LITERACY SYMPOSIUM:
Sharing and Supporting Literacy Resources

By: Angela Drake

Over 60 people attended the symposium, Sharing and Supporting Adult Literacy Resources, held June 6, 7, 8, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in St. John's. Participants included adult literacy providers and stakeholders, learners, those planning to offer adult literacy programs, and those crucial to the promotion of literacy. The symposium was sponsored by the Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador and funded by the National Literacy Secretariat, Human Resources Development Canada.

Adult literacy programs and resources are limited to the extent to which others are aware of them. This symposium provided participants with an opportunity to share and learn about literacy programs and resources. Over the three days, symposium events included a Professional Development Day, workshops, information sessions and an exhibition fair. In addition, staff from the Strategic Literacy Branch, Department of Education hosted a session to review and solicit feedback on the Goss Gilroy Report on the Evaluation of Basic Literacy/ABE Level 1 Programs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Special guests at the symposium included Dr. Patricia Campbell from the University of Alberta who presented two workshops on the Canadian Adult Reading Assessment (CARA) as part of the Professional Development Day. The CARA, is a reading assessment tool with Canadian content. It was developed by Dr. Campbell and Flo Brokop and was published in June of 2000. Also offered during the Professional Development Day were workshops on Learning Disabilities and Media Awareness and Tools.

Symposium workshops, information sessions, the exhibition fair and social events provided opportunities for participants to communicate with other adult literacy stakeholders and to reflect on the programs and resources they are using. The final plenary Where do we go from here? highlighted the importance of sharing programs and resources and looked at ways this can continue. Participants focused on five themes: partnerships; communications; training; development of resources; and student needs. Recommendations were also made on how improvements can be made at the organizational level of the Literacy Development Council and on the role of the Literacy Development Council in relation to the Department of Education.

A detailed report on the symposium Sharing and Supporting Adult Literacy Resources will be sent to all the participants and additional copies can be requested from the Literacy Development Council.