Reflections on Learning: Conclusions and Implications

In this evaluation inquiry we set out to learn about what difference the VALTA Project made for participants and to identify the elements of the Project that contributed to these differences. The voices of the women who participated in VALTA offer rich learning about the experiences and outcomes of involvement in the Project.

The practitioners who took part in VALTA spoke eloquently about the difference the Project had made for them in terms of both personal growth and a strengthened capacity to address the impacts of violence on learning. Moreover, they spoke to the extent to which they have acted on the learning, integrating it into their practice in diverse ways. A key outcome of the Project was greatly expanded knowledge and understanding about violence, and about its profound effects on women's learning and about how to effectively address these effects through programs and practice. Through sharing their experiences, participants also shed light on what it was about the Project processes that contributed to the outcomes. By articulating these critical elements they have offered valuable learning for future efforts to address the relationship between violence and learning.

The learning that emerges from this inquiry clearly demonstrates the value of the VALTA Project in addressing the effects of violence on learning in literacy and adult education programs. Participants invariably felt that their practice had been strengthened as a result of taking part in the Project. In light of their own increased awareness about the pervasiveness of violence and its effects on learning, participants expressed concerns about the general lack of awareness among literacy and adult education practitioners as regards this issue. They stressed the importance of "moving forward with this" and strongly recommended efforts to expand the learning such that other practitioners would have the capacity to address the effects of violence on learning. In particular, they suggested that a component on how to address the effects of violence be incorporated into training sessions for new literacy and adult education coordinators as well as into professional development workshops and conferences.

The further I go in my work, the more I see that literacy and issues of violence are connected. I think it should be part of the new coordinators' training.

The success of the VALTA Project also clearly demonstrates a potential for a research in practice approach to enhance the capacity of literacy and adult education practitioners to deal with key issues such as the impacts of violence on learning. Indeed, the VALTA Project offers a powerful model for changing practice that is transferable to other contexts and issues. A critical feature of the model is the multi-faceted design that integrates workshops, online learning and discussion and a Changing Practice project. However, just as important are the qualities that speak to the essence of the learning approach: the creation of a safe environment for learning, learning through modeling, learning by doing, being connected with others and experiencing support. As evaluators, we are confident in saying that the VALTA model has much to offer in informing the practice of a wide range of individuals and programs providing support to people who are experiencing or have experienced violence.

The value of this project? It's huge—and it needs to go further than to literacy workers in volunteer tutor programs. There is a great deal of violence 'underground' in Alberta, and from learners' stories, it is in all segments of society.