ABC Canada

The recruitment and retention of adult learners in literacy and upgrading programs remain major challenges. As well, there is little nationally representative information about the experience of people who attempt to access literacy services but are unsuccessful.

Only 5 to 10 per cent of eligible adults with low literacy skills ever enroll in literacy programs. This presents the literacy field with a startling and pressing question: Why, in the face of increasing public policy initiatives and highly visible outreach campaigns, are the majority of people with low literacy skills still reluctant to participate in literacy programs?

ABC CANADA's Workplace Education Centre is pleased to be able to contribute this annotated bibliography to the workplace education field in Canada. It is intended for the use of workplace program developers and practitioners, policy planners, researchers and those who are interested in the important issues in the field.

In November 1995, ABC CANADA and the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) hosted a national think tank on principles of good practice in workplace/workforce education.

The report is a national study for ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.
Canadian promoters of workplace basic skills programs are commonly asked for evidence about the impact of programs on the workplace. Even with mounting information on the need for a more literate workforce, program promotion has become more difficult. Companies are increasingly focused on bottom-line considerations: "What," they ask, "is the payback for us?"

This booklet presents principles of good practice and steps for planning and putting into place a collaborative workplace development initiative.

This handbook is for educators, managers, and union leaders who have the responsibility for workplace development. It will be especially useful to those of you who will facilitate a Workplace Needs Assessment (WNA). We will take you step-by-step through planning and conducting your own WNA.

This handbook leads you, step-by-step, through planning and conducting the collaborative evaluation of a workplace development initiative.

This collection of narratives is an intimate look at teaching basic skills in different organizations, professions and communities. Instructors were asked to tell you their best stories of how they taught, how people learned, and most importantly, how everyone changed - including the organizations.