Introduction

Extending Practices...Building Networks: An Institute on Research in Practice in Adult Literacy was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from June 17 to 21, 2003. Organizers hoped that it would build and strengthen research capacity among literacy practitioners, and build connections among people involved in literacy research in practice across the country.

The 2003 event built on the work of two previous gatherings: the research in practice gathering held in Edmonton in July of 2001 and the day-long session about research in practice held in Vancouver in 2002. Both of the earlier gatherings highlighted research in practice underway in western Canada, provided professional development for practitioners who were able to travel to the sessions, and fostered networking among people in the field interested in research in practice. 

A number of people who attended the 2002 event said they were eager to attend a session the following year, and hoped it could be longer than one day. A month later, a national planning team began to develop the event. The planning team considered the design and financing of the event, and provided feedback on the funding proposal. When St. John's was chosen as the site for the next gathering, a provincial planning group began to work out logistics for the event.

Based on experiences of the previous sessions, the preliminary planning group felt the 2003 event should allow participants to learn more in depth about approaches they could apply to their own research in practice. They also wanted to allow researchers to share their experiences, questions and processes. The planning group settled on an Institute format. Participants attended one course every morning for a total of twelve hours. In the afternoons, they chose from a range of workshops and inquiry sessions led by other participants. The overall Institute was facilitated by Elsa Auerbach, who structured plenary and small group events to allow for ongoing input and evaluation.

The Institute brought together 73 people with a rich range of experiences in literacy and research. Participants included people involved or interested in adult literacy research in practice from colleges, community-based programs and school boards as well as universities and other settings. At the Institute, people across a range of locations connected and built links with others in their area.

This report outlines the process of the Institute as a whole, and includes reports which document each of the courses, workshops and inquiry sessions.