CALP Connections: January 2018

New Year… New Beginnings!

Happy 2018 to all! I hope everyone is well rested and spent some quality time with friends, family, and loved ones over the holidays.

While I had my feet up by the fire, I pondered what I would like 2018 to be. January is known to be the month for goal setting, personally and professionally.

Some of the questions I ask myself are:

• What do I want to accomplish by the end of June in my program?
• Do I need some PD to make it happen?
• If so, what type of training do I need, and when would be a good time to take it?
• How will I manage my work/life balance? How will I manage my stress level? 

A personal journal is a great place to record your thoughts and goals. Your professional goals can be added to your profile on the CALP Portal under Training and Events, click on “My Learning Plan and History”. At the end of the granting year, it is a great place to refer back to and record your PD on the Final Report. Please set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time Bound.

As long as the needle is moving, we are making progress. Wishing all of you great success in 2018!

Jackie Peterson
Treasurer, CLN Board of Directors

Spring Regional Meetings - Save the Dates!

CLN has been excitedly planning for the spring. The Regional Support Staff are busy finalizing dates and locations for regional trainings, but we are happy to announce we have confirmed the dates and locations for the Spring Regional Meetings to mark on your calendars.

Regional Meetings provide an excellent opportunity for CALP Staff and Boards, Advanced Education and other system stakeholders to come together to share and learn from one another. Be sure to save the date!

• West Central (Edmonton surrounding areas) - March 15, Stony Plain

• South - April 10, Lethbridge

• West Central (Rural) - April 17 &18, Drayton Valley

• North - April 26, Grande Prairie
  

• Central - May 1, Big Valley

• East Central - May 10, St. Paul

Your Regional Support Staff will be sending out more detailed information in the upcoming weeks.

2018 Literacy and Learning Symposium Keynote: Nora Young

The 2018 Literacy and Learning Symposium planning committee has been hard at work planning and finalizing another memorable program full of great sessions and plenty of networking time. Again this year we had so many amazing proposals for training and breakout sessions that we had a really hard time picking the most relevant and most requested sessions! (To read more about the process, see Corrie Rhyasen Erdman's blog, in case you missed it!)

We are in the process of confirming all the sessions and speakers, and are excited to launch registration in March.

But just to give you a teaser, we are delighted to announce one of our confirmed keynote speakers. Be sure you plan to stay for the closing keynote on Friday, September 28. 

Nora Young

Nora Young is the host and the creator of Spark, a national radio show and podcast about technology and culture, which airs on CBC Radio. She was the founding host of CBC Radio’s Definitely Not the Opera, where she often discussed topics related to new media and technology.

Her work has also appeared online, on television, and in print. As a journalist, author, and speaker, Nora explores how new technology shapes the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her book, The Virtual Self, focuses on the explosion of data about our behaviours, thoughts, opinions and actions.

She’s a casual blogger and committed hobby podcaster.

Keep tuning into CALP Connections, and staying up to date on the Portal.... More exciting programming announcements will be coming soon!

And you if haven't already saved the dates, make sure you do!

Literacy & Learning Symposium 2018

Dates: Tuesday, September 25 to Friday, September 28, 2018

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, West Edmonton
16615 109th Avenue North West, Edmonton, Alberta, T5P 4K8

Engaging With Indigenous Learners Pilots

This professional development workshop arose out of the recognition that success in an adult learning environment inclusive of Indigenous learners is best accomplished through understanding. It is unique in the sense that it engages participation from the variety of Indigenous peoples who live in the Treaty 6, 7, and 8 areas of Alberta, as well as with the Indigenous Postsecondary Educational Institutions. There is no ‘one’ singular specialization of Indigenous knowledge. Each Nation and tribe is unique, and the collaborative nature of this professional development opportunity allows you to hear the Indigenous voices in your local area.

This training is for CALP practitioners who work with or would like to work with adult Indigenous learners, but who may not have had previous opportunities to learn about Indigenous people, knowledge, issues, and culture, or who have had limited exposure to the Indigenous experience.

Learn about local, regional, and national issues of relevance to adult Indigenous learners to help you create a supportive and welcoming learning experience for Indigenous learners in your community. Connect with and build relationships with community members from your local First Nations Colleges.

Watch the Portal for upcoming dates and registration information for your region.

A.L.L. in Family Literacy Coming to your Region!

We would like to announce that the new training developed by CLN, Adult Literacy & Learning in Family Literacy (known as A.L.L. in Family Literacy) will be delivered in every region this spring. 

The learning outcomes workshop, which is designed for coordinators, facilitators and administrators of CALP-funded family literacy programs, are to:

• Understand how family literacy programs provide adult foundational learning opportunities
• Learn how to engage parents by using adult learning strategies in their Family Literacy programs

Topics that will be covered include:

• Defining a CALP-funded family literacy program
• Building foundational literacy and learning skills in adult learners (literacy skills development and literacy skills practise activities)
• Applying the strategies and tools to your own program

Please keep an eye on the Portal for upcoming dates and locations in your region. 

To find out more about how this training came about, read Tanis Harms' blog. 

Funding for CALPs Available from the Culture of Collaboration Initiative

The Culture of Collaboration Initiative began as a project to support community dialogues focused on the adult literacy and foundational learning needs and supports in our communities. In addition to hosting community dialogue events, there are a variety of other ways to engage your community that are eligible for funding and supports. For example, CLN may provide support to CALPs wishing to work more closely with their local CCI in order to support increased pathways for adult learners.

If you are interested in hosting an event this spring, now is the time to start planning! CALPs will receive up to $1,000.00 in financial support, as well as customized coaching and mentoring from CLN staff.

As supporters of vibrant learning communities, “[CALPs] are well-connected to other learning and service providers in the community, which increases the community’s capacity to support learner pathways. [They also] work closely with the regional Comprehensive Community Institutions to explore opportunities for regional needs assessments and planning, as well as the coordinated delivery of learning opportunities, learner supports and services.” (from the CALP Guidelines)

One of the best ways to stay well-connected in your community is to actively engage its members in conversation. Community Dialogue events are an excellent way to bring people together. They can also be an important first step in the needs assessment and strategic planning process.

A traditional community dialogue is essentially a gathering of minds, and can take many different forms. In fact, no two dialogues are alike and results vary according to the type of event, and the needs of each individual CALP. Some formats include:

• Small group think-tanks that bring together a specific group of people. These think-tanks may include a meeting with community service agencies to identify who is providing what and how to collaborate, or a meeting with learners to decide how best to meet their learning needs.
• Larger community events that bring everyone together in one place. These larger events might include learners, agencies, local business, and other interested parties who all come together to discuss adult learning needs in the bigger, community picture.

In recent years, some CALPs have built off this “traditional” meeting style dialogue in favour of something more innovative. Projects range from a short, “speed dating” meeting with the local Chamber to find out what gaps and services your local businesses have identified, to a series of mini-dialogues with several different stakeholders or stakeholder groups over time.

Not sure where to begin? Download the Culture of Collaboration Application Package. The package includes FAQs and a Readiness Checklist to help you decide if hosting an event is right for your organization. You can also check out the “Culture of Collaboration” Collection" on the CALP Portal to see tools, resources and examples from other communities.

If you have an innovative idea, and would like to explore what support is available, please contact Lisa Dickner, Executive Director at ed@calp.ca or contact your Regional Support Staff.

Quote of the Day

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
and next year’s words await another voice.

— T.S. Eliot