Inquiry Sessions

After the Institute: Staying connected

Twenty-one people attended this meeting. Participants began by talking about their interest in staying connected. Then people described the networks in place in different parts of the country (Alberta, BC, Manitoba and Ontario) as well as RaPAL in the UK. What emerged was a desire to have more networking over a wider area.

The network will only be as strong as the most isolated people feel we are. What do people in NWT or Labrador, for example, or who are isolated - what do they need or want? How can be as inclusive as possible, not just serve large urban centres?

How can we connect?

• We should set up collaborations with organizations that want to do more research and that have resources. For example, MCL has a good reputation in the field, with practitioners, politicians and bureaucrats in Ottawa. Can we collaborate with other organizations like MCL?
• Big money is coming through the Canadian Learning Institute (CLI). If we can formalize ourselves as a group and build on our momentum, we could have input. After today, we are the research in practice consortium in adult literacy. We need to strategize how to be the voice that informs CLI policy.
• This could be an emerging network, but we can't speak for others - this network is incomplete. What about Aboriginal, francophone and deaf programs?

Ways we could stay connected include:

• Setting up a listserv through NALD
• Using the discussion forum on the Literacies website
• First Steps is a national project looking into the feasibility of a single national electronic network
• Pay someone to keep the website up to date
• Including regular updates in coalition newsletters about research websites

Why stay connected?

If we keep information flowing, working through provincial coalitions, we can help encourage support for research.