Adult literacy assessment is becoming a topic increasing
in importance as governments analyze the implications of the International
Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). Motivated by a drive towards increased global
competitiveness, new policy directions are being considered to address low
literacy skills of adults. For example, the recently released report of the
adult literacy working group chaired by Sir Claus Moser in the United Kingdom,
A fresh start - Improving literacy and numeracy, recommended dramatic
changes in services requiring substantial increases in funding. This followed
an evaluation of existing literacy and basic skills services in that country.
Two of the twenty-one recommendations concerned entitlement to assessment of
basic skills for unemployed workers and those receiving social assistance. This
indicates that improved assessment of individual needs is identified as an
important step in raising national rates of literacy. We see a similar
increased emphasis on assessment in some parts of Canada. In Ontario,
assessment or screening of basic skills will become part of the Ontario Works
(OW) intake process over the next few years.
Funding for projects and pilot activities examining
assessment reflects this interest. Currently, Kingston Literacy has three
projects that we believe will contribute to the development of literacy
assessment and screening, particularly activities which take place outside of
literacy and basic skills programs. The first two of these projects have been
actively supported by an assessor group representing the four literacy
providers in our community.
Employment Resource Centre Project
Over the past two years, Kingston Literacy assigned staff to the Employment
Resource Centre (HRDC) to conduct essential skills assessments for clients
using the Centre. We were involved in clear-writing the application for
training, and consulting with staff over changes in signage and brochures. Most
importantly, the process for referrals to basic skill assessments was
streamlined. In April, our role was expanded and funded by HRDC to provide a
full-time assessor at the Centre. This contract also includes plans for a 25
hour orientation program for those identified with low basic skills. The focus
of this program is to help potential learners develop a long-term training
strategy and learning goals, prior to referral to basic skills or credit
programs.
Initial Screening Assessment and Ontario Works
Starting this fall, Kingston Literacy has a project, jointly funded by the
National Literacy Secretariat (NLS) and The Employment Preparation Branch,
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to work with our OW
office in designing and piloting a literacy screening and assessment procedure.
This timely project arose out of a local analysis that showed there were few
Ontario Works clients entering local literacy programs. Our main concern was
that the role of literacy programs and services was not clearly understood by
either OW case workers or clients, and thus individuals may not have been
accessing the most appropriate educational services. This project will focus on
working closely with OW staff in Kingston to monitor the barriers to referrals
to literacy programs and to identify the most appropriate role for literacy and
basic skill services in our community. The goal is to support the emerging
literacy screening role of OW counselors. Our expectation is that this project
will lead to more social services clients entering appropriate literacy
programs. We hope this will also signal a greater integration of literacy into
the regular training and educational landscape.
The Assessment Kit Project
Our third project has developed out of the daily challenge staff face in our
one-to-one tutoring program of supporting tutoring pairs and adjusting to the
increased demand for demonstrated accountability. The Kingston Literacy
Assessment Kit project is currently in its second phase. The first phase,
funded by NLS, supported the development of the Kit for use by volunteer pairs.
It was designed with ongoing input from tutors and students to help the
tutoring pairs track student progress towards the individual goals. It
incorporates a review of goals and reflecting on the learning process every 12
weeks. The current phase, funded by MTCU, is to adapt the kit to reflect the
current Learning Matrix and Ontario Literacy Coalition level descriptions. This
second phase involves working closely with Community Literacy Ontario and four
community-based programs to pilot the kit. We anticipate that the final version
will be ready in April, 2000.
We appreciate these opportunities to contribute to the
development of assessment tools and an increased understanding of the role of
assessment in adult literacy programs. A review of several recent additions of
the Journal of Adolescence and Adult Literacy (International Reading
Association) indicates that the emerging political emphasis on assessment has
not yet generated debate on the role of literacy practitioners in initial
assessment. However, indications are this will change dramatically - at least
in Ontario - over the coming year.
To contact Kingston Literacy :
88 Wright Crescent, Kingston ON K7L 4T9,
Tel. (613) 547-2012, Fax 547-2024,
email:kinglit@kos.net
http://www.redwing.on.ca/kinglit/index.html
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