eVALBEC September 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).
This newsletter 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. VALBEC Twilight Forum, 'Tests and ptarmigans'  Tuesday, September 6
2. VALBEC Spring Forum ‘Assessment into Practice’ Friday, September 30
3. VALBEC Practical matters - ‘Adult learning and learning styles’ Friday October 21
4. Office Professionals' Conference – “Knowledge Management: Well Informed. Well Directed”
Tuesday, September 27
5. Launching the ACAL Literacy Live Meeting room Tuesday September 13
6. ACAL ‘Literacy Live’ electronic newsletter
7. NCVER 2005 adult literacy research program funding
8. International Exchange
9. NCVER 2005 adult literacy research program funding
10. Haven’t seen Fine Print?
11. Takeaway2 Conference Handouts
12. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
13. Unsubscribe?
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1. VALBEC Professional Development
Twilight Forum – Tuesday, September 6- Part of Adult Learners' Week
'Tests and ptarmigans'
Peter Lavender, Director for Research, Development and Information, NIACE. (more on NIACE at http://www.niace.org.uk/)
North Fitzroy Star, 325 St Georges Road SOUTH, Fitzroy North 6.15 pm for a 6.30 pm start
Fee: Free of charge but it’s essential you register with VALBEC info@valbec.org.au by Friday Sept 2 as numbers are limited.
Peter will present his observations about government targets in the UK and national tests in relation to the 'adult basic skills strategy' in England. The national targets have been designed for the best of reasons but there are unintended consequences and some poor effects.  He calls this 'the ptarmigan effect'.  He will also draw a parallel with the 'Education for All' UNESCO program.  EFA also relied on the achievement of numerical targets which have led to distortions in educational systems, as evidenced by Harvey Goldstein in a forthcoming publication.  Peter will conclude with a call for a balance of ways of measuring achievement for learners and a more flexible use of opportunities that make a link between formative and summative assessment.
(What’s a ptarmigan. See http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Lagopus_mutus/more_info.html)
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2. VALBEC Spring Forum “Assessment into Practice”
Friday, September 30, Victoria University, Buckley Street, Footscray
9.15 Welcome
9.30 am
Assessment: practice, purpose and possibility - Pauline O’Maley
Pauline will talk about the relationship between a conceptualisation of literacy as situated sociocultural practice and assessment.  Our attitudes, approaches to and enactment of assessment in the adult literacy and numeracy classroom tells our students much about our conceptions of literacy and what we value (and by association what they should value).
Building Assessment into Our Classroom Practice: Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre and North Melbourne Language and Literacy
Sarah Deasey and Jane Lucas will talk about this joint project (funded by ACFE) to explore language and literacy course assessment procedures and processes. They looked at formative and summative teacher assessment, student self- assessment and record keeping models. The teachers worked as a group, and documented their “on the ground” classroom practice and developed a range of assessment tools. These feed into a model for assessment that takes into account the slow but incremental progress of literacy learners at CGEA Level 1 and Introductory, and the CELL.  
Morning tea 11.00- 11.30
11.30 am - 12.30 pm
Language, Values, Community: a workshop in practical rhetoric - Rob McCormack
This experiential workshop will explore some of the teaching/learning strategies of traditional rhetoric as an apprenticeship into the practices of citizenship and community.
The VALBEC Spring Forum is free but you must register your attendance with VALBEC at info@valbec.org.au
Room D401 Level 4, Hoadley Building,  Footscray Campus, Victoria University,  Nicholson St, Footscray
Metered Parking ($1.00 per hour) is available around the Footscray Nicholson Street Campus, in Albert Street, Bristow Street and limited parking in Pilgrim Street. Limited metered parking is available in a university campus parking space located in Pilgrim Street.
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3. VALBEC Practical matters - ‘Adult learning and learning styles’
Friday October 21 10am – 12.30pm
Longbeach Place Community Centre  15 Chelsea Road, Chelsea
Presented by Robyn Hodge
Engaging learners in conversations about how they learn, and how they can learn better is a valuable way of challenging learner expectations about what they do and why they do it in the adult education classroom.
 The workshop will discuss

To register contact Josie Rose rose.josie.m@edumail.vic.gov.au <mailto:rose.josie.m@edumail.vic.gov.au>  
This Practical Matters will be presented by Robyn Hodge. Robyn has worked in adult education for about 15 years. She has worked in ACE in Melbourne’s West, and was lucky enough to see the best of ACE throughout Victoria during 6 years at ARIS.  She edits VALBEC’s journal Fine Print and is on the VALBEC Executive.
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4. Office Professionals' Conference – “Knowledge Management: Well Informed. Well Directed”
Tuesday, September 27, 2005  Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, Epping Campus
The conference will highlight latest trends in knowledge management and self-development with a focus on the ever-changing role of the Office Professional.
Keynote speakers:
- Microsoft the upcoming products for both corporate/work and home environment - wireless networks, Windows Media Centre
- CK Recruits on the Role of the Admin and how it has changed.  
Workshops:
Setting Goals & Career Paths, Stress Management in the Workplace, Business Writing, Creating a Web Site, Speaking with Confidence, Corporate Image etc., plus  networking opportunities and much more!  
Cost: $49.50 incl GST
Full program and registration - Rita Hawkins ritah-as@nmit.vic.edu.au or Ph  9269 1081.
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5. Launching the ACAL Literacy Live Meeting room
Tuesday September 13 4:30pm – 5:30pm
ACAL will be launching its virtual meeting room with a panel discussion Cool Results in eLearning This online event is part of the National Flexible Learning Framework. The session will be held at http://67.19.1.138/v4/login.asp?r=33662592&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).
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6. ACAL ‘Literacy Live’ electronic newsletter
ACAL (http://www.acal.edu.au) have launched a quarterly electronic newsletter about national adult literacy matters. Readers of eVALBEC will automatically receive a copy. Eventually you can subscribe to it. To go on the list send an email to acal@pacific.net.au
Watch your electronic mail box for the first issue being distributed about now!
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7. NCVER 2005 adult literacy research program funding
We have been advised that the NCVER 2005 adult literacy research program funding round is now open.
An information kit, including a template for proposals, can be obtained from the NCVER website http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/tenders.html.
The closing date for submissions is Monday 26 September 2005.
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8. International Exchange
A literacy development worker from North Ayrshire county of Scotland, UK is interested in creating an e-mail forum between Scottish
learners and Australian adult literacy learners.
Many of their courses have recently included the integration of literacies and ICT, with an interest shown in introductory computing and e-mail & internet basics.
The person, Sharon, thought it could be interesting to maybe have learners communicating their e-mail skills to e-mail buddies abroad.
If you’re interested contact Sharon McNamara ICT Literacies Development Worker Focus Learning Centre Saltcoats,  North Ayrshire
Scotland via email smcnamara@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
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9. NCVER 2005 adult literacy research program funding
We have been advised that the NCVER 2005 adult literacy research
program funding round is now open.
An information kit, including a template for proposals, can be obtained
from the NCVER website http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/tenders.html.
The closing date for submissions is Monday 26 September 2005.
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10. Haven’t seen Fine Print?
We’re offering a free copy of this issue of Fine Print to 10 people. To be in the running, visit the VALBEC web site http://www.valbec.org.au and follow the links from Fine Print Offer.
Coming up in the Spring edition of Fine Print
• Songs and stories from the field by Beverley Campbell
• The road to mobile learning by Caryl Oliver
• Doing sums I’ve never done before by Ellen Lawson and David van Heurck
• Urban Adventures in VCAL by Michael Cole and Michele Farrar
Back copies of Fine Print can be downloaded at http://www.valbec.org.au
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11. Takeaway2 Conference Handouts
Many of the sessions at the takeaway2 Conference produced useful handouts for participants. Some are available at http://www.bassinternational.com.au/takeaway.
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12. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
The next meeting of the VALBEC Committee is scheduled for 6.30 pm on Thursday, September 15 at the Royal Standard Hotel, Corner of William and Walsh Street West Melbourne. Members are welcome. Please confirm you attendance in advance.
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13. 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