Call for Adult Literacy and Basic Education Practitioners/Organizations/Groups
Developing a Framework for
Research in Practice in Adult Literacy

A national steering committee, with support from Literacy BC and funding from the National Literacy Secretariat, is launching an exciting new project. We are looking for a practitioner or group of practitioners from each province and territory to join a research team. Over the next year, the project will develop a framework to support research in practice in adult literacy and basic education in Canada. Research in practice includes reading research studies and reports, reflecting about practice, and conducting research. It is grounded in our classrooms and other sites. It's the kind of research that many practitioners do well even though it may appear invisible to others.

Helen Woodrow of Newfoundland and Jenny Horsman of Ontario are the project's part-time coordinators. The provincial and territorial practitioner researchers will work with the project coordinators to plan a process to find out what research in practice is happening across the country and what is needed to support useful research in practice in every province/ territory. Each person (or group) joining the team will collect information in their own province/territory and work with the rest of the national team to design the investigation, analyze the information we have gathered, and report what we learn.

To form the national team, we are looking for people who have knowledge of adult literacy and basic education approaches and programs in their province or territory, the people in the field, and the professional development opportunities available to them. The key criteria for selection include: evidence of enthusiasm, persistence and flexibility. You do not need to have experience with research or with research in practice to apply. We anticipate there will be a range of experience in research and adult literacy practice in the national team and that we will support each other to carry out the research processes.

If you are selected, you will:

  • Learn and plan with other members of the national team through distance technologies including online computer conferencing and conference calls (beginning in November 2005);
  • Lead the research process in your province or territory, collaborating with a range of local practitioners to find out about research in practice in your entire province or territory (December to March 2006);
  • Uncover untold stories about the range of research in our field;
  • Use tools such as surveys, focus groups, and interviews to collect the information;
  • Explore alternative ways to collect, document and present information (e.g., using photographs or conversations);
  • Carry out preliminary analysis of the information and data you collect (during March and April 2006);
  • Collaborate with team members to analyze data collectively;
  • Participate in a two-day gathering in May 2006 in Toronto to further develop the analysis (tentatively scheduled for May 11/12);
  • Take part in the project evaluation and, as far as possible, participate in the collaborative reporting process (scheduled to occur in June and July 2006).

Up to $10,000 is available for practitioners (individuals or groups) in each province and territory to cover time and other expenses to carry out the research, and participate in the national team. The exact amount per province and territory will be determined by the team, taking into account a variety of factors, including the size of the population, travel distances and expenses in each province and territory.

To apply: Whether you are applying as an individual, organization, or group send us resume(s) and/or a letter which shows how your work to date has prepared you to participate in this project. Please tell us:

  • Why you are eager to participate;
  • Who you would work with to collect data;
  • Some of your ideas about how you would collect data in your province or territory;
  • Who you think would be hard to reach, and how you hope to engage them in the process;
  • Some of the ways the project would connect with/fit in to your life and work and/or the work and goals of your organization/group.

Applications due: No later than 5pm Pacific time, September 30, 2005.
Please send emails (Word or rich text format attachments) to ripframework@literacy.bc.ca

If electronic communication is not possible, mail or fax to:
Sandy Middleton
Literacy BC
601-510 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1L8
Fax: 604-684-8520

A full description of the project as originally planned is available at: http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/framewk/page1.htm Some changes have been made since the proposal was developed - and are reflected in this call.

We would be happy to discuss the project and your interest in it with you. Email: ripframework@literacy.bc.ca.

Or you can contact us directly:

  • Jenny Horsman, Toronto, Ontario
    jenny@jennyhorsman.com 416-533-8502
  • Helen Woodrow, St. John’s, Newfoundland
    HWoodrow@thehub.literacy.bc.ca 709-753-8815

For general information on the project, contact a member of the Steering Committee:

August 20, 2005

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