CALP Connections: March 2017

March Is Optimism Month

Some of us tend to look at optimistic people as those with their heads ‘in the clouds’ – out of touch with reality. However, optimistic people are not always smiling and chipper – they get mad and angry. Nevertheless, they are not stuck in their emotions and they appear to be better at doing one thing than those with a different attitude or outlook on life; Optimists are better at problem solving – they move quickly from problem-identification to problem solving. They believe that situations will work out, so they spend their time and energy on making these situations work, rather than focusing on their own emotional reactions.

Optimism is not a disposition you are born with. It is a learned skill, and a very important ingredient in determining your level of happiness.

Brenda’s Tips for Celebrating Optimism Month:

• Act like an optimist. Use the word choices and body posture of optimistic people. The words we use can affect our mood. Optimists take big steps, walk faster and stand taller. Do not shuffle your feet, do not take tiny steps or walk slowly and slouch.

• Move swiftly from problem-identification to problem solving. We all get angry and upset, but the challenge is to move past these emotions and start looking for strategies and solutions that will help you to deal with whatever the challenge is.

• Avoid emotional leeches. Minimize your contact with those who look on the negative side of everything, who criticize you, mock, or sabotage your dreams and aspirations.

• Be grateful. Grateful people report lower levels of depression and stress.

Remember:

• Optimists enjoy better health.
• Optimists find more success.
• Optimists feel less stressed during stressful times.
• Optimists tend to have more supportive networks and resources.

“Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”

-- Nicholas M. Butler

Brenda Adams, Chair
CLN Board of Directors

Registration is LIVE for Symposium 2017!

The online registration site for the 2017 Literacy and Learning Symposium is now open!

We hope that bringing you the full program line up, and a variety of training and learning opportunities well in advance will help you better plan your PD priorities, and budgets, for Fall 2017.

Over the last few years, we have heard a lot of feedback about wanting access to a broader range of more in-depth sessions, and a real need for more formal and informal networking opportunities.

We have been very intentional in building this year's program with a variety of options, to suit a variety of learning styles and goals.

Once again, the Symposium will run from Monday to Friday, and you have the option of attending all 5 days, or just one day - depending on what meets your needs - for the flat fee of $175.00

Just go to https://www.calp.ca/symposium/home/about-the-symposium.html or click the "Symposium" tab from the CALP Portal's main navigation menu to find full information about this year's program, the venue and details on booking hotel rooms as part of the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2017 room block at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton.

Registration for Symposium 2017 is LIVE!

This morning we launched registration for the 2017 Literacy & Learning Symposium!

Our goal in bringing you the full program details well in advance is to help you plan your PD priorities (and budgets) for the fall, before CALPs submit their 2017-18 grant applications and proposed budgets to Advanced Education.

We have been listening carefully to the feedback you have provided over the last several years, and we hope that the CALP organizations are as excited as we are to see this year’s agenda filled with PD opportunities you have asked us for including:

• More one-day and two-day training opportunities!
• More half-day professional development sessions to delve further into a topic area!
• More opportunities to connect, share and learn from each other and to build communities of practice!

Once again this year, you will have the option of attending all 5 days, from Monday to Friday, or just the day or days that suit your needs for one flat fee. The registration fee for this year's Symposium is $175.00.

To find all the details about the program options, including pilot sessions for 5 brand new trainings being developed for the CALP system, just click on the "Symposium" tab from the Portal's main navigation menu, or go to https://www.calp.ca/symposium/home/about-the-symposium.html

CALP Portal: New Learning Plan, e-Learning, and Project Evaluation

My Professional Learning

We are so excited to launch the new "Professional Learning Plan" feature on the CALP Portal.

If you have an account to access the Portal, you can now use it to track your own professional learning goals, your training and PD, and to print a transcript of all the training you have attended.

To get started, it's as easy as scrolling down to the bottom of your My Portal dashboard to find the light blue box, "My Professional Learning".

 You can click the "Add" button to set up a new goal, or click "View All" to see the complete Learning Plan page, including your registration history and training history.

We've also put together a quick-start guide to help you get your learning plan set up.

Download the Learning Plan Guide here

e-Learning Workshops

Last month we launched 2 new e-Learning workshops: Essential Skills, and Learner Support Services.

These micro-learning workshops are designed to provide you with bite-sized information that you can work through at your own pace.  If you haven't had a chance to check out the e-learning workshops yet, just log into your Portal account and click on the "e-Learning" tab.

Later this month, we will be launching another new workshop on "Assessment for Learning". Be sure to keep an eye out for the new workshop the week of March 13th.

If you do not have a Portal account, and would like to access the e-Learning workshops, please contact office@calp.ca to request a login.

Portal Project Evaluation: 3 Minute Survey

It’s hard to believe it has been 2 years since CLN started working on the development of the CALP Portal! In February of 2015, CLN received funding through eCampusAlberta to support the development of an online “one-stop-shop” for all things CALP.

As the "project" phase of the Portal development has wound down, we'd like to know from you how you think we've done.

We have enjoyed the adventure of building the site, and all the things we have learned from you along the way, but we'd like to hear a little more.

Please take 3 to 5 minutes to fill out a quick survey to let us know what you like about the Portal, what you use most often, and where you think we have room for improvement.

CALP Portal Evaluation Survey

Free Training Opportunities from Alberta Workforce Essential Skills

CLN is pleased to partner with AWES to make this training available to CALPs. Register for any of these events on the CALP Portal under the "Training and Events" tab.

Click the image above to download the poster, or contact Sue Oguchi for more information at sue@awes.ca

By Popular Demand: Basic Facilitation Skills

Basic Facilitation Skills For Not-For-Profit & Government Organizations training workshop is hosted by Community Learning Network, partnered with professional facilitators from Community Development Unit, Alberta Culture and Tourism.

This training provides hands-on ‘learn while doing’ accessible instruction in the art of group facilitation. This is a practical, in-demand workshop that provides learning through instruction, discussion, small and large group work, practice and feedback.

“After this training I felt energized and organized a very successful Community Dialogue that community members have voiced to be the best and most engaging session they have attended locally!” - Jackie Peterson, Newell Further Education

We are pleased that we have been able to coordinate two offerings of this training this spring. Working with our partners at Alberta Culture and Training, CLN will host this 3-day training. The registration fee is only $175.00.

For complete details, and to register for one of these great learning opportunities, please follow the links below:

Grande Prairie, Pomeroy Inn and Conference Centre - April 4th - 6th
Registration for this event is publically accessible, and open to CALPs, partners and community members.

Brooks, Medicine Hat College Campus - May 16th - 18th
Registration for this event is currently open on the "All Members and Partners" training calendar on the CALP Portal (member login required), and will open to the broader community on March 16th.

Updates to the CALP Database: Online Information Sessions March 29th

The CALP Database is a secure online data management system that is hosted and managed by the Community Learning Network, and accessible free of charge to CALPs throughout Alberta. The Database allows you to track learner and registration data, as well as to track and manage information required for CALP reporting to Alberta Advanced Education (such as learner demographics, volunteer hours, outcomes and indicators, etc.).

This spring, we have been working to update the CALP Database to align with the new CALP Grant Final Report form from Advanced Education.

In addition to ensuring that the reports are aligned to the CALP grant, we are currently working with the Database development team to make some additions and improvements to the system.

The updates will be launched over the weekend of March 10th - 13th, to minimize disruption for current users.

Some key features to watch for include:

• Changes to some of the language, to better align with the CALP grant
• New fields to track additional data, like the total number of staff hours, non-tutoring volunteer hours
• Improved functionality for tracking tutor pairs and small group tutoring
• Revised reporting templates

Since the release of the 2016-17 CALP Final Report form, we have seen increased interest in learning more about the CALP Database. This month, we will host 2 webinars so you can learn more about the system, and how it can help you manage your data and your reporting.

Meet the CALP Database

When:

Wednesday, March 29th
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Who should attend:

This webinar will be a high level introduction to the CALP Database, designed for CALPs who are NOT currently using the Database, but would like to know more.

CLICK HERE to register for this introductory online session.

CALP Database System Updates

When:

Wednesday, March 29th
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Who should attend:

This session will be tailored to CALPs who ARE currently using the Database, to provide information on the system changes, and how they will affect end-users.

CLICK HERE to register for this intermediate level webinar.

New Training in Development for the CALP System

Last fall, CLN worked with Advanced Education to release a Request for Proposals to develop a ½ - 2 day training program designed to meet the PD needs of CALP staff. Of the proposals that were received, 5 were identified to move forward.

Over the next year to 18 months, developers from different areas will work to create new training for CALPs. The successful proposals include:

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Course for Facilitators (NorQuest College)

Tech Talk (Literacy for Life Society)

Strategic Conversations: Adult Literacy Assessment and Measuring Progress (Bow Valley College)

Tutor Training: Supporting Learning Partners (Bow Valley College)

Working with Indigenous Learners: Engaging and Retaining Learners (Manning Community Adult Learning and Literacy Council and Manning Community Resource Centre (Aboriginal) Society)

These 5 projects, funded through the Community Adult Learning Program, will all be piloted and showcased at the Literacy & Learning Symposium in September. Registration for the pilots will be based on a first-come, first-served basis as part of your Symposium registration.

Pearls of Wisdom

Each month, in celebration of CLN's 30th Anniversary - the "pearl" anniversary - this year, we will be featuring "Pearls of Wisdom" from CALP staff, volunteers, and partners. We would love to hear what you have learned through your work, from your colleagues, or from your learners.

This month, Joan Haggarty shared a quote that she finds inspiring and relevant to the work of the Community Adult Learning Program.

"People closest to the problem are more likely to find appropriate and sustainable solutions to the problem. Therefore, equip more citizens with the capacity to lead, and you'll build a thriving Community." - Ian Hill, Community Builder

Joan works with the East Prairie Metis Settlement CALP Program. Congratulations Joan, CLN will be sending you a small token as a thank you for sharing.

If you would like to share your Pearl of Wisdom, email Odette at news@calp.ca with the word "Pearl" in the subject line. If your submission is featured, we will send you a special token of appreciation. That's right - there are prizes to be won!

Reminder: Spring Regional Meeting Dates

Spring regional meeting planning is in full swing. If you haven't yet, please be sure to "Save the Date" for your meeting.

Meeting agendas and registration will be available on the CALP Portal approximately one month prior to your meeting date.

North: April 27th, Grande Prairie

West Central (Rural) - April 25th, Edson

West Central (Edmonton) - March 15th, Edmonton

East Central - May 4th, St. Paul

Central - May 3rd, Big Valley

South (Calgary) - March 7th, Calgary

South (Lethbridge) - April 4th, Lethbridge

If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Support Staff any time!