Foundations for Independence
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
To develop a framework to identify the success indicators and transition markers in the goal of “independence” necessary to demonstrate foundations for learning relevant to Document Use, Reading Text and Numeracy.
Interviews were conducted with key informants from fourteen community-based Literacy and Basic Skills programs across the province to determine the most common learner goals related to independence and to identify the core skills necessary to achieve those goals. Agencies were encouraged to have as many practitioners as possible provide input into the survey process. The goals in the Foundations for Independence Framework were identified by asking each agency to identify their top five learner goals related to independence and the core skills necessary to achieve those goals.
CLO actively participated in numerous meetings (teleconference and face-to-face) with the LSA Framework Development Team to ensure continuity between CLO’s Foundations for Independence Framework and the work of the five other pathway projects. The Foundations for Independence Framework was vetted through LSA workgroups at several stages. The Foundations for Independence Framework was presented for discussion at a focus group of the CLO board of directors on May 31, 2007. Board members actively reviewed the framework and provided extensive feedback regarding the global descriptors and goal sets. This was the last consultation prior to the formal piloting phase.
The Foundations for Independence Framework was sent to four community-based pilot sites in June 2007, where twelve practitioners and twenty-one learners reviewed the framework.
On October 12, 2007, CLO’s updated Foundations for Independence Framework was presented in a workshop format to CLO member agencies at the annual conference. Members were given a week to share the document at their respective programs and to provide any final feedback by email or telephone.