eVALBEC 
August 2015 | VALBEC | Web version
In this Issue
Professional development
1. Hands-on numeracy workshops 'Building Strength with Numeracy' - Decimals and Measurement
2. ACAL Conference • program and sessions confirmed
4. Finalists for Learn Local awards announced
5. Australian Workplace Practitioners' Network • Victorian Workshop
Fine Print
Adult Learners' Week 2015 • 1-8 September, 2015
7. VALBEC Adult Learners' Week Twilight forum Lifewriting: a trajectory for lifelong learning
Resources
10. PageTurners - Fun, engaging, easy-to-read stories for beginning adult readers
11. Energy – Did you know? New free teaching resource
12. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas
Employment
13. Delivering Foundation Skills
14. Foundation Skills Coordinator
Professional development
1. Hands-on numeracy workshops
'Building Strength with Numeracy' - Decimals and Measurement.
Tuesday 25 August OR repeated on Thursday 17 September
The VALBEC on-line adult numeracy resource: 'Building Strength with Numeracy' now has two new Sections: 'Decimals' and 'Measurement'. Both sections contain a variety of practical, hands on and interactive class activities which focus on learners gaining a 'sense' of the decimal and measurement systems and the relationships between them. They also contain up to date practice exercises which allow students to apply this knowledge in practical, realistic adult contexts.
In addition to encouraging students to explore language, symbols and their meanings, the activities foster an estimation approach to measurement and decimal calculation: an approach which moves away from rote learned rules, instead drawing on students' everyday experiences and real world knowledge.
In this hands-on workshop, conducted by the author, Beth Marr, teachers will experience many of the new activities, discuss the motivation for using these methods and share related ideas from their own teaching.
Numbers: Limited to 25 per workshop and VALBEC members will be given preference.
Fee: $20 for VALBEC members; $50 for non-members Not sure if you're a member? Ask us
RSVP by 20 August
2. ACAL Conference • program and sessions confirmed
We are delighted to announce the program and session details are now available.
In the session descriptions you'll see words like
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3. ACAL scholarships
ACAL is offering two scholarships for the 2015 conference. Applications close August 15.
For a local person
The ACAL Cadetship will give you an opportunity to build understanding of the LLN field; develop your professional networks; find out how ACAL works; and gain funding to attend the 2015 ACAL Conference.
For a person from Vanuatu
In the wake of the cyclone earlier this year ACAL has chosen Vanuatu as the country in our region to support in 2015.
Are you working to develop adult literacy in Vanuatu and interested in developing your skills? ACAL invites you to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2015 Australian Council for Adult Literacy Conference in Adelaide. The scholarship will fund conference, accommodation and travel costs.
4. Finalists for Learn Local awards announced
Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert has congratulated this year's Learn Local Awards finalists on their achievements. The awards showcase and celebrate the achievements of students, teachers and Learn Local organisations from across Victoria.
Among this year's finalists is Longbeach Place teacher Chris Ewin, who is a finalist for the Outstanding Practitioner Award for his work with older learners who want to improve their IT skills.
Award winners in five categories will share in $50,000 in prize money, whilst the sixth is an encouragement award for local businesses. All awards will be announced at the gala evening at Collingwood Town Hall on September 10.
5. Australian Workplace Practitioners' Network • Victorian Workshop
Friday, August 14, 2015 from 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
University of Melbourne's Hawthorn Campus
Agenda items include:
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Industry Skills Fund update from the Department of Education and Training
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Industry Skills Advisor update from the Australian Industry Group (AiGroup)
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The challenges for foundation skills in the 21st century: moving forward from Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA)
Fine Print
6. Student Writing edition
We have been delighted by the response from students who submitted their writing for Fine Print edition #2. Unfortunately, we could not include them all but would like to thank everyone, especially the teachers who took the time to facilitate discussion and writing. Readers may be prompted to think about those significant others in their lives who have been influential in their education.
Edition #2 will be in letterboxes towards the end of August and we look forward to seeing students and teachers at the launch in Adult Learners' Week.
Adult Learners' Week 2015 • 1-8 September, 2015
7. VALBEC Adult Learners' Week Twilight forum
Lifewriting: a trajectory for lifelong learning
Wednesday 2 September • 5.00 – 7.00pm
North Fitzroy Star Hotel,
The Garden Room
32-36 St Georges Road South, Fitzroy North (near the corner of Newry Street)
Celebrate Adult Learners' Week and the launch of Significant others in life and learning and learning journeys, Fine Print Student Writing edition.
Our guest speaker, Dr Liz Suda, worked at Flemington Reading and Writing Program for many years, before her current position as Program Co-ordinator, Humanities Education at Melbourne Museum. She has been a frequent contributor to Fine Print and presenter at both VALBEC and ACAL conferences. She will talk about her own writing experiences and connect to the writing of students in this special edition of Fine Print.
We will invite students in attendance to read their writing from Fine Print.
Refreshments provided, purchase own drinks.
Cost: Free but booking is essential
RSVP info@valbec.org.au by August 27
8. 20th Anniversary
The first Adult Learners' Week was celebrated in 1995 in Australia, which makes this year the 20th Anniversary of the celebration. If you are part of an organisation that offers any form of adult learning such as courses, classes, lectures, exhibitions, tours, training programs, tutoring, discussion groups – then Adult Learners' Week is an opportunity to celebrate and promote what you do, and this year is extra special because we are celebrating 20 years of ALW.
VALBEC has been running Adult Learners' Week events for the last fifteen years.
9. Win an iPad Air
During Adult Learners' Week 2015, six iPad Air 2s – that's right six – will be given away as prizes for people who upload an image of themselves involved in adult learning and explain how the photo shows they are #unlockinglearning.
Resources
10. PageTurners - Fun, engaging, easy-to-read stories for beginning adult readers.
Series 7 is OUT NOW!
Hot off the press comes the new PRACE PageTurners series - ten new stories in our popular, easy-to-read, often funny, illustrated books for adults learning to read.
All books in the series will have free on-line audio by August.
Download an order form or phone 03 9462 6077 to discuss seeing a set on approval.
11. Energy – Did you know? New free teaching resource
Things have changed a lot over the last few years regarding our electricity market. Consumers have to understand information about smart meters, energy plans, different retailers, flexible pricing, and deal with scams and unsolicited approaches. This information can be very difficult to understand and make decisions about.
Victoria currently has a record high level of disconnections with many people not understanding their contracts or rights. This teaching resource for the English language classroom covers a range of topics that will encourage conversations around energy efficiency, consumer rights, electrical safety, reading bills, smart meters and flexible pricing.
It is organised into three units
1. electricity in the home,
2. electricity bills, and
3. reducing electricity costs.
Activities at levels ACSF 1 to 3 and can be mapped to various curricula.
12. The International Year of Light - lesson ideas
VALBEC is observing 2015 as the International Year of Light (and light based technologies). Each month a VALBEC committee member will provide some resources, inspired by the Year of Light, for the classroom or of general interest to students to use as a springboard for thinking, researching, talking or writing.
In this issue Meg Cotter offers some ideas on home lighting
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costs
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analysis
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ways to save
Employment
13. Delivering Foundation Skills
TexSkill Ltd (RTO 0156) is seeking expressions of interest from contract trainers for the delivery of Foundation Skills programs to job seekers in Melbourne's western suburbs.
For a position outline please email nikola.sharp@texskill.com.au
14. Foundation Skills Coordinator
Yarraville Community Centre is looking for a Foundation Skills Coordinator. YCC is is a Registered Training Organisation and Learn Local provider, which has been operating in the Maribyrnong area since 1975. This position is for three days a week. The Foundation Coordinator will work closely with the Education manager, teachers, assessors, and data entry staff. Key tasks will include; Ensuring compliance of funded programs, supporting EAL, CGEA and other pre accredited teachers and placement and support students in VTG and ACFE programs.
Position Description email yarracc@ycc.net.au or ring 03 96871560