eVALBEC 
October 2014 | VALBEC | Web version
In this Issue
Committee news
Professional Development
1. Meet Professor Stephen Reder
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Forum: 'Challenging assumptions: program participation influences on literacy and numeracy development'
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Webinar: 'Literacy development, learning and life experiences of low-education adults'
2. Learn Local (LLN) in the workplace forum
3. Quality pre-accredited teaching and learning in the community
4. 'Conversations on Knowledge for Teaching' Conference ((FR....)
Employment opportunity
5. Fractions and diabetes: employment opportunity
Resources
6. New Literacy and Numeracy assessment tool trials
7. ACSF materials for ALA members
8. Lesson ideas - Family Farming
Committee news
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Sarah Deasey and Linno Rhodes attended the Learn Local Awards dinner on Thursday. 28th August. It was a terrific night and Sarah is writing an article about it in Fine Print.
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Lindee Conway is presenting at ACAL Conference at Surfers Paradise, October 2-4, 2014. A few other VALBEC committee members are also attending the conference.
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There will be a full day PD on validation of assessment tools in November, organised by CGEA CMMs.
Professional Development
1. Meet Professor Stephen Reder
Stephen Reder, Professor of Applied Linguistics at Portland State University in the United States is a keynote speaker at the 2014 ACAL national conference 2-4 October, 2014 and is being brought to Victoria by VALBEC and ACER.
Forum: 'Challenging assumptions: program participation influences on literacy and numeracy development'
Wednesday, October 15, 5.00 – 6.30 pm
Victoria University, City Flinders Street, Melbourne
In this forum, Stephen Reder will speak about research outcomes from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (LSAL), which systematically compared the learning trajectories and life outcomes of 1000 adults over a ten year period. He will focus on the outcomes from this research which demonstrates how adult literacy and numeracy program participation influences changes in skills and practices used in social and employment contexts. He will reflect on the importance of shifting the focus of program accountability from measures of short-term proficiency gain to longer-term changes in literacy and numeracy. There will be an opportunity to engage in conversation around challenging of assumptions of some of the key findings with implications for policy development, LLN educators and program delivery.
Hosted by VALBEC in conjunction with ACAL, ACER and Victoria University.
Webinar: 'Literacy development, learning and life experiences of low-education adults'
Wednesday, October 15, 2:00 to 3:30 pm
ACER's October LLN webinar will be conducted by Stephen Reder. Stephen will be presenting on the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning which systematically compares the learning trajectories and life outcomes of 1000 adults over a 10-year period. Stephen will answer some of the research questions below in this webinar:
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To what extent do adults' literacy abilities continue to develop after they leave school?
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What life experiences are associated with adult literacy development? How does formal learning in basic skills programs contribute to these learning trajectories? Workplace training? Other contexts and activities?
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What are adult learners' patterns of participation over time in literacy training and education? And in other learning contexts?
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What are the impacts of adult literacy development on social and economic outcomes?
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What are the implications of the findings for future research, program evaluation and improvement, and policy?
2. Learn Local (LLN) in the workplace forum
Friday, 7th November 2014 - 10am to 1.00pm
Melbourne CBD
Cost: Free
The project aims to deepen the skills and knowledge of Learn Local teachers and managers in the practice of workplace education and training. This project will also increase small and medium enterprises' (SME)s' understanding of the literacy, numeracy and broader foundation skills support needs of workers and how Learn Locals can assist in developing those skills.
This workshop reflects on the outcomes and learning from the project to date, drawing on the eight organisations undertaking the extensive action research program, who receive mentoring and coaching from an experienced workplace learning mentor. It is suitable for both managers and teachers and will share how Learn Local organisations are engaging with their local industry in a systematic, planned way. The workshop will address the following issues:
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Is your organisation ready to approach business?
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Where do I start (including leveraging existing relationships)?
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Examples of best practice
CAE is currently managing this workplace learning project for the Adult, Community and Further Education Board in Victoria.
This workshop is limited to 30 participants so registration is essential.
3. Quality pre-accredited teaching and learning in the community
Thursday, 9 October 2014 William Angliss Institute of TAFE, 555 La Trobe Street Melbourne
A one-day conference Excellently Local: quality pre-accredited teaching and learning in the community will be held for Learn Local organisations.
The wide-ranging conference agenda will provide opportunities for attendees to learn from experts and peers about innovative design and delivery of pre-accredited programs, how to find and engage learners, fresh ideas about adult learning pedagogy, hear from former pre-accredited students, networking opportunities and more. Attendance at the event is fully subsidised by the ACFE Board.
Contact Ms Kathy Jagan on kathy.jagan@cae.edu.au
4. Conversations on Knowledge for Teaching Conference (FR..*)
*avoiding spam filters but there is no charge!
11 – 13 February 2015
Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Launceston
Cost: Free, limited to 100 spaces Travel and accommodation at own expense
RSVP and further info: www.conversationsonkft.weebly.com
Contact: Katara Jade Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania +61 3 6324 3819 | Katara.Jade@utas.edu.au
This is a unique, special interest conference to discuss key issues on ‘knowledge for teaching’. Drawing on the growing body of work on the notion of pedagogical content knowledge – the specialised ways in which teachers know and understand their discipline areas—the conference will be an opportunity for you to develop ideas and engage in discussions and debates with colleagues from across Australia.
The conversations should appeal to anyone who has an interest in teaching and learning from all sectors of education, including schools, vocational education providers, tertiary institutions, professional learning units and consultants, systems and individual teachers. Teachers from all subject areas are encouraged to attend in order to share thinking about the knowledge teachers use when teaching, allowing these conversations to be cross-disciplinary.
Employment opportunity
5. Fractions and diabetes: employment opportunity
Diabetes Australia clients need to deal with fractions - especially adding or multiplying fractions.
The organisation is updating their curriculum and are seeking a person to provide advice on their current resources and tools (e.g. insulin dosage cards), proposed teaching strategies and delivery modes. They're looking for someone with experience in teaching adult learners, with a health focus background, preferably with publishing experience, aiming to have the work done by November 2014.
More information from Ivan Chan (Wednesdays & Thursdays), Dietitian, APD, Diabetes Australia – Vic, Phone: 03 9667 1762 (direct)
Email: ichan@diabetesvic.org.au
Resources
6. New Literacy and Numeracy assessment tool trials
The Department of Industry has contracted the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to develop a free online Foundation Skills Assessment Tool (FSAT) to identify and assess an individual's literacy, numeracy and employability skill levels. ACER is interested in hearing from interested literacy and numeracy providers to be involved in trials over the next few months in order to gather empirical data and to provide feedback about the assessment system.
7. ACSF materials for ALA members
VALBEC members who have individual or organisational membership of Adult Learning Australia might be interested to know that there are now some ACSF assessment exemplars on the ALA website. They are written with SEE teaching and assessing (and learning- why not?) in mind.
More materials will be added over the next two months to cover each macro-skill. Low level assessment is the focus of this project.
8. Lesson ideas - Family Farming
VALBEC is observing 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, as well as celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and offering some related lesson materials and ideas.
In the ninth of the series, committee member Barbara van Leest highlights a website with lots of student resources and activities focussing on improving sustainability in farming and adapting to climate change.