CALP Connections: January 2025
Explore the New CALP Portal!, NorQuest College Invites CALPs to Participate in Project and more...
A Message from Lisa Dickner, Executive Director of Community Learning Network
Happy New Year!
After a restorative two-week absence from CLN, a good friend and colleague shared a quote from author & artist Topher Kearby that made me stop and pause in the best way possible. While I’m not one for resolutions at the turn of the calendar, I do appreciate a well-crafted message that resonates with my head and my heart:
happiness doesn’t look perfect.
it looks a bit disheveled.
a little wild.
out of sorts in all of the right ways.
so if your goal is a happy life –
don’t plan on a perfect life.
the good stuff happens when you are willing to make a mess.
With these words in mind and as I start on my path in the year to come, I now look forward to a little mess on my journey to the good stuff! Perhaps we can chat about it at the upcoming Literacy & Learning Symposium (April 29th – May 1st) in Edmonton? Our theme is “Making Waves,” and what better way to embrace getting messy than in the waves?! I hope you will join me!
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Register soon for these upcoming events!
New to CALP?
If you have recently started working in a CALP role, CLN invites you to come meet other new staff to learn what supports are available to help you be successful in your new role! Be sure to also register for required training.
Welcome to CALP! If you are new to CALP (or still feel new), come hear insights from experienced CALP staff about CALP operations, programming, learners and volunteers – Jan 21, 2025
Required Training
Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning (Required Training) ONLINE
Jan. 23 – Feb. 20 (10:00-11:15 am) (1:30-2:45 pm)
May 21 – Jun 18 (9:30-10:45 am)
CALP Essentials for Family Literacy Programs (Required Training) ONLINE
Feb. 25 – Mar 18, 2025 (1:00-2:30 pm)
For Coordinators, Instructors and Tutors
Planning for Learning Series
Join this 3-part series to explore the “art and science of helping adults learn,” based on Malcolm Knowles’ theory of andragogy and his assumptions of adult learners. Discover how to apply these assumptions within the work you do everyday with adult learners. Register once to join one or all sessions in this monthly series. Register now!
Orientation to Learning with Corrie Rhyasen Erdman, CLN - Jan. 27, 2025
Motivation to Learn with Allison McKee, Willow Creek Community Adult Learning Society - Feb. 27, 2025
Self-concept with Heidi Grogan, Calgary Learns - March 31, 2025
Exploring the Never-Fail Writing Method
Would you like to gain confidence in teaching writing so learners are inspired to write and to keep writing? Join Rebecca Still to take an in depth look into the Never Fail Writing Method e-learning and learn strategies to:
- Give specific, detailed feedback to learners about what they have done well.
- Give feedback to each learner in a group learners, whenever possible, so they can learn from each other, and so your work with one learner’s writing can benefit everyone.
- Ignore all mistakes.
Wednesdays, February 5, 12, & 19, 2025
What's New in Adult Literacy Series Explore what’s new and effective best practices based on more recent studies for working with adult literacy learners.
Teach what is relevant to the learner-different ways of learning – Jan. 29, 2025
Who is Paulo Freire and how is his pedagogy relevant today? – Feb. 18, 2025
What is social justice? How does it connect to adult literacy learners? - Mar. 20, 2025
Trauma-Informed Practice in CALP (NEW!) Understanding trauma, trauma reactions and strategies to support learners can help you create a trauma-responsive learning environment in your CALP programs - March 13, 20, & April 3, 2025
For Boards and Operational CALP Staff
Strategic Planning for CALP Boards
Is your board in need of a strategic plan refresh?! We are pleased to bring back Strategic Planning for CALP Boards which is both fun and rewarding. This online series will walk CALP staff and board members through the key steps for creating or updating your strategic plan. By participating, board members can work together towards:
- Developing a clear roadmap for the organization's future
- Enhancing decision-making and setting priorities effectively
- Motivating your team about your goals and future
Dates: Jan 20, 27, Feb 10, 18, & 24, 2025 (evenings) Register Now!
Contact Corrie Rhyasen Erdman if you have any questions training@calp.ca
Coffee with the CLN Board Join in on this candid and informal conversation with CLN’s Board. Members of the Board will share tips about board life and welcome questions and feedback from CALPs – Jan 8, 2025
For Everyone
Indigenous Pathways to Learning and Healing - A Truth and Reconciliation Series: Faye Beauchamp, CLN and Lucille Provost, Pincher Creek Community Adult Learning Council Society, will host a 4-part series of dialogues on Truth and Reconciliation for CALP staff, boards, and volunteers
- Jan 22, 29, Feb 5 & 12, 2025
Provincial Connections Café – Join CLN's RSS team to share, connect and network with CALP staff from across the province – Jan 28, 2025
Wellness Lunch & Learn Series: Stress and Resilience – Feb 8, 2025
Regional Connections Cafés
West Connections Café – Feb. 19, 2025
East Connections Café - Feb 19, 2025
North Connections Café – Feb. 26, 2025
Tuesday, April 29 to Thursday, May 1
Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 UpdateDoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton in Edmonton
Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 Update
Please mark your training calendars!
Happy New Year!
As our Symposium planning continues, we are excited to announce what’s new!
COMING IN FEBRUARY: Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 Registration opens on February 12th
February will bring even more exciting news, including how to register for the full Symposium event designed to inspire and engage. This is your chance to connect, grow, and be part of a vibrant community dedicated to making waves in literacy and foundational learning. Stay tuned for more details!
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Pat Halewich, Symposium Lead.
Explore the New CALP Portal!
We heard you! And now the CALP Portal has been upgraded with new navigation and reorganized content to improve your experience. These updates set the stage for enhanced features that we hope will make your time on the Portal easier and more efficient. Over the coming weeks, you will continue to see additional changes to the look and functionality. This upgrade is a big change to the overall structure of the CALP Portal. While we anticipate a smooth transition, we welcome your support in flagging any issues you experience.
NorQuest College Invites CALPs to Participate in Project
How do you use the data that your CALP organization collects? Do you use data for reporting, decision-making, understanding the learners who attend/leave your programs, or maybe for many other purposes? If you would like to learn how your data could be used more effectively, efficiently, and in more impactful ways then you will want to be part of a new project. NorQuest College is leading the submission of a project that will:
- help create a common understanding of data and analysis for Community Adult Learning Programs
- support participant CALP organizations to strengthen their use of data for their own goals such as making better decisions, planning more effectively, strengthening funding proposals, and more
- provide the CALP system with customized tools, training and resources to expand the use of data and analysis for more impactful applications
To be part of this project read on to find out what to do next…
NorQuest College is leading a grant application for the Community and College Social Innovation Fund.
Title: Data for Non-Profit Organizations
Dates: approximately July 2025-June 2028
NorQuest College will consult with non-profits and other CALPs to understand how they use data currently, and how they wish they could use data in the future. We will work with some organizations to develop tools, training, and resources that can be shared among CALPs. There are many ways to participate, ranging from focus groups, resources review, or full participation with consultation, assessment, and tool customization.
We’re asking CALPs to provide letters of support if they think the project is valuable. Letters of support can express support in spirit or express commitments to participate. These are not legal contracts, and we understand that your commitment may increase or decrease, depending on capacity.
If you have questions about the project, please attend one of our information sessions:
Literacy in Action
Last month the recent results of PIAAC were released by OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). The big question the report is asking is ‘do adults have the skills necessary to thrive in a changing world?
The answer: over the past decade, adult skills have either declined or stagnated. In Canada, adult literacy skills have stagnated.
For those here in Alberta, it means we need to work more closely with adult foundational learners to help them improve their skills in literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem solving. These are the basic skills OECD has identified as being crucial for personal and professional growth as well being able to navigate the complexities of modern life.
This Month's Spotlight
Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27th to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.
Since 1999, schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups across the country have taken part in the initiative. ABC creates free learning and promotional resources for anyone that wants to get involved.
Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.
The Family Literacy Day 2025 theme is Learn to be Green, Together, serving as an opportunity to learn ways to be more green and environmentally friendly. Being green together is a fun way to learn as a family while being kind to the environment.
Want to find out more about this event, or explore ideas for celebrating with your CALP community?
Quote of the Day
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.
- Nido Qubein