Research

Resources are submitted by individual Learning Networks across the province.

3R’s Research Integration Kit, The (2008)
Literacy Network of Durham Region
This kit provides literacy networks and programs with ways to efficiently identify current field research that is relevant and train instructors on how to use research in the classroom.

Adding Value: Building a Performance Framework for LBS Support Organizations Phase 2
Project READ Literacy Network of Waterloo/Wellington
The purpose of Adding Value: Building a Performance Framework – Phase 2 was to provide the Literacy and Basic Skills support organizations in Ontario with information, training and tools that would allow them to increase their knowledge of performance management concepts.

Coordinating to Bring Low-Literacy and Marginalized Clients Employment (2013-2015)
Tri-County Literacy Network
Tri-County Literacy Network participated in Literacy Link South Central’s Western Region project and continued work on Linking Adult Literacy to Poverty Reduction.

Creating Pathways of Learning Support for Employment Ontario Clients with Learning Disabilities (2015)
Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy
This project and the project publications and tools provide much needed, comprehensive information on existing services and recommended tools to provide support and accommodation to EO clients with learning disabilities.

Developing a Culture of Evaluation (2015)
Literacy Link South Central
The Developing a Culture of Evaluation project will help not-for-profit organizations in Ontario to learn about the value of creating a culture of evaluation and how to foster this in their own organizations.

Differentiated Instruction in Literacy and Basic Skills Programs (2007)
Literacy Link South Central
The use of differentiated instruction in LBS classrooms, small groups and one-to-one tutoring is critical to working effectively with adult learners. In this report, Literacy Link South Central investigates reasons for, and effective methodologies of, providing alternative avenues to learning for different students.

Enhancing Pathways Report Phase 1 (2010)
Project READ Literacy Network of Waterloo/Wellington
This project brought together the agencies that provide language and literacy programming within the regions of Project READ Literacy Network and Peel Halton Dufferin Adult Learning Network in Ontario. The goal was to enhance communication and referrals among the agencies.

Enhancing Pathways Phase 2 (2011)
Literacy Network of Durham Region

Exploring the Gap Between London’s Immigrants and Local LBS Programs – Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Project (2013-2015)
Literacy Link South Central
The goal of the LMP project is to research and identify tools and resources that the literacy field can offer to help bring London’s immigrant community closer to employment. We will focus our research on jobs that have a high demand for workers, the skills that immigrants already bring to the labour market, and how an increase in literacy skills can help better connect London’s immigrants to those in-demand labour market opportunities.

Formalizing Transitions between Employment Services and LBS (2014) 
Simcoe/Muskoka Literacy Network
The purpose of this project was to research the ways in which ES and LBS programs have been working together to promote transitions from ES to LBS and from LBS to ES. See page for more.

Gamification (2014)
Literacy Link South Central
Gamification, a technique based in part on introducing game play elements to non-game settings, is becoming a key technique used to engage learners in their education. Through Literacy Link South Central’s recent Job Creation Partnership project, a study of the history, impact and execution of gamification principles in adult education was completed, and we’re pleased to share several resources with you as a result.

Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Report with Screening Tool (2015)
Project READ Literacy Network of Waterloo/Wellington
This is our project report for our portion of the LMP – Phase 2 project managed by LLSC.  In the appendices you will find the screening tool for Employment Services and OW staff to use to help in referring clients to LBS programs.  There is a guide for adapting the tool to your specifc regional needs.  We have also included a copy of the common referral form that is used across EO and OW programs in Waterloo-Wellington.

Learning to Earning: Enhancing Connections and Referral Pathways (Final Report) (2015)
Tri-County Literacy Network
This Employment Ontario project is funded by the Ontario government. In this project visual resources were developed to enhance connections and referral pathways between Ministry programs and to assist clients from vulnerable populations (including individuals on social assistance and at-risk youth) and apprentices to prepare for their future success.

Specific outcomes were

  • increased awareness of the connection between learning and employment and poverty reduction for service providers and clients
  • increased understanding of Literacy and Basic Skills and how it supports clients’ goals (for service providers and clients)
  • enhanced connections and referral pathways between Ministry programs
  • assisting clients from vulnerable populations and apprentices to prepare for their future success

Linking Adult Literacy to Poverty Reduction (2010)
Tri-County Literacy Network
This project was designed to improve the capacity for Windsor-Essex Ontario Works and Tri-County Literacy Network to work together to more effectively work with people living in poverty.

Specific outcomes were

  • staffs have developed strategies and sensitivities for working with clients in poverty
  • identificationof systemic changes that are necessary to improve services
  • identification of effective Literacy and Basic Skills strategies and programs that help address poverty

 

Literacy Learnings for Practitioners and Service Providers – Research Brief Series (2015-2016)
Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy
7 volumes in an occasional series on topics of interest to literacy practitioners and supporters.
Topics Include

POW – Project Ontario Works (2012)
Literacy Link Niagara
This project wanted to address OW and literacy relationships that have developed in Ontario and ask

  • how did these relationships develop?
  • what were the challenges and what are the successes

 

Project New Skills (2012-2013)
Adult Basic Education Association 
Project New Skills was a Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills (WLES) project partnership between Mohawk College, Adult Basic Education Association and the Hamilton Training Advisory Board. This Hamilton project was to help determine an individual’s learning needs to support their employment, education and/or training goals.

Soft Skills Resources Website (2018)
ABEA, LLSC, QUILL, SMLN
The above learning networks have created this site to host resources to build the soft skills of our learners.
We have put it together to
– assist Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs in documenting what they already do to increase learners’ soft skills
– identify community partnerships that show some good practices related to soft skill development
– provide some resources to LBS programs that may want to increase their soft skills programming

Spotlight on Change: An Essential Skills Upgrading Program for Women over 40 (English/French) (2010)
Project READ Literacy Network of Waterloo/Wellington
This Essential Skills training program is for women aged forty plus who are seeking employment. It has been field-tested in British Columbia and Ontario and it has been proven effective.

Using Gamification in LBS and Beyond Research Report and French language Executive Summary: Sommaire exécutif La ludification dans le programme AFB et au-delà (2017)
Contact North
English Language Report
French Language Executive Summary

Yes I Can – A Mental Health Guide for Adult Literacy Facilitators (2017)
Project READ Literacy Network Waterloo-Wellington
This guide provides information and strategies for supporting adult learners living with mental health conditions or disorders. Also available

  • Webinar Recording for “Yes I Can – A Mental Health Guide for Adult Literacy Facilitators” – this webinar recording offers more information about the Mental Health Guide resource and how to use it in the learning environment
  • Q & A Chat Summary from Mental Health Guide webinars – This Q&A – Chat Summary provides a summary of the questions and answers that were discussed during the Mental Health Guide webinars