eVALBEC March 2007
This is the electronic newsletter of VALBEC, the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council, and is sent to about 800 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the ‘News’ section of our web site http://www.valbec.org.au
Disclaimer: The activities, goods and services mentioned in eVALBEC are not endorsed by VALBEC in any way. People should make their own judgment about the suitability of each item.
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IN THIS ISSUE OF e-VALBEC:
1. Twilight Forum – Options for the newly accredited CGEA: Portfolio based assessment March 14, Geelong
2. Living Literacies – 2007 VALBEC Conference, Friday, May 4
3. The new CGEA in focus
4. Membership renewal now due
5. Second Literacy Live Online Forum
6. Worth it’s weight in SAALT
7. Queen Victoria Women's Centre International Women's Day Celebrations
8. NCVER Research Priorities
9. 'Community Education and National Reform'
10. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
11. ACAL Conference in New Zealand
12. Furniture and office equipment looking for a good home
13. Literacy and Numeracy Minister’s Awards
14. Member Giveaway
15. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
16. Unsubscribe?
17. Contact VALBEC
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1. Twilight Forum – March 14, Gordon Institute, Geelong, 6pm - 8pm
Options for the newly accredited CGEA: Portfolio based assessment
Presenter: Corinna Ridley
Members and non-members are invited to attend this event at Gordon Institute of TAFE.
The newly accredited CGEA includes learning outcomes based around the development of portfolios for students at all CGEA levels. Assisting students to develop their portfolios will provide teachers with new opportunities as well as challenges, particularly at lower levels. This interactive forum will offer teachers the opportunity to discuss different types of portfolios, explore models which link to assessment requirements from other new CGEA units and offer supporting resources for portfolio development.
More details at http://www.valbec.org.au/TWForumMar07.htm
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2. Living Literacies - 2007 VALBEC Conference,
Friday, May 4 at the William Angliss College, LaTrobe Street, Melbourne.
We are pleased with the response to date with presentation proposals coming from near and far (Bright, Mildura, Gippsland, Tropical North Queensland and even Utah, USA). The conference committee will be shaping the program so that there is a good balance of sessions that will interest and inspire all who attend.
More information about the program will appear soon on our web site http://www.valbec.org.au
• Registration opens - March 20
• Fees Early Bird VALBEC members $140 available until April 10
VALBEC members $155; Standard (non- members) $170
The early bird date (April 10) falls in Victorian school holidays, so watch your email for reminders and further details.
• ‘Home stay’ Accommodation for the conference
As a 2007 initiative, VALBEC is proposing to set up a ‘Home stay’ register to assist members from country and regional areas with free accommodation in Melbourne member’s homes. Can you offer a spare bed or couch in the Melbourne metro area for Thursday May 3 and/or Friday May 4? Contact info@valbec.org.au
Country or regional members are invited to request somewhere to stay and VALBEC will do the rest. Hopefully we will have enough matches to make this work and to make it a feature of conferences in the future. A registration form will be available on the website soon.
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3. The new CGEA in focus
As an outcome of the successful CGEA forum held in November 2006, two Practical Matters workshops are planned as a pre-conference activity. These sessions will be practitioner lead and focus on working groups sharing ideas and materials in planning for implementation of the new CGEA. Maximum numbers 50
Thursday May 3, 3.00 - 6.00pm Venue: Victoria University, Footscray Campus, Hoadley Building
More information and registration will appear in a special notice and on the website.
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4. Membership renewal now due
Thanks to those members who have paid their membership. Your prompt action will reduce the cost of chasing outstanding amounts (which we’re about to do. SFX stages left - growl, growl).
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5. Second Literacy Live Online Forum
Participate in the 2nd of 6 professional development forums in a virtual classroom space. This virtual classroom space is a great mechanism for communicating with other practitioners around Australia. Each of the six sessions will build on skills in using new technologies in new ways with loads of hands-on activities and examples of how practitioners can then use these skills in their own workplace.
Session 2: New learning technologies: what are they and how do I use them in the virtual and face-to-face classroom? March 15 at 8.00 AEDST. (Daylight Saving - you can check Australian time zones at http://www.abc.net.au/backyard/timezone.htm) While the event is free, registration is required at acal@pacific.edu.au 4 hours prior to the start.
Michael Coghlan will introduce participants to the world of virtual classrooms and demonstrate the kinds of activities that are possible in these learning environments. There will be opportunity for discussion on how to effectively employ virtual classrooms in your teaching and professional life. A range of expert practitioners will share with participants will introduce participants to the world of new learning technologies and demonstrate the kinds of activities that are possible in these learning environments. Guest speakers will demonstrate a range of activities and resources that are available for use in online learning environments. There will be opportunity for discussion on how to effectively employ these new learning technologies in your teaching and professional life.
Future Literacy Live Forums are April 18: What do teachers need to know to teach technology? (time tbc)
More details will be able from the ACAL web site at http://www.acal.edu.au/
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6. Worth it’s weight in SAALT
SAALT – Supporting Adult and Applied Learning and Teaching is at http://www.saalt.com.au/search.html It’s a great repository of information. It has the former ARIS databases lists of resources and journal readings that were collected over the period from 1989 to 2005 as part of the Adult Education and Resource Service (ARIS) library. Although the ARIS library is closed, access to the bibliographic data is still valuable and will be maintained online on the SAALT website. Note however, that references to availability and borrowing from the ARIS library in the data is no longer available.
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7. Queen Victoria Women's Centre International Women's Day Celebrations
Queen Vic Women's Centre, Melbourne, Thursday, March 8, Free!
Comedian Nelly Thomas will MC this special IWD event which includes notable speakers and is based around the "Note to herself" exhibition. Fresh from her second season at the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Nelly Thomas is also known at home for her clever and thoughtful comedy. Never afraid to tackle the big issues, she likes to make people laugh and think at the same time.
Details http://www.qvwc.org.au/news_and_events/events/international_women_s_day_celebration
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8. NCVER Research Priorities
NCVER are conducting consultations with VET stakeholders to identify the priorities for research funding. The consultation documents can be found on the NCVER website at http://www.ncver.edu.au/
VALBEC will be providing a response and invites you to contribute your ideas. Please contact Lynne Matheson or Ann Haynes info@valbec.org.au
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9. 'Community Education and National Reform'
DEST commissioned a discussion paper entitled 'Community Education and National Reform' that was released at the ALA National conference on November 24th 2006. It can be downloaded from the DEST website http://www.dest.gov.au
There is an article in the January edition of Literacy Link (see ACAL website http://www.acal.edu.au then ‘Publications’) that raises some of the issues around literacy provision at the lower levels and a framework that delineates three levels of capability. Members are encouraged to read this document and give feedback to DEST. VALBEC will be considering a response and welcomes input from members.
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10. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
Thursday March 15, 6pm - Royal Standard Hotel in William Street West Melbourne
Members are welcome to attend and contribute your ideas.
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11. ACAL Conference in New Zealand
The ACAL Conference for 2007 will be held in Auckland, New Zealand on 28 & 29 September with special pre-conference activities and visits set aside for Thursday 27 September. The Conference is being co-hosted by Workbase, NZ in collaboration with Literacy Aotearoa and the National Association of ESOL Home Tutors. Keep an eye on the ACAL website http://www.acal.edu.au for links to the conference organiser.
A call for presentations and workshops will be made in the next few weeks along with details for early bird registrations.
More details are available through phoning Workbase on 0011+64+9 3613800 or email admin@workbase.org.nz.
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12. Furniture and office equipment looking for a good home
Vicserv, the peak body for psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services in Victoria, is moving premises. As part of this move, Green Collect is facilitating the distribution of furniture and office equipment which is no longer needed.
We have desks, tables, chairs, shelving, kitchen appliances and other items. These are all in good condition and are being sold at a token price. This offer is open to community groups, with a focus on small local groups who
have limited resources. Available this week only.
We have: tables (foldable, 900x1800) $10, desk chairs (wheels, arms) $10, desks (3 draw, 900 x1200) $10, filing cabinets (metal, 2 drawer) $10, conference chairs $15, computers (Pentium 3+) $80. Stationery (binders, doc trays, files) "ALL FREE"
Also shelving, kitchen appliances and more. Happy to negotiate prices and pickup times.
To view the items above and more go to http://www.greencollect.org/reuse
To claim, contact Nick Ray on 0500 868 498, or email greencollect@netspace.net.au
Pickup: Friday 2nd or Saturday 3rd March, 10am - 4pm from old Vicserv offices 370 St Georges Rd Fitzroy North VIC 3068
Payment: cash or cheque, required on the day All to go by Tuesday 6th
Green Collect ABN:68 112 489 684 Phone: 03 9663 8843 http://www.greencollect.org
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13. Literacy and Numeracy Minister’s Awards
The National Literacy and Numeracy Week (NLNW) 2007 Minister’s Awards recognise and acknowledge the outstanding work being carried out by individuals in the community who are making a difference to literacy and/or numeracy education. The 2007 Minister’s Awards are cash awards provided by the Australian Government, to recognise individuals in the Australian community who are making a major contribution to improving literacy and/or numeracy in early childhood, school or adult education settings. Here is an opportunity to raise the profile of adult literacy and numeracy educators so consider nominating a colleague. Nominations are now open and will close 5pm AEST Friday, April 27, 2007
Details http://www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au/ministersawards/
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14. Member Giveaway
We have one copy (sorry, just one) of ‘Literacy Face to Face: A resource for volunteer adult literacy tutors’, recently published by NSW TAFE. It’s also available online at http://www.lg.tafensw.edu.au/facetoface
To get this print copy you need to go online http://www.valbec.org.au and follow the link to the ‘Member offer’.
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15. Subscribe to eVALBEC?
Click this link <mailto:info@valbec.org.au?subject=eVALBEC_Subscribe> and we’ll put you on the list to receive this monthly enewsletter.
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16. Unsubscribe?
Just click this link <mailto:info@valbec.org.au?subject=eVALBEC_Unsubscribe> (no typing required!) and hit Send or, send an e-mail with the word Unsubscribe in the subject.
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17. Contact VALBEC
eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council.
E-mail: info@valbec.org.au
Web: http://www.valbec.org.au
Postal: Box 861 Springvale South VIC 3172
Ph: 03 9546 6892
Fax: 03 9546 0421