Research at PPR

"I Open Up: Exploring Learners' Perspectives on Progress"

Our research project, in collaboration with Literacy for East Toronto and Action Read, entitled; "I Open Up: Exploring Learners' Perspectives on Progress" is now complete. We have launched the field report: "People and Progress" which is a magazine style report for the literacy field that summarizes our findings and includes writing from learners and researcher. Copies will be distributed to literacy programs in May 2006. To receive a copy, please contact PPR at projectread2@bellnet.ca.

Research documents:

"I Open Up: Exploring Learners' Perspectives on Progress" (2006)
Full Report available here

Measuring Non-Academic Outcomes in Adult Literacy Programs: A Literature Review (2005)
Full Report available here

The following people and organizations were instrumental in this research project. We wish to thank all of them for their contribution.

Authors: Susan Lefebvre, Patricia Belding, Mary Brehaut, Sarah Dermer, Anne-Marie Kaskens, Emily Lord, Wayne McKay and Nadine Sookermany

The 56 learners we interviewed were from five community-based adult literacy organizations:

Action Read Community Literacy Centre
Literacy for East Toronto
Parkdale Project Read
Regent Park Learning Centre
Wellington County Learning Centre

Project support and guidance from our Advisory Committee:
Guy Ewing, Facilitator/Researcher, Identifying Inclusive Models of Lifelong Learning in Canada
Project
Nancy S. Jackson, Professor, Department of Adult Education & Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT)
Anne Moore, Literacy practitioner, Action Read Community Literacy Centre
Sheila Stewart, Coordinator, Festival of Literacies (OISE/UT)
Tracy Westell, author of Measuring Non-Academic Outcomes in Adult Literacy Programs: A Literature Review (2005)

Mentor to Report Writer: Guy Ewing

Practitioner Researchers:

Action Read Community Literacy Centre: Sarah Dermer & Wayne McKay
Literacy for East Toronto: Anne-Marie Kaskens & Susan Lefebvre
Parkdale Project Read: Mary Brehaut, Emily Lord & Nadine Sookermany
Wellington County Learning Centre: Patricia Belding
Regent Park Learning Centre: Cheryl Reid

Project Administrator: Nadine Sookermany

Report Writer: Susan Lefebvre

Outside Evaluator: Katrina Grieve

Feel free to contact PPR for more information about this research or to book researchers for presentations, conferences and other speaking engagements.