The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, HRSDC funded the project to revise and extend A Traveler's Guide to Literacy Research in Practice. I particularly appreciate that the funding allowed me to take adequate release time to research, reflect and write, to pay a coeditor, and to pay honoraria for Advisory Group members and critical readers.
The Learning Centre Literacy Association sponsored the project and I thank the Association Board for their support. Co-coordinator Phyllis Steeves assumed many of my responsibilities while I engaged in research and writing for the Guide. Learning Centre students, volunteers and staff have contributed to my understanding about research in practice through their involvement with me in various research projects. Cynthia Bale provided administrative support.
The following organizations served as project partners and were represented on the Advisory Group: Centre for Education and Work, Community Based Literacy Network, Festival of Literacies, RiPAL BC, and Saskatchewan Literacy Network. Thank you.
Helen Woodrow provided invaluable support in a role that began as "coeditor." Among other tasks, Helen collected feedback about the original guide, contacted researchers in practice for permission to include their work as examples, searched for and found poetry and quotes that are included throughout the Guide, provided feedback and encouragement to complete the Guide, and contracted and worked with the copy editor and designer. Helen also planned and carried out the project evaluation.
Helen and I would like to acknowledge literacy practitioners and university-based research colleagues across Canada for their very important contributions to the project. Some participated in focus groups or responded to a questionnaire that helped shape the revised Guide. Eight people read a draft of the revised version and identified areas that could be improved through further thinking and writing. Other practitioners grounded the Guide by sharing examples of their research work that are included in the text. An advisory group offered us advice and support throughout the life of the project. We thank everyone who helped shape the resource, and include their names below.