The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), commissioned a research project to help update the computer use element of its Essential Skills framework.
The author provides a guide to the many methods used for assessing adult learners, both in Canada and abroad. There is information about assessment practices used in adult literacy and upgrading classes; for immigrants; for secondary school completion; in post-secondary education; in apprenticeship training; for pre-employment purposes; and in workplace-based education.
Exploring the issues of accountability in adult literacy through three case studies
The aim of this project was to compile what has been learned about building accountability systems in adult literacy in British Columbia, Ontario and Scotland. The findings are presented in three sections: dealing with systemic issues, how accountability mechanisms should be designed, and working with data. Wherever possible the findings reflect all three jurisdictions and focus on common concerns.
The data that were gathered in an international 2007 study led by OECD on the recognition of non-formal and informal learning suggested that the PLAR activity level in Canadian post-secondary institutions might be higher than previously thought, and that Canada’s performance may compare favourably with the efforts of other countries, particularly in terms of the number of assessments conducted.
A Report to the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education
This report was commissioned and funded by the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education. It is Phase I of a three-phased initiative for the BC Ministry of Advanced Education to develop benchmarks or measurement standards for community-based literacy programs in that province. Phase I recommends a province-wide system for monitoring and assessing the progress of adults in community-based literacy programs.
Learner Skill Attainment (LSA) was a large-scale research initiative, spearheaded by Ontario's College Sector Committee, designed to assist Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) learners in Ontario move more easily among the programs that serve their educational and training needs. The initiative identified five pathways that LBS learners take to transition to greater independence, employment or further education and training.
The Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) is a competency-based test that uses problem sets and authentic workplace documents to assess essential sills proficiencies in three domains: reading text, document use, and numeracy.
The Learner Skill Attainment (LSA) Initiative, led by Ontario's College Sector Committee, was undertaken in early 2007 to develop a framework for measuring learner skill attainment in three key essential skills areas: reading text, document use and numeracy.
The New Brunswick Department of Education supports the inclusion of children with exceptional needs into the regular classroom setting. The inclusion of these children however presents certain challenges for teachers. The Department of Education has developed this document in order to assist teachers to develop teaching plans that meet the needs of the diverse learners in their classrooms.
