Pop Up PD for Literacy Educators 2020-2021 | Learning Networks of Ontario

These learning opportunities are brought to you by “Pop Up PD for Literacy Educators”, a committee of the Learning Networks of Ontario, E-Channel and the Provincial Support Organizations for Literacy.

These webinars have been happening since 2015-2016 – watch all the playbacks and get the resources here

Later this year, we hope to bring you a webinar series around digital technology and workforce literacy in light with the ministry priorities.

Click here for a downloadable version of the webinar information and registration links.

Webinar #1 – Lean on Me

May 7, 2020 (10:00-11:30 am)

Webinar Flyer

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on communities, countries, and the entire planet. We are all doing our best to forge ahead to maintain “business as usual” or as “usual” as it can be. It can seem like a constant stream of switching gears, trying new things, learning new skills, and navigating policy. Perhaps you have come up with some excellent or novel ideas for helping yourself, learners, staff or members of the community to cope during these unusual times. Or perhaps you’d like to hear some of these ideas to help yourself or others who are struggling.

Join us on May 7th at 10:00 am for a session we’re calling “Lean on Me.” The session will be informal and facilitated by Tamara Kaattari. We hope to see you there!

Get the resources here.

Webinar #2 – Lean on Each Other: Supporting Adult Students During COVID-19

June 9, 2020 – 10:00 – 11:30

Webinar Flyer

Although we are starting to see a gradual and measured lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario, the pandemic continues to impact individuals, families, and communities in a host of different and challenging ways. In LBS programs, we are attempting to stay connected with learners as best we can by using virtual, remote services.

We know that our learners need coping strategies and emotional supports, some now more than ever. How are you supporting learners to cope with the changes and challenges brought on by COVID-19? Do you have tools, strategies or approaches that you can share? Would you like to hear ideas about how others are providing these much needed supports?

Get the resources here.

Webinar #3 – Working together to support learners during a pandemic – the good, the bad and the unexpected…

Thursday, August 27, 2020 – 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST

Are you wondering how other literacy programs have been handling the unexpected shift to remote teaching and learning during the pandemic? What tools and resources have they been using? What has been working well and what hasn’t? What are they planning for the fall? Join Monika Jankowska-Pacyna and Alan Cherwinski from AlphaPlus to hear what they have been working on and learning from their coaching programs when it comes to using technology — such as video meeting tools, online classes, connecting via mobile apps, texting and much more — during these uncertain times.

Get the resources here.

Webinar #4 – SkillsAdvance Ontario and LBS

Thursday, October 22 – 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST

The SkillsAdvance Ontario (SAO) projects continue to grow in number across Ontario. Already, there are over 40 underway, covering many different sectors. Every SAO project has a skills development component. Join us as we discuss the SAO program and how we can leverage the expertise of LBS programming in supporting SAO projects across the province.

Webinar #5 – Canada’s Essential Skills Framework: Updates, Changes, and Implications

Thursday, November 26 – 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST

This webinar will be of interest to LBS managers, instructors and staff who would like to learn about the recent work of the federal Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) and their release of the updated Essential Skills framework. The full launch of the new framework was impacted by COVID-19, but OLES has been releasing preliminary information to support a variety of stakeholders including trainers, educators, and creators/users of Essential Skills assessment tools.
Guests at this session will include

a representative from OLES
Michael Herzog, Partner, Essential Skills Group (based in Calgary)
Sandra Hennessey, Essential Skills Consultant for Ontario’s College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading

Join us to learn about the changes and timelines for implementation of OLES’ newly developed ES framework. The webinar will also cover related implications for various Essential Skills assessment tools currently in use.

Webinar #6 – Workforce/Workplace Resources and Best Practices in LBS

Thursday, January 28, 2021 – 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST

As a result of the ES transformation initiative and the MLTSD’s interest in LBS service providers’ practices and experience with workplace delivery, a growing number of LBS providers are seeking information to enhance their knowledge and awareness of workforce/place resources and best practices currently being used by LBS providers.
A committee was formed with representation from COFA, Contact North, Literacy Network Northeast, Literacy Northwest, and the Mid North Network, to gather information and prepare a bilingual compendium of workforce/place resources and best practices to share with the LBS field. This webinar will outline the steps taken and introduce the draft compendium to interested LBS practitioners. Based upon participants’ feedback, revisions will be made prior to distributing the compendium province-wide in March 2021 via the Learning Networks of Ontario.

This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario and through the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement.