussion and possible action.

4. If you are interested in taking part, or have written or other materials that you feel may be useful for this project (for instance, you have historical information or you know of DE literacy programming already in place or that is just starting up), please contact Dilys at 403-675-5993, or e-mail her at dilys@telusplanet.net.

5. Beginning January 10,1998, you may answer an adult literacy practitioner questionnaire on-line by going to the NALD website(http://www.nald.ca) and clicking on the Manitoba provincial site. Here you will find a special button to click on to take you to the questionnaire. You don't need to identify yourself if you do not want to. However, you could enter a draw for a $40 book certificate, if you complete the form and submit it before March 1, 1998. We would, of course, then need to know your name and how to contact you should you be the lucky winner! For further information contact:

Dilys Collier, B.A., M.Ed., R.S.W.
E-mail: dilys@shaw.ca