eVALBEC November 2005
This is the electronic newsletter of VALBEC, the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic
Education Council, and is sent to about 900 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. Online Professional Development
2. CMM CGEA Forum
3. Fine Print – in the forthcoming Summer edition
4. Advance advance notice for the 2006 VALBEC Conference
5. Successful first VALBEC online meeting
6. ACAL Forum Rethinking literacies: literacy and numeracy across the domains of
social life
7. VALBEC Member Offer – Narkaling Reading Kits
8. CAE still selling adult literacy, language and numeracy resources
9. VALBEC Member Offer – showcasing a new CAE resource
10. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
11. Unsubscribe?
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1. Online Professional Development
ACAL offers some online professional development as part of the National Flexible
Learning Framework. The session will be held at http://literacylive.ivocalize.net/?p=0
Instructions are on the Forum site -
http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/course/view.php?id=221
Scroll down to 'How to log into the meeting room for the first time' to get detailed
instructions.
You need to download a small piece of software (the instructions will take you through
that) and you need a headset (about $10-12 from Officeworks).
November 29 at 5pm EST
LearnScope: workbased funding for upskilling teams in ICT use
- what is available? how do I apply? what sort of projects can we do?
December (tbc) - Digital Storytelling - how literacy practitioners are using the
methodology nation-wide
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2. CMM CGEA Forum
Friday 18 November 2005 2-4 pm
Open forum on the redevelopment and reaccreditation of the Certificates in General
Education for Adults. There will also be a demonstration of an online program which
we will use to enable discussion and collect feedback on the curriculum.
Venue: Newport Campus, Victoria University, 80 Champion Road Newport in Building
A. Melways Ref Map 55 H6.
Please email Vi.Kacevska@vu.edu.au to indicate your intention to attend.
For more information about the CGEA, contact Lynne Fitzpatrick 9919 8375 or Liz Davidson
9919 8327
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3. Fine Print – in the forthcoming Summer edition
• Adult Learning: Removing barriers, not creating them by John Cross
• Identifying and accommodating preferred learning styles by Marilyn Allen et
al
• Epideictic Discourse: The Rhetoric of Memory, Praise and Hope by Rob McCormack
• Literacy support and Aged Care students by Kerrin Pryor
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4. Advance advance notice for the 2006 VALBEC Conference
Mark in your diaries ‘VALBEC Conference ‘ May 5, 2006 at William Angliss
Institute of TAFE
More details next month.
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5. Successful first VALBEC online meeting
Our regular monthly VALBEC committee meeting was held online in the ACAL sponsored
Literacy Live meeting room on Thursday October 20th. The Literacy Live meeting room
is a virtual synchronous meeting room that enables participants to talk to others
via the web as well as type messages and view a common file in the private shared
space. It was a new experience for most of the 8 committee members who made it into
the virtual room at 6.30pm from their respective homes or the computer training room
at Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre, where 4 of us tuned in. The meeting went
quite smoothly and finished earlier than usual. Discussion was kept to the topic
and business conducted efficiently, with the added advantage of the minutes typed
as we went and sent out the next day. Feedback was generally positive but it was
felt that the collegiality of face to face meetings and the quality of communication
was somewhat diminished in the online environment. As all our committee members have
busy work and personal lives plus the regional committee members have several hours
of travel each month it was worth trialing the online format and we will probably
schedule another online meeting next year. Thanks to ACAL and Robyn Jay for the opportunity
to use the Literacy Live meeting room.
The room is available for use by any adult literacy team Australia wide. Contact
Robyn robyn.jay@det.nsw.edu.au for more information.
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6. ACAL Forum Rethinking literacies: literacy and numeracy
across the domains of social life
The forum in Brisbane was a successful day with over 85 participants from
around the nation and all parts of Queensland. The program focused on essential skills
and how literacy is defined as part of a possible framework for essential skills
for the 21st century. The Victorian state representative, Lynne Matheson attended
the AGM and the subsequent planning day that examined the workplan and strategic
directions for 2005/2006.
More information will become available on the ACAL website and in the next issue
of Literacy Link.
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7. VALBEC Member Offer – Narkaling Reading Kits
Narkaling Reading Kits are proven to be a great help with reading/listening
skills for all people with reading difficulties – for example ESL students
and adult literacy students. These kits are narrated at a range of slow speeds from
40wpm to 120wpm. Reading Kits contain a copy of the book with a cassette/CD. The
range of 320 titles available at http://www.narkaling.com.au
Narkaling have generously made available some copies of ‘Unusual Lives, Five
Extraordinary Australians’ at levels 0 & 3. If you’d like to go into
a member draw for a copy, go to the VALBEC web site http://www.valbec.org.au and
follow the links to 'Member Offer'.
See more about Narkaling at http://www.valbec.org.au or contact marionslany@narkaling.com.au
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8. CAE still selling adult literacy, language and numeracy
resources.
Although CAE Press has closed down, the CAE is still going to sell the most
popular of its language, literacy and numeracy resources. To purchase the ones being
maintained for sale you can visit the new SAALT (old ARIS) website where there is
a list of the resources plus access to order forms etc. The web address is http://www.aris.com.au/resources.htm
Many of the popular former CAE Press and Language Australia publications in the areas
of languages and cultures are to be distributed by Bookery of Carlton.
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9. VALBEC Member Offer – showcasing a new CAE resource
‘A Word on Words’ by Pam Peters, published in 2005 by CAE Press
- CAE have made four free copies available to VALBEC members
Ever wondered whether you should fill 'in' a form or fill it 'out'? Why it's 'hippopotamuses',
not 'hippopotami'? And how do new words make it into the dictionary, anyway? A Word
on Words explores real English and real language usage in an engaging and accessible
way. Helping readers to understand the puzzles of contemporary English, dictionary
editor and linguistics specialist Pam Peters opens the door to a wealth of words
and expressions. The book tracks changing elements of grammar and new language and
new language phenomena, looking at language in the context of our culture and history.
If you have a natural interest and curiosity in words, or if you want to improve
your writing and hone your your skills, A Word on Words offers insights into the
resources of the English language.
"Pam Peters is ... a delight to read, informative, and sensible... I don't need
to tell you to enjoy this book - you will."
Kel Richards, WordWatch, ABC NewsRadio
CAE Press have made several copies available top VALBEC members. If you'd like to
go into the draw for this member offer, go to the VALBEC web site http://www.valbec.org.au
and follow the links to 'Member Offer'.
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10. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
The next meeting of the VALBEC Committee is scheduled for Thursday, November
17. Members welcome - contact VALBEC for venue details.
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11. 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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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