Welcome back! We’re looking forward to another year serving our membership and supporting the literacy field in Nova Scotia!

LNS continues to provide supports to adult learners, practitioners and learning organizations, as well as working to expand our partnerships. We also continue to work towards having a sustainable organization to continue our current programming and how we can expand. Many of our current programs would not be possible without the funding support received from the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.

I’ve been asked to join a national Programs and Research Committee. I will be letting others know about our research needs in LES programming in Nova Scotia as well as sharing any best practices or interesting programs back to you that I hear about. I look forward to chatting with literacy programs across NS. Give me a call at 1-800-255-5203 to let me know what you are doing and the challenges you’re facing.

The LNS board will be meeting on September 22nd and 23rd.

LNS Resource Hub will be available at resourcehub.literacyns.ca in a few days. This is a new website designed for NSSAL adult learning instructors and literacy practitioners in Nova Scotia to post, share and discuss resources. You will be required to set up an account in order to access the website. To create your own account, please email frampton.elaine@gmail.com and include your name and learning organization. We will email you a user account registration code.

LNS membership fees were due on August 31, 2017. Please renew your membership or become an LNS member to retain access to our programs and services. These include supports to learners, practitioners, and organizations, printed resources and subscribed informational emails. Your support helps Nova Scotians access quality literacy and essential skills programs. It also ensures paid and volunteer practitioners have the skills they need, supports adult learners’ participation and promotes the value of literacy and essential skills to all Nova Scotians. New this year, learners enrolled in a community learning organization for upgrading will not be required to pay the $5 membership fee.

Remember all the great speakers you had at your closing ceremony? We’d love to have these learners join us for the 2018 Adult Learners’ Week Celebration the first week of April. Have the learner get in touch with us or call us yourself to recommend someone.

LNS Scholarship and Bursary Awards are available for adult learners. Application deadline is October 20, 2017.

Community-based learning organizations who are members of Literacy Nova Scotia can apply every year for free computer systems and laptops.

Register Now for Practitioner Training (PT) Modules:
• Practicum, Sep 11 – Oct 6
• Teaching Math: Keeping It Real, Oct 15 - Nov 10
• Supporting English as an Additional Language Adult Literacy Learners
  Oct 15 - Nov 10
Check out the Practitioner Training webpage for more details on the program, modules, and tuition schedule.

“I would strongly recommend PT if you are thinking about becoming a practitioner.” ~ Brent MacPhee

Read more about Brent

Supporting Learning Needs of Adults
November 16 — 17, 2017 at Holiday Inn, Prince Street, Truro
The Professional Development Conference for Practitioners is open to all practitioners and coordinators who are looking for professional development to help them better support under-skilled and under-employed Nova Scotians. In particular, we invite practitioners and coordinators from the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (community-based, adult high school, NSCC), work activity programs, career resource centers, workforce development programs and others. Online Registration Form Deadline for registration: October 13th.

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Is there a PD opportunity that would benefit your learning organization?
Apply to the PD Fund. You can read about what others have learned through training funded by the PD Fund. All practitioners (tutors, instructors), coordinators, and board members are eligible for funding up to $1000 per year for professional development relevant to their role at their community-based learning network, and up to $4000 per year for group PD. To date, there is approximately $5400 remaining in this fund.

Community-based learning organizations who are members of Literacy Nova Scotia can apply every year for free computer systems and laptops.

In addition to special library programs, PARL hosts workshops, presentations and evening seminars on a variety of topics. Here is their September 2017 events calendar.

Science Literacy Week is a week-long celebration of science-based activities that highlight our outstanding scientists and science communicators from coast-to-coast. Find and attend a public event happening near you, and check out new science resources. Read more

October 3 - 4 at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre
Hosted by the Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia, the conference will be at once a celebration of cross-sectoral collaboration, a skill-building and learning event, and an opportunity to develop projects and in an action focused manner. Register

Thursday, October 12, from 3:00- 4:00pm AT
Join ABC Life Literacy Canada for a presentation and Q&A with the winner of this year's Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award, Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB) and their fantastic program, Blind People in Charge. Register

October 27 - 28 at StFX University, Antigonish NS
The 3rd Atlantic Regional Adult Education Conference provides an opportunity for professionals and researchers working in all areas of adult education to share and explore current research and issues in the field.  Website   Register

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PEI Literacy Alliance is in peril after the federal government decided not to restore $150,000 in core funding to the long-running not-for-profit organization. Acting executive director Amanda Beazley says the cuts will force them to close leaving more than 700 children without access to free tutoring. Read more

One Book Nova Scotia will announce the book we can all hardly wait to read on Friday September 8th. Check their website or social media for updates. One Book Nova Scotia is a province-wide community reading event for adults. Nova Scotians are invited to read/listen to, and discuss the same book. Read more

Some 80,000 more adult learners in Ontario will be able to upgrade their literacy, math and computer skills. “This is huge,” said Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, also the province’s minister of advanced education and skills development. “We are doubling the funding for adult literacy and basic skills.” Read more

Although numerous interventions in Kenya have targeted the development of adult literacy over the decades, a 2014 survey indicated that 45 percent of Kenyan mothers of children aged 6-16 years could not read at grade level 2. Read more

While scoping out Canadian policy texts and existing programs, this working paper draws on international research, best practices, and the work of digital literacy experts globally to define digital literacy, the skills it comprises, as well as its importance. Resource

Instructional designers must understand how adults learn best in order to create effective elearning courses. When creating any type of elearning, it is important to base the design on a good understanding of adult learning theory. Resource

This guide for adult education facilitators provides information and strategies for supporting adult learners living with mental health conditions or disorders. Resource

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ABC Life Literacy Canada News - August 2017
AWENS - July 2017
Canadian Society of Association Executives - August 2017
Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia, Central Region - August 2017
Dartmouth Learning Network - August 2017
Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick - August 2017
Skills Online - August 2017
Tech Tips for Teachers - July 2017
Volunteer Canada News - August 2017
World Education / US - September 2017