National Adult Literacy Database

Can learners improve their essential skills by studying online? A pilot test running that has been running from February to May 2010 with 240 students will determine the effectiveness of online learning using sector-specific, workplace-related materials and technological supports for disadvantaged learners. A second test will be conducted in the fall of 2010.

The pilot is part of the project, Essential Skills Online: A Consortium Approach, a national partnership of the Canadian Virtual College Consortium (CVCC), Fanshawe College and Bow Valley College (BVC) and funded by HRSDC through the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills.

Over the past year and a half, BVC has been developing authentic workplace learning materials for online and print delivery in four sectors: Health Care, Automotive Service and Repair, Oil and Gas, and Trades (introduction to ap¬prenticeship). The materials are designed to improve students’ abilities in reading, numeracy and document reading.

Each 20-hour sector-specific module contains actual workplace documents and skill development exercises. Pre and post tests (using the TOWES testing system) are administered and the results analysed to determine the degree of skill improvement as well as how the learners’ scores measure up to the industry requirements of their chosen occupation.

For 40 students who identify themselves as learning disadvantaged, Fanshawe College has developed a technological/human interface solution to help them with the Bow Valley material. It is in the form of an electronic notebook with text-to-speech, video conferencing and other software, and is provided to each student with user-friendly instructions.

For more information on the project and to place your name on the project mailing list to obtain periodic updates and the results of the pilot tests, please visit http://www.cvcc-cccv.ca.

You may also contact Paul Avon, project leader, pavon@sympatico.ca.

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