When a board starts talking about needing a new strategic plan and having a retreat to do so, a process begins which will set the path forward for several years. Make sure that your organization is well prepared. This session will help get you ready. Small group work will be part of this session.

Presenter:

Keith Seel is an experienced educator and researcher who is also the editor of two major textbooks on management issues in the nonprofit sector. He supported a range of adult literacy initiatives in his previous role with Bow Valley College. Keith has been active on community boards for over 40 years.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify and address all matters related to having a successful strategic planning session by the board
• Participants will learn, and also identify, elements in their organization that need to be considered for strategic planning
• Participants will identify what needs to be brought together for strategic planning

Primary Session Thread: Strategic Planning

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Board Members of Community Adult Learning Program

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

Drawing on adult learning principles, curriculum development processes, and instructional design practices, we will explore the fundamentals of using assistive technology for teaching reading to adult foundational learners.

Presenter:

Dr. Christina White Prosser is an adult learning specialist, experienced educator, adult learning researcher, and proven leader in educational administration. Her professional experience includes various non-profit organizations and over 24 years in postsecondary education.

Learning Objectives:

• To explore approaches for integrating assistive technology into adult learning classrooms through reflection on adult learning principles, curriculum development processes and instructional design practices
• To introduce the advantages of using assistive technology for adult foundational learning programs
• This interactive presentation will give you opportunities to apply these strategies to your own personal practice, making use of templates, reflection, and pair and share conversations

Primary Session Thread: Digital Technology, Tools & Resources

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner, Family Literacy Program Practitioner, Board Members of Community Adult Learning Program, Volunteer Tutor

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

There are five social emotional skills included in the Skills for Success. What are they and how do they affect a person’s life outcomes? This breakout session looks at the importance of developing soft skills with adult learners, through the lens of Ontario's Literacy and Basic Skills program. Learn how practitioners are teaching these important skills and hear inspirational testimonies from the learners themselves.

Presenter:

Catherine Toovey is the Executive Director of Community Literacy of Ontario, a provincial support organization that serves over 100 community-based Literacy and Basic Skills programs across the province. Catherine is passionate about literacy as a basic human right.

Learning Objectives:

• To look at the new Skills for Success and examine the importance of the five soft skills
• To share instructional design strategies that enhance learning and to explore techniques for customizing instruction for diverse learning settings
• Participants will feel confident to start using the Skills for Success with their learners

Primary Session Thread: Skills for Success

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

Join us for an overview of immigration pathways. Attendees will learn about family, work, and refugee programs. We’ll discuss struggles and approaches to supporting adult learners based on status or journey. We’ll also look at why Ukrainian immigrants are not considered refugees and what that means while they are in Canada.

Presenters:

Erin Wight is the Director of MacEwan International and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. She works with a dedicated team that facilitate access to international and intercultural learning in Canada and abroad.

Nataliya Oliferchuk is the Manager of International Student Services and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. She oversees international advising and retention at MacEwan, which blend academic, immigration, and engagement guidance for international students and refugees.

Learning Objectives:

• To provide an overview of Canadian immigration programs
• How students can struggle while navigating their immigration status or a specific program
• Approaches to better understanding and supporting adult learners in their immigration journey from our community of practice

Primary Session Thread: Newcomer Supports for English Language Learners

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner, Volunteer Tutor

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

Whether applying for a grant, writing a report, or recruiting learners, you’re telling a story, ‘Writer’ will eventually be one of the hats you’re asked to wear in literacy. Effective storytelling is the core of sharing impact. We’ll explore best practices for crafting compelling stories and nurture your inner writer.

Presenter:

Allison Nichol Longtin is a writer, curriculum developer, and educator. Formerly the Programs Manager at ABC Life Literacy Canada, Allison brings her wide range of skills to clients in the non-profit and literacy sectors.

Learning Objectives:

• To encourage participants to use the art of storytelling in their work and to reveal the many different ways we already use it to communicate our successes
• To address using plain language to clearly communicate your message; knowing your audience and speaking their language; how to present challenges and shifting priorities in an honest, but positive light; self-editing: knowing what to include
• Participants will take away tangible tools to support their storytelling

Primary Session Thread: Budget & Finances

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Board Members of Community Adult Learning Program

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) will replace GED® as a more reliable and accurate assessment of an adult’s level of education and the Canadian context. This session will provide information about the CAEC architecture and design, test structures and outcomes, and plans for implementation. Come learn about how the CAEC can support adult learners in meeting necessary academic requirements for current and future employment opportunities; and accessing further education, such as apprenticeship, college, or other workplace training programs.

Presenters:

Jessica Schultchen is the Director, Strategic Operations, with Alberta Education. She holds a B.A. in French, B.Ed. in French Education and M.Ed. in Leadership, Curriculum, Evaluation and Educational Policies from the University of Ottawa.

Jessica Handy is the Assessment Lead of the CAEC with Alberta Education. She holds a B.Ed. in Secondary Education and M.Ed. in Curriculum Studies. Prior to joining the government, she was a high school Math teacher for 15 years.

Learning Objectives:

• To provide testing centres and prep course providers the opportunity to learn about this new academic credential that can open new pathways for successful candidates
• How to promote and implement the CAEC in their organization
• How to administer CAEC tests, issue the credential and prepare test-takers to write CAEC tests

Primary Session Thread: Community Capacity Building

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner, Board Members of Community Adult Learning Program, Volunteer Tutor

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

This session will take attendees through Canadian Suicide statistics and the Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Method. The key components of this training include:

• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
• The common causes of suicidal behaviour
• The warning signs of suicide
• How to get help for someone in crisis

Presenters:

Natasha Bozek is an Animator with the Rural Mental Health Project and is also a Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention trainer in addition to her work in adult learning.

Lacey Abt is the FCSS Coordinator in Consort and is an Animator with the Rural Mental Health Project and a Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention trainer.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will better understand the signs of suicide and how to support someone who may be suicidal by using the QPR Method
• Participants will learn about the QPR Method, the common causes of suicidal behaviour, warning signs of suicide, and how to get help for someone in a crisis
• Participants will have a better understanding of Canadian suicide statistics, causes of suicidal behaviour and warning signs of suicide, and will learn the QPR Method and how to implement it if you think someone may be suicidal

Primary Session Thread: Mental Health & Learning

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner, Family Literacy Program Practitioner, Board Members of Community Adult Learning Program, Volunteer Tutor

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience

Facilitation and program evaluation are two words that can make people very nervous! This session will cover the goals of both, why they are important to programs, and ways to plan for them. Participants will also do hands on activities that can be incorporated into their own facilitation and evaluation.

Presenters:

Katie Johnson is the Northwest Territories (NWT) Literacy Council Program Director. She has worked with the NWT Literacy Council since 2012, working on Family, Youth and Adult Literacy projects in partnership with communities around the NWT.

Charlotte Upton has worked with the NWT Literacy Council since 2015, in many roles including Family and Youth Literacy. She is now the Senior Project Specialist working on embedded Literacy and Skills for Success projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn tools and knowledge about program facilitation and evaluation
• Participants will learn about the goals of facilitation and program evaluation, as well as planning tools
• Participants will take away hands-on facilitation and evaluation activities that they can use in programs

Primary Session Thread: Facilitation Skills, Evaluation

Target Audience: Community Adult Learning Program Staff, Adult Literacy Practitioner, Family Literacy Program Practitioner, Volunteer Tutor

Recommended Participant Experience: Any level of experience