CALP Connections: January 2021

“The future depends on what we do in the present.”  Mahatma Gandhi

Sometime this month, everyone will celebrate the advent of another trip around the sun…and celebrate is the operative word. After the festivities are over and the gifts opened, now what? Our outlook is a little blurry right now, but one positive effect the New Year can have on us is we want to do things better and become better people. There is an old European custom regarding resolutions:

What one does on this day one will do for the rest of the year.

This is our chance to take a deep, deep breath, look at the beauty of Mother Earth that surrounds us and make a renewed pledge to our family, friends, colleagues and learners. Everyone’s method will be different and that’s what makes our community of CALPs work so well. We can share our experiences, seek and find support, with a common goal to improve our lives and the lives of others with whatever means we have at hand.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

…And that’s a good reason to celebrate!

Happy New Year and Happy Life Everyone!

Kate Glover
Program Director, Willow Creek Community Adult Learning Society
CLN Vice Chair

CLN Staff Picks

*New* this year - CLN Staff Picks. We all know that the CALP Portal is a wealth of resources (in print and online). Among these, several resources fall under the category ‘personal favourites’. Join a different team member each month as we highlight our ‘staff pick’. We can’t wait to share these treasures with everyone!

Join us for our first one on January 27: Staff Pick - Catching Confidence.

Upcoming Trainings and Connections Cafes

Register for the following upcoming Trainings and Connections Cafes in December and January!! Click on the name of the training to get to the registration page directly. If the training is full please add yourself to the wait list or look for required trainings and PFAs offered on another date. 

Regional Connection Cafes

Grab a coffee, bring a question, share a success or challenge, stay for five minutes or settle in for all ninety. These monthly Connections Cafes are an opportunity for you to connect with CALP staff in your region.

January 28 at 10:00 am - East Connections Cafe

January 28 at 1:00 pm - West Connections Cafe

January 28 at 10:00 am - North Connections Cafe

January 28 at 1:00 pm - Central Connections Cafe

January 28 at 1:00 pm - South Connections Cafe

Trainings

January 14 - New CALP Staff Webinar

January 20 - Ask Us Anything about Metis and Indigenous Worldview

January 25 - Creating Instructional Materials Using Plain Language 

January 26 & 27 - Psychological First Aid (Ponoka)

January 27 - Staff Pick - Catching Confidence

January 27 & February 3,10,17 & 24 - Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning (Online Training) Jan-Feb 2021 (mornings)

January 27 & February 3,10,17 & 24 - Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning (Online Training) Jan-Feb 2021 (afternoons)

Literacy Dates to Remember 2021

Courtesy of Decoda Literacy Solutions.

Click on the calendar image to go to the active calendar with links. 

Family Literacy Day 2021 Theme: Travel the World Together!

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, thousands of schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups have taken part in the initiative. 

This year's theme: Travel the World Together is to use your imagination to go exploring and travel the world together as a family – you never know what you’ll learn! Plan your dream trip, learn about another culture and open your mind to the world.

There are a lot of great resources and stats available at ABC Life Literacy Canada https://abclifeliteracy.ca/all-programs/family-literacy-day/. 

This Month's Spotlight

This Month's Spotlight is the ABC Skills Hub. It is an online learning portal that offers asynchronous, at-home delivery of ABC Life Literacy Canada’s many adult literacy programs. It was created with a simple design that will appeal to practitioners and their learners who are looking to improve their digital literacy along with their money and work skills. It adheres to Clear Language and Design principles and prioritizes accessible navigation, from setting up an account, to learning.

With the ABC Skills Hub, learners are able to complete online courses at their own pace, save their work in progress, and download course content and helpful reminders of what they’ve learned. It is fully accessible on both mobile and desktop and all privacy, data and personal information of learners is well protected.

The ABC Skills Hub will add new features, such as teacher and organization portals, where teachers can set up “virtual classrooms” for learners, and where organizations can keep track of multiple teachers and groups of learners across a variety of courses.

Visit the Skills Hub page to learn more.

*This Month's Spotlight is a new feature in CALP Connections highlighting monthly news, interesting facts or timely happenings in the world of adult literacy from Alberta or around the world. If you have something to submit, please send an email to office@calp.ca with the subject header This Month's Spotlight.