Literacy research in practice networks and projects

Canada

The Adult Literacy Research in Ontario (ALRiO) website provides access to research publications and to information that demystify the process of doing adult literacy research in order to remain responsive to the needs of Ontario's adult literacy research and practitioner communities.
http://research.alphaplus.ca

The Centre for Education and Work focuses on the development of adult learner friendly practices in post-secondary education, and, in particular, the development of prior learning assessment and recognition systems. The Centre is also committed to linking research and practice and has completed projects about literacy research in Manitoba.
http://www.cewca.org/

The Centre for Literacy of Quebec is committed to supporting and improving literacy practices in schools, community and workplace. It provides information, resources and training and conducts and reports on literacy research.
http://www.nald.ca/litcent.htm

The Festival of Literacies supports research in practice, and is a meeting ground for diverse literacies.
http://www.literaciesoise.ca

Australia

ALNARC (Adult Literacy and Numeracy Research Consortium) is a national Australian collaboration for research into adult literacy and numeracy. http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/alnarc

NCLETR (The National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research) Action Research Projects involve teachers from across Australia in practitioner research. http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/amep/index.html

The UK

RaPAL (Research and Practice in Adult Literacy) is an independent voluntary organization in the UK. http://www.literacy.lancaster.ac.uk/rapal/rapal.htm

The USA

Adult Education Teacher Inquiry Projects, Related Research and Resources As a service of Literacy Resources / Rhode Island, this page provides information and reports on local Rhode Island practitioner-based inquiry and research work. It includes links to information from around the world related to language and literacy research.
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/
Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/inquiry.html

The Adult Multiple Intelligences (AMI) Study in New England involved teachers in collaborative planning and implementing of projects related to AMI theory. http://pzweb.harvard.edu/ami

PAARN (Pennsylvania Action Research Network) aims to help ABE, GED and ESL educators develop more problem posing skills and improve practice, using action research as a method. http://www.learningfrompractice.org/paarn/default.htm

PALPN (Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Practitioner Inquiry Network) encourages critical inquiry as an alternative form of professional development. http://www.learningfrompractice.org/palpin/default.htm

Journals

May 2003 **New Journal**

Literacies: Researching Practice, Practising Research
Watch for this new Canadian literacy research journal that will appear as a mini-issue in May 2003 to give readers and writers an idea of what the journal will be like. One purpose of the journal is to connect people working in literacy and people who do research about literacy. Another is to inform people about adult literacy research happening across Canada.The first full issue will appear in November 2003. Find out more about the journal at www.literacyjournal.ca. To be added to the journal mailing list, contact journal@literacy.ca

Literacy / education / research databases

ERIC http://www.eric.ed.gov/searchdb/searchdb.html

Directory of Canadian Adult Literacy Research in English http://www.nald.ca/crd/