Streams of potential: what lies beneath

Registrations were due by May 8, 2015 but we'll squeeze you in.

The theme of the 2015 VALBEC conference, Streams of potential: what lies beneath, seeks to encourage exploration of the sometimes hidden elements that inform delivery of language, literacy and numeracy in a wide a range of contexts: community, workplace, accredited and pre-accredited programs.

• How are the new voices who areanalysing the goals and processes of language, literacy and numeracy delivery reframing the professional persona of the LLN teacher?

• How are teachers designing courses in ever changing contexts and conditions?

• How are teachers and programs recruiting, retaining and reconnecting students from diverse backgrounds?

• How are teachers negotiating with the differing needs of students while maintaining the standards of funding requirements?

• How can the Language, Literacy and Numeracy field continue to tap into the potential of its workforce to bring to the surface learning that is transformative?

Curriculum design has to integrate and work with funding to provide the broad overlay of skills and access. When the teacher discovers the students’ needs a process of analysis and design draws from what is available in curriculum and funding to provide the detailed and particular learning experience for the students. Just as decisions made in the design of curriculum affect how a course is delivered, so does the teacher’s understanding of pedagogy and funding requirements.

How do we, as teachers, senior educators, managers, tutors and volunteers work to:

• Provide the best learning experience for the student’s expressed need

• Support the delivery of language, literacy and numeracy for a wide range of life and work outcomes

• Reframe delivery to meet the increasing demands for shorter programs

These points of reflections and discussion will engage practitioners in elaborating and sharing the decision making processes in creating learning programs that support learners’ needs for language, literacy and numeracy in every aspect of their lives.