Learner Self-Management and Self-Direction

Supporting Learning, Supporting Change is a field report that summarizes a 2002 research project by the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) on self-management and self-direction. The purpose of the research was to highlight the importance of self-management and self-direction to the learning process and lay a foundation for further research in the area. The project included interviews with practitioners, researchers, and learners from a broad range of programs across Ontario, as well as academic research, a literature review, and an online discussion.

The field report describes the research method and findings, explores current practices in Ontario, lists resources, and offers a new model for supporting learners in building self-awareness and self-direction. The field report is available on the OLC website at: www.on.literacy.ca. Print copies of both the field report and the full research report can be purchased from the OLC at tel: 416-963-5787 or email: olc@on.literacy.ca.

The Annual Review of Adult Learning and Literacy

The Annual Review of Adult Learning and Literacy is a resource for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners, published annually by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) in Boston. Each annual review presents the major issues, important research, and best practices in the field of adult learning and literacy. Volume Four has just been released and features articles on the year’s most critical topics, annotated reviews of the best books and journal articles, and timely updates on evolving policy and research. For information, contact NCSALL at tel: 617-495-4843 or e-mail: ncsall@gse.harvard.edu, or visit the website at: www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/index.html.

Statistics Canada Offers Resources for Literacy Researchers and Educators

The Statistics Canada website offers two resources of interest to literacy researchers and educators.

The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) Database, 1998, is now available for free download. The interactive system allows users to retrieve customized tables of information drawn from more than 20 countries using variables such as adult education, community activities, demographics, educational experience, household information, and many others. IALS, initiated in 1994, offers the world’s only source of comparative data on participation in adult education and training and includes data from 23 countries or regions. To download the database, visit www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/89-588-XIE.htm or for more information on the database or how to to order IALS reports, tel: 1-800-263-1136 or e-mail: infostats@statcan.ca.

The Statistics Canada website also includes E-STAT, an interactive learning tool for teachers and students. E-STAT offers an enormous warehouse of statistics about Canada and its population in a dynamic, easy-to-use, and versatile format. For teachers, E-STAT contains lesson plans developed by educators specifically for senior elementary level and up as well as links to relevant data sources for compulsory Social Studies courses organized by province, grade, and major topic. Canadian educational institutions can obtain free access to the internet version by registering at the E-STAT website. Once their institution is registered, teachers and students can access E-STAT from school or home with the institution’s user identification and password.

For information, tel: 1-800-465-1222, or e-mail: e-stat@statcan.ca or visit: www.statcan.ca/english/Estat/intro.htm.