National Adult Literacy Database

Bow Valley College invites you to participate in the national pilot of the new Reading Assessment Project developed by the Academic Foundations department at the college.

The creators have developed a series of IALS-referenced tests that assess learners’ ability to read prose and use documents, from IALS mid-level 1 to low-level 3. The series consists of six paper-and-pencil tests that learners have one hour to complete.

Bow Valley is looking for interested partners to pilot one or more of the tests to a minimum of 10 learners per test, as part of phase two of this pilot project. They are looking to partner with a variety of programs including those in colleges, workplaces and community organizations.

Compensation will be provided and training will be offered around all aspects of the pilot process, including:

• Administering the test
• Marking the tests
• Providing feedback to test-takers

Phase one of the pilot is taking place at Bow Valley College. It started in February and will be completed by August. The developers have had tremendously positive feedback from both the learners who have written the tests and the instructors who have used them with their classes.

If you would be interested in participating in this exciting reading initiative, please contact Deanna Jager, resource developer, through email (djager@bowvalleycollege.ca) or by phone, 403-410-1566. Bow Valley will be starting the national pilot in July and completing it by November 2010.

For more information about the project, read their Assessment Resource Project blog.

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