eVALBEC October 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 Practical matters ‘Adult learning and learning styles’ Friday October 21
2. ACAL Forum ‘Rethinking Literacies: literacy and numeracy across the domains of social life’
Friday 14 October 2005
3. Online Professional Development
4. CMM CGEA Forum Friday 18 November 2005 2-4 pm
5. Adult Learning Australia 45th Annual National Conference 24th to 26th November 2005
6. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
7. Unsubscribe?
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1. 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
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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2. Australian Council for Adult Literacy 2005 Forum
‘Rethinking Literacies: literacy and numeracy across the domains of social life’
Friday 14 October 2005 9.00am – 4.15pm
The Greek Club 29 Edmondstone Street South Brisbane, QLD 4101
In recent years, the Australian Government’s policy of integrating literacy learning for adults with vocational training has proved extremely successful in developing the capacity of the sector to provide literacy services. However, employment is not the only motivation for a person to engage in literacy learning, and only a proportion of the population deemed to have low skills access formal training delivered in the vocational training sector or in labour market programs. As well, definitions of essential literacy skills change over time and in response to other societal, economic, technological and theoretical influences. Fifteen years on from the International Year of Literacy and the subsequent issuing of the Australian Language and Literacy White Paper, the Australian Government is taking stock of its achievements in the field of adult literacy and numeracy prior to the second national survey of adults’ skills to be conducted by the ABS in 2006. This forum is a contribution by ACAL to that process of reflection and review and is designed to support ACAL’s commitment to shaping a whole of life/whole of government approach to literacy and numeracy.
Details: http://www.acal.edu.au
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3. 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).
5pm October 18 - a session with Professor Joe Lo Bianco from the University of Melbourne
speaking on his recent NCVER research "Using ICT in Adult Literacy Education: new practices, new challenges"
November (tbc) - a look at literacy related LearnScope projects nation-wide and an overview on what works and what the priorities are for 2006
December (tbc) - Digital Storytelling - how literacy practitioners are using the methodology nation-wide
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4. CMM CGEA Forum
Friday 18 November 2005 2-4 pm
Are you interested in coming to an open forum on the redevelopment and reaccreditation of the Certificates in General Education for Adults? The CMM General Studies & Further Education would like to invite practitioners to attend an information session on the reaccreditation process which will take place in 2006. 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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5. Adult Learning Australia
ALA’s 45th Annual National Conference will be held in Canberra from 24th to 26th November 2005
Details http://www.ala.asn.au
ALA National Awards 2005
ALA are now seeking nominations for the National Awards 2005.
The awards have been running since 1990 and will be presented at the ALA National Conference in Canberra on Saturday 26th November 2005 at the conference dinner.
This is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge adult learners and adult education providers in our community that have excelled in their chosen fields.
Details http://www.ala.asn.au
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6. Next VALBEC Committee meeting
The next meeting of the VALBEC Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 20 in the Literacy Live virtual meeting room (see above).
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7. 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