It seems that the changes that we have made to the Professional Learning sessions have made a significant impact on our community. Not only have the sessions been more aligned with what you all were looking to learn about, but they have also been close to selling out in many of the sessions. To that end, can I implore you to register for our next PL session “Text and task complexity in numeracy” run by the one and only Dave Tout. I’ve known Dave for years and can I just say that his insights into mathematics and his attitudes towards how to teach them very much align with mine and the rest of our community. If you haven’t seen him present before, do it this time. If you’re not a member, it will only cost you $10, which is an absolute bargain!
In other news, VALBEC has started the journey towards a reconciliation plan as an organisation, headed by our very own Linno Rhodes. Keep an eye on this space as we work towards building more respectful and sustainable relationships.
Lastly, we are looking at employing a new commissioning editor for our journal Fine Print. Our beloved Deryn has decided to move on and after a mammoth effort since 2018, we are saddened but so extremely grateful for her attention to detail, her endless patience and her tenacity. As Deryn moved on, can I please put the feelers out there for people to get in contact with Linno Rhodes as part of
the Fine Print committee on 0426739952 or linnorhodes@gmail.com. You can find out more about Fine Print here: https://valbec.org.au/Fine-Print
That’s all from me for now, but watch this space!
Liam Frost-Camilleri, VALBEC President
VALBEC Membership
You can join or renew online.
https://valbec.org.au/membership/
If you join in August, September or October, deduct 50%. Renewal falls due the following February.
Members receive:
- Fine Print three times a year – a high quality journal for discussion and debate about good practice, theory and policy issues. Feedback and contributions are actively sought from members about content and issues.
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eVALBEC – our e-mail communication keeping members informed of professional development activities, general committee activities and more up to date policy changes.
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Discounts for the Annual Conference and other VALBEC statewide professional development.
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Issues-based forums.
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Focus on significant policy issues impacting on the field.
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Free numeracy resources.
Text and task complexity in numeracy
A VALBEC (Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Educational Council) Professional Learning session presented by Dave Tout.
What are some of the challenges and dimensions that people, both adults and children, have to address when solving numeracy tasks that can impact on their level of performance on everyday mathematical/numeracy problems.
This session will share some ideas about what factors can make a numeracy task or action easy or difficult. Is it about how difficult the mathematical content is, or is it about the real-world context and the embedded nature of the situation? And are there other non-cognitive aspects that need to be considered?
Based on some lessons learned from international adult numeracy assessments, and other research, this session will share different schemas and factors that can help address the difficulty and complexity of solving numeracy tasks and activities. One of the schemas can allow you to quantitatively compare tasks and questions, whilst the other is a way of supporting learners to solve a numeracy task.
This has implications for educators and teachers including, for example, that a numeracy teacher is also a teacher of literacy and language, and that teachers need to explicitly teach students how to 'read' or 'excavate' the mathematical content embedded in texts within numeracy tasks. Unsurprisingly, other factors address the need for numeracy teachers to explicitly address a range of mathematical content knowledge and processes.
Dave is an experienced adult and youth LLN educator who is particularly interested in making mathematics relevant, interesting and fun for all students, and is recognised as one of Australia's leading numeracy personnel with over 50 years' experience working across schools, TAFEs, community providers, universities, national education bodies and workplaces.
He has worked at a state, national and international level in research, curriculum, assessment and professional development. Dave has written many numeracy and maths curriculum, teaching and PD resources, and is also an author of the Australian Core Skills Framework. Dave has been involved in international numeracy assessments including the OECD's PIAAC and PISA assessment programs and is currently Chair of the Numeracy Expert Group for PIAAC. Dave currently holds positions at both ACER and the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne and is a numeracy & mathematics consultant.
We look forward to seeing you there.
VALBEC PL Forums Team
Who: Dave Tout
When: Thursday, 24th October 2024, 5.30-6.30 pm AEST
Where: Zoom
Cost: VALBEC Members Free; non-Members $10
Register here: https://valbec.org.au/event-5885835
Transform your classroom with AI: Must-Have Tools for Every Teacher!
After receiving amazing feedback and valuable suggestions from our recent webinar, “The Power of AI in Education" we are excited to share these game-changing resources with our readers.
As a teacher, we juggle creating lesson plans, developing resources, managing classroom activities, ensuring academic integrity, and providing encouraging timely feedback to our students.
AI can help simplify all these tasks, allowing us to focus on what truly matters-teaching!
Here are some of the powerful AI tools we demonstrated:
- Lesson Planning: ChatGPT, Claude
- Multilingual video resources: Synthesia, Pictory ai, Lumen 5
- Smart note-taking: NoteGPT
- Effortless transcription: TurboGPT
- AI Content Detection: ZeroGPT, GPT Zero
- Summarising and grammar tools: QuillBot (also checks for plagiarism, generates citations, detects AI content, and translates)
Ready to transform your teaching? Check out some of the tools mentioned above to save hours on lesson preparation.
LanternFish
Printable teaching resources for English Language.
Reframing Autism
Read information, the latest research and access free resources and free e-Learning.
https://reframingautism.org.au/about-us/
The editorial committee of the Fine Print journal is seeking expressions of interest for the role of commissioning editor.
Fine Print has been published since 1978 and is the journal of Valbec (Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council), a professional organisation for educators in the fields of adult literacy and numeracy, English language and digital literacy
If you are interested, please email a covering letter and resume to Linno Rhodes, linnorhodes@gmail.com
The closing date for applications is 11 October, 2024. The successful applicant will need to provide two professional references.
Let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
CGEA PD Session
The programme is still being finalised but the current plans are:
- Overview of the proposed new CGEA qualification as of 1 July 2025.
- What will be the changes from the 22471-22475 Certificates in General Education for Adults.
- Unpacking the new Units of Competency and what that means for learners and teachers.
- CGEA Implementation Guide
- Q& A and Discussion time. We welcome CGEA teachers/practitioners providing examples of how they deliver CGEA Units to their students, current good teaching and learning practices that should not be lost.
Afternoon Session: In Person only - Practical and interactive workshops - 1pm to 3pm - (DST)
Two sessions will run concurrently:
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Literacy focus
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Numeracy focus
Further Details will be distributed ASAP including how to register.
Anniversary of the 1985 Return of Uluru to its Traditional Owners
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/uluru-handback-anangu
See this National Museum of Australia page for Educational resources.
Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practice and Protocols guide
https://www.vaeai.org.au/9329/
The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) are pleased to launch the Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practice and Protocols guide.
The guide has been developed in partnership with the Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board, as part of the Self-determination in Local Koorie Education Initiative.
Mountain District Learning Centre is seeking an Adult Literacy Tutor for our Read Write Now class for people who left school early or who have had an interrupted education.
The position requires experience in teaching adults who have shortfalls in their literacy development and a friendly and encouraging manner. This position is casual for 3 hours per week, with classes held at Boronia Library.
Expressions of interest or enquiries can be directed to Franci,Adult Learning Manager at francib@mdlc.org.au
NTEU Position on the NHACE MEA - VOTE NO!
The Adult Community Education sector is currently being asked to vote on a new Multi-Employer Agreement. Indeed, some organisations may have started voting on the proposed agreement.
The NTEU ACE Branch and our members have serious concerns regarding the bargaining process and the agreement that is being put forward, and as such we encourage you to VOTE NO.
Some of the concerns we have are:
- No guaranteed pay rises in the agreement.
- The agreement does not address the inequities between pay rates in the ACE sector and pay rates in adjacent sectors.
- A lack of transparency regarding changes made to the new agreement from previous agreements.
These issues make our support for the proposed agreement untenable, and we believe that this view will be shared by many of you.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us via: vic@nteu.org.au
If you would like to join us, you can do so via this link.
Q. WHY DOES THE NTEU OPPOSE THE NEW AGREEMENT?
A. The Multi Enterprise Agreement presented to the sector by NHVic does not meet core NTEU claims outlined in our Log of claims and bargaining was prematurely stopped before the NTEU had the opportunity to properly pursue those claims
Q. WHAT DID THE NTEU WANT INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT?
A. The log of claims the NTEU wanted were:
- The Agreement provides for a 5% per annum salary increase for all employees.
- The Agreement contains provisions that prioritize ongoing employment and decrease the useof insecure employment modes such as fixed term and casual employment.
- The Agreement provides for access to EAP services for all staff.
- The Agreement provides for teaching rates closer to rates in the comparative sectors.
Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY WORKPLACE DOESN’T SIGN ON TO THE NEW AGREEMENT?
A. The legal and industrial framework does not change. If you have been on the NHACE2016 agreement, your employment is still governed by the terms of that agreement. Same if your workplace was signed onto the 2018 agreement.
Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NHVIC TRY TO REGISTER THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE FAIR WORK COMMISSION?
A. The NTEU as a bargaining agent will have an opportunity to express our opinions directly to the Fair Work Commission on an any agreement put forward for certification
Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NHVIC APPLY TO THE FAIR WORK COMMISSION TO EXTINGUISH THE 2016 AND 2018 AGREEMENT?
A. if NHVIC applies to extinguish any current EA’s without NTEU consent we will oppose the application in the Fair Work Commission
Q. WHAT CAN I DO IF MY WORKPLACE SIGNS ON TO THE NEW AGREEMENT AND STAFF VOTE YES?
A. Your employment will be governed by the terms of the new agreement
Q. HOW CAN WE STRENGTHEN OUR POSITION FOR THE FUTURE
A. By uniting behind the union, building up our branch, recruiting members, demonstrating solidarity and communication across different workplaces.
If you have any news about any ballots, outcomes or issues at your workplace, it would be most helpful if you could share it with us
Also, we encourage you to join NTEU ACE WhatsApp group for quicker and more responsive communication within our branch by following this invite link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FZiXBV92ZcnA5xBobyT39m
eVALBEC
eVALBEC is the monthly electronic newsletter of (VALBEC) the Victorian Adult Literacy and Basic Education Council and is sent to about 1000 practitioners on the first of each month (other than January). It is also available in the ‘News’ section of our web site
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.
How to submit items: https://www.valbec.org.au/evalbec