Research in Practice—the backgroundn Practice—the background

There is a growing interest in research in literacy practice in Canada. In February 1996, the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) hosted a discussion on literacy research. Participants identified a need to advance literacy research and practice in Canada. Following this Mary Norton and Yvon Laberge carried out a survey that identified an interest in research in practice and challenges to practitioners engaging in research.

In 1997 a research in practice seminar was held in Edmonton where eighteen participants reviewed literacy practitioner research networks that had been attempted in Canada and ones that were established in Australia, the UK and the USA. That same year, the Learning Centre in Edmonton partnered with the University Faculty of Education and with funding from the NLS explored participatory approaches in literacy education. Following closely, in 1998, the NLS produced Enhancing literacy research in Canada which highlighted the need for research capacity building at home. By this time Alberta and British Columbia were organizing literacy research in practice efforts. The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education Regional Conference held in Halifax in 1998 focused on practitioner action research and a national project based at the University of Ottawa with Dr. Maurice Taylor involved 10 practitioners researching workplace literacy.

The Research in Practice in Adult Literacy (RiPAL) network was established in 2000 in Alberta. A Gathering about literacy research in practice was held in Edmonton in 2001, with another held in BC in 2002 and the Research in Practice Institute in St. John’s NF in 2003. This bulletin and the electronic forum that accompanies it begins the research conversation in NB. (taken from “It simply makes us better” by Mary Norton and Allan Quigley, 2002)

Research in Practice Institutes: Venturing forth
– by Sally Crawford

“Your Jenny Horseman is speaking at a literacy conference in Edmonton. You should go.” My Jenny Horseman? Me go to a literacy conference? It was this off-hand comment that launched me on the road to connecting with other folk around the world concerned with literacy practices, reflection and research.

The next year, to my amazement, there was another Gathering, Portraits of Literacy, in Vancouver! I had been involved with an action research project with Dr. Pam Whitty and Dr. Pam Nason at The University of New Brunswick. Pam Whitty suggested that we attend and present a paper about the work. She, Cheryl Brown and I (from The Saint John Learning Exchange) facilitated an inquiry group about developing partnerships and policy to sustain intergenerational and family literacy programs. I listened. I learned. I peeled back more layers of literacy practice. I took delight in “welcoming the wild” and the “not literacy” pedagogy as Elsa Auerbach phrased the work. I began to feel that perhaps I had something to contribute.

Off to Newfoundland...Sally’s adventure continues...

Off to the Rock I went for Research in Practice in Adult Literacy. Participating in Marina Niks’ sessions on “Getting Started in Research in Practice” gave me the confidence to realize that I was doing, and could do research. We focused on what is research? who does it? and how? My journey to this point was not unlike Learners in literacy programs who travel from being hesitantly eager, to belonging, to realizing and raising their voices. I went home more determined than ever to do research in practice.

I am aware of the undercurrents, the politics and the tensions occurring in the field. Yet, we seem to soldier on, under funded and undervalued. There is rarely enough time to do everything. We make muffins; write proposals, lobby policy makers and do everything in between.

All this and do research as well?! The task is HUGE! But what unites us all and must encourage us all is the passionate belief that what we do counts.