1. Seasons Greetings

The VALBEC committee would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members and friends a safe and joyous festive season and all the very best for the start of the 2018 year.

Next year VALBEC will be turning 40!  To mark this important milestone we will be hosting the ACAL conference on 13th and 14th September at the Melbourne Convention Centre. There will also be many more activities to be involved in. Look out for them next year.

The committee will continue to reflect on our own learning and practice and advocating for the sector. We hope you have enjoyed our monthly inputs into each eVALBEC Resource Gems - where members contributed an e-learning tool and or website of our liking. Thank you for all of your support throughout the year.

Best wishes,

VALBEC committee 2017.

2. Winner Australian Training Awards 2017

Congratulations to Kathrin Colgan, Winner of the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice at the Australian Training Awards!

Kathrin began her teaching career as a drama and dance teacher.  She has had the opportunity to work in a diverse range of language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) roles and across varying learning and teaching contexts. Kathrin has extensive experience in the workplace as an LLN teacher and coordinator, in literacy youth classes, within industry, in independent learning centres and in rural and international locations.

She has worked in several industry settings with English language, literacy and numeracy projects with clients such as Holden, Auspost Gateway, Freemasons, Astron Plastics, PFD Food Services, Sir Eric Pierce House Aged Care and DON Small Goods.

Kathrin has a history of early adoption and innovation in the ICT space and supports peers to explore 21st century teaching approaches. Her approach is always to look for positive solutions and to support peers to thrive as LLN educators.

Kathrin presented at the 2017 VALBEC Conference and the 2017 ACAL Conferenceand has recently joined the VALBEC committee.

Kathrin said, 'On Thursday the 23rd of November, I was awarded the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice at the Australian Training Awards. The award recognises innovation excellence in improving LLN skills in an educational, community or workplace context in the VET sector. It was an amazing and inspiring night for all the finalists and winners.

I am very proud of what we all do, day in day out for our students.  I have messages to our industry partners and our learners, however for my peers I ask you to celebrate your successes and say YES.

While my year is just starting, and you will be hearing more from me, applications are opening for the 2018 awards from December the 1st. Take the summer to ask yourself, 'Why shouldn't' I apply?'

3. Annual International Skills Specialised Institute Fellowship Awards

The International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute) exists to foster an aspirational, skilled and smart Australia by cultivating the mastery and knowledge of talented Australians through international applied research Fellowships.

Congratulations to committee members Linno Rhodes (VALBEC Co-President) and Karen Dymke (new VALBEC Committee member) who received their fellowship awards on November 20th. We look forward to hearing about the learning's from the fellowships they are now embarking on.

Linno's Fellowship will investigate the idea that creating a secure attachment relationship between the adult learner and teacher will lead to a transformational change which will greatly improve learning successes and develop stronger pathways into further education and employment.

Karen Fellowship will identify best practice in Europe that can inform current Australian research and in particular further inform two of the four Adult and Community Further Education (ACFE) strategies under ';Effective Approaches to Re-engagement': ';Outreach and Engagement' and ';Teaching and Learning'.

4. ACAL 2018 Conference

September 12-14, 2018 • Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

In 2018, VALBEC celebrates 40 years of actively promoting language, literacy and numeracy advocacy, professional development, resources and research. We are very pleased to host next year's conference in Melbourne at the Melbourne Conference Centre. The Conference will offer delegates an exceptional opportunity to take a moment to reconfigure our practice in the light of research and practice in understanding how learners' personal histories can help and hinder their engagement with language, literacy and numeracy.

Dates for your diary:

• Pre-conference Forum: Wednesday 12th September 2018

• Conference Thursday 13th and Friday 14th September 2018

The conference title ';Learning in diverse communities – Strengths, Reflections, Questions' sets the process by which every educator can pause to reflect and reframe their practice in the light of researchers and practitioners recounts of their theories and understandings of learners from diverse backgrounds.

• How can we recognise the sound pedagogical practices within these diverse learning communities?

• How can we respond to the changing needs of these diverse communities?

• How do we continue to build the professional capabilities of LLN practitioners?

The Call for papers will be released in the near future.

5. Resource Gems - Edmodo

The internet now allows for a myriad of teaching and learning resources to be shared between LLN practitioners. The wealth of information available to practitioners means that finding quality resources can take time and effort. This year, VALBEC committee members will identify some 'gems' amongst the resources freely available online. Each month, a committee member will share a quality teaching resource to support your classroom teaching and professional practice. These resources may take the form of a blog, an educational podcast, a downloadable teaching resource or a Youtube channel. As always, we are interested to hear what you think. Have you used this resource before? Do you know of similar resources? Send us your feedback or comments to info@valbec.org.au

This month's contribution comes from Kathrin Colgan VALBEC Committee member

Do you use FACEBOOK? Imagine if you had a Facebook just for your class where teachers can create groups, share content, distribute quizzes, assignments, and manage communication with students, colleagues, and parents.

Edmodo is educational technology offering a communication, collaboration, and coaching platform to schools and teachers. Edmodo is very teacher-centric in design. For those in prep to 12 settings parents can also join Edmodo when invited to do so by a teacher. Teachers and students can spend large amounts of time on the platform, both in and out of the classroom. In 2013, Edmodo was included in the list of 'The Top Apps for Teachers' by an influential American eLearning magazine called PC Magazine.

One of the stand out things about Edmodo is all your links can exist in one place within the Edmodo library. As you set up new classes and obtain the joining code for your class, you can draw on your library to post lessons for students to use in class or at home.

If teachers set a listening or student watch a video, they can then post that item to their Edmodo class for them to watch again for revision.

In addition, if a teacher is ever away they can still post work for students to do or to catch up on.

Aspects of Edmodo are

• Free to join

• Extremely easy to use

• Can create several classes in one place for you to access

• Post instant messages and receive instant messaging from students

• Post photos, files, links, video and pictures

• Post quizzes, polls, assignments and assessments

• Free online training videos to maximise use

• Updates and new applications associated added all the time

• Can create mini groups within classes for group work- especially good for recording oral communication or messages/group work skills

Edmodo has been especially handy in managing students how are studying different certificates in one class. Multiple levels are more common and with students bringing their phones or other devices to class, this technology is a great way to help you manage those situations.

Icon By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38193522

6. Professional Development for Learn Local organisations

Using a research informed approach
This professional development series is based on applying a research informed approach to teaching practice. It will focus on examining ways in which research can help to inform and review current practice in the language, literacy and numeracy. The process is interactive and group based and involves:

• choosing an element of your teaching reading, writing or numeracy practice you would like to review or improve

• reviewing and discussing accessible research within a group of practitioners with a similar interest (a selection of research will be provided or participants can select research)

• identifying aspects or findings from the research and applying this research to the practitioner's teaching practice

Who should participate?
This professional development program is suitable for teachers who are working in the language, literacy and numeracy areas in both pre-accredited and accredited programs. It is also suitable for volunteers who are supporting learners with the development of their language, literacy and numeracy skills.

You can read more about this approach in the latest edition of  FinePrint. 'Best Practice Models of professional development by Margaret Corrigan. Pg 8-11.

7. Fine Print December 2017

In Edition #3 of Fine Print you will find an article by Margaret Corrigan 'Best Practice models of professional development'. She reports on her learnings on ways to improve teacher effectiveness from her ISSI fellowship travelling to the US and Canada. There are some good ideas in Karen Manwaring's piece about teaching creative writing and Sarah Deasey provides an overview of the Resource Hub website that has a collection of accessible online teaching materials.

Happy reading and do consider writing for Fine Print in 2018. Send your contributions to info@valbec.org.au

8. Planning for 2018

The annual VALBEC Planning meeting will be held end of January, 2018.

We welcome feedback and ideas so please send to info@valbec.org.au

9. Safe Steps

Last month VALBEC hosted a 2-hour forum with SafeSteps on working with learners experiencing violence, at Olympic Adult Education in West Heidelberg. The session was specifically tailored to staff teachers, admin and others who work with foundation skills learners.
We are looking for more valbec member organisations to schedule a session for next year.
Contact us at info@valbec.org.au to express interest in hosting a session.

10. Seeking teaching professionals

LWA is looking for qualified EAL/LLN teaching professionals who will add value to our team. Experience teaching, assessing and application of the ACSF in the AMEP / SEE Program is essential. Positions are yearly casual contracts based in Melbourne, with frequent travel required.

LWA offers competitive remuneration, ongoing professional development and innovative employment opportunities while working within a dedicated team of committed professionals. To express an interest in joining the LWA team, please send your resume to: info@lwa.net.au

11. Indigenous Literacy Foundation Fundraiser

For the second year in a row the VALBEC Committee with friends (the VALBEC All Stars) has fielded a table at the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) Trivia Night at Fitzroy Town Hall on Nov 29th. Hosted by Brian Nankervis the night is lots of fun and for a good cause. The ILF is a national not-for-profit charity focussed on improving literacy levels in very remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They provide books and support many literacy projects.

And no we didn't win! – practice makes perfect.

12. Building Strength with Numeracy - free resources

'Building Strength with Numeracy' – practical, tested resources for teachers to use in a range of settings and made accessible online. Each section of each topic is a PDF allowing immediate downloading, printing and use by teachers and students.

The first six topics are provided as a free download for all numeracy practitioners. The topics 'Decimals and 'Measurement' are free to VALBEC members and available for a small charge for non-members.

13. A Fuller Sense of Self

The Book

Six people described why they returned to education and how that decision shaped and changed their lives for the better. Their stories were published in 2011 as 'A Fuller Sense of Self – a collection of stories told by adult literacy students'. The stories illuminated their lives and learning experiences, describing the challenges they faced, the events that provoked their return to 'school', and ultimately how their lives had changed and shifted following that decision.

Five years on – The Digital Stories

Five years on we revisit these students and their stories, to find out where they are now and to discover if and how learning continues to influence their life journey. We tracked down three of our original storytellers – Linda, David and Sue. This time our storytellers kindly and courageously shared their thoughts on camera.

14. VALBEC Facebook page

'Follow, Like, and Share' VALBEC on Facebook@valbec.org.au