Institute Publications

These are documents produced for our Summer and Fall Institutes

International adult skills surveys: Andragogical issues in linguistic minority communities

Institute Document | Published in 2014

Authored by Donald Lurette

The English translation of a report in which adult educator Donald Lurette draws on more than twenty years experience working in literacy and essential skills with Canada’s francophone linguistic minority (i.e. those who live outside Quebec) to look at the limitations of large-scale international skills assessments, including PIAAC, to capture the complex multilingual contexts of official language minority communities.

L’EIACA et les minorités francophones au Canada : quelques points de repère théoriques et historiques

Institute Document | Published in 2013

Une étude de Jean-Pierre Jeantheau, chargé de mission national à l'Agence nationale de lutte contre l’illettrisme (ANLCI), préparé dans le cadre de l'Institut d'été 2013 du Centre for Literacy, qui a pour objectif de donner des repères théoriques, pour mieux saisir les rapports complexes des groupes linguistiques minoritaires avec l'écriture, l'interprétation et l'usage de documents.

English translation

Les grandes enquêtes internationales sur les compétences des adultes : Des enjeux andragogiques pour les milieux linguistiques minoritaires

Institute Document | Published in 2013

Authored by Donald Lurette

C’est comme andragogue de terrain que Donald Lurette, consultant en andragogie, propose dans ce texte des pistes de réflexion autour des questions d’évaluation des compétences de base pour les adultes vivant en milieu linguistique minoritaire au Canada.

IALS and Essential Skills in Canadian Literacy Policy and Practice: A descriptive overview

Institute Document | Published in 2013

This paper, produced for Summer Institute 2013, gathers descriptions on the uses of IALS (and IALSS) and the essential skills framework in policy contexts across Canada. The information was taken from federal, provincial, and territorial governments’ web sites searched between January and March 2013. The final section looks at literacy organizations and their uses of IALS and essential skills.

Uncharted Territory: Can Social Innovation Revitalize Literacy and Essential Skills Programs?

Institute Document | Published in 2013

Authored by John MacLaughlin, Ron Samson

A look at models of social innovation and finance and their potential to revitalize literacy and essential skills programs.

Fall Institute 2012

Ecologies of Learning: How Culture and Context Impact Outcomes of Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills

Institute Document | Published in 2012

Authored by Juliet Merrifield

This paper by Juliet Merrifield examines how context and culture impact the outcomes of Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills (WLES) and similar programs. Merrifield’s paper points out that the field of WLES is full of complexities that defy any search for quick fix solutions and argues that WLES programs have a better chance of being successful if they take into account the social ecology in which these programs are implemented.

Summer Institute 2012

Embedding literacy and essential skills in workplace learning: Breaking the solitudes

Institute Document | Published in 2012

Authored by Jay Derrick

This paper by Jay Derrick explores the concept of “embedded” workplace literacy and essential skills (WLES) provision as a sub-set of general workplace learning. It presents four models to help understand how WLES provision is connected to the context of the workplace with examples of the approaches outlined.

Jay Derrick's webinar presentation: Embedding literacy and essential skills in workplace learning: Breaking the solitudes
Summer Institute 2011

Summer Institute 2008: ESL and Literacy

ESL and Literacy: Finding Common Ground, Serving Learners' Needs (2008)

Institute Document | Published in 2008

Originally developed for Summer Institute 2008: ESL and Literacy - Finding Common Ground, Serving Learners' Needs

The Center for Literacy