<<
Back to Current Projects
Funder:
National
Literacy Secretariat
Project Dates: February
2002- June 2002
The Centre for Education and Work (CEW) has received
project and financial support from the National Literacy
Secretariat for the research, development and design
of Phase One for the development of a framework, process
and implementation plan for research in literacy in
Manitoba.
Phase One of this development will take place from February
15 - June 1 2002. Phase Two will be submitted as part
of the NLS/Manitoba application process for literacy
projects in 2002.
Background
Recent initiatives by the Adult Learning and Literacy
branch indicate the Manitoba literacy programs, practitioners,
and students are interested in developing a more integrated
and coordinated approach to research. Many programs
have conducted action-based research or have developed
new learning devised from literacy practices. However,
this learning is not collected, analyzed, or used for
devising additional research and development.
Currently, literacy projects in Manitoba have been identified
on an ad hoc basis dependent upon local needs and outcomes.
While these projects have been quite successful, they
have not generally added to a growing knowledge of literacy
practice and theory.
In the first Phase of this project the researcher will
work with community-based literacy programs to identify
research needs, identify and priorize research objectives
and outcomes, and propose a framework for the devleopment
of a new paradigm for research in Manitoba for learning
that embeds qualitative research into the delivery of
literacy work.
Expected Performace
and Outcomes
A Steering Group consisting of representatives from
Adult Learning and Literacy (Manitoba Education, Training
and Youth), Literacy Partners of Manitoba, literacy
practitioners, and faculty from the University of Winnipeg
and the University of Manitoba was consulted throughout
the development of this project and the subsequent development
of a Phase Two proposal.
In consultation with the Steering
Group (See Appendix A) and the Adult Learning and Literacy
branch which funds community-based literacy programs,
the CEW organized a number of focus groups throughout
Manitoba in the following jurisdictions: Pembina Valley,
Interlake, Winnipeg, Brandon, and Swan River. Smaller
groups discussions occurred with staff of Literacy Partners
of Manitoba and with staff of the Adult Learning and
Literacy branch. Although all literacy programs did
not participate in the focus group discussions, a significant
cross-section of program did. Thus, we had a sample
of practitioners and program organizers which included
representation from rural and urban, small and large
programs, experienced and new practitioners. In addition
we had input from Aboriginal and Francophone programs.
In total 34 practitioners from 24 different programs
participated in the discussions.
The focus groups were held on separate
occasions during the months of March and April 2002.
Two researchers from the CEW conducted the groups. The
focus group discussions developed around a number of
questions in order to stimulate responses. (See Appendix
B for the stimulus questions.) Although participants
were given the questions in advance, it was made clear
that these questions were only the stepping off place
for further discussion. The question sets were vetted
with a number of practitioners and groups before using
them with the Focus Groups in order to develop clear
and appropriate questions. The revised versions were
used for all but one Focus Group.
All Focus Groups were taped recorded
and written transcriptions were made from these tapes.
In addition, CEW staff makes field notes and observations
from the Focus Group and interview sessions themselves.
Contextualizing
Research in Manitoba (PDF)
Where are we going? What are we doing?
By Robin Millar and Sherry Porter
LiteracyNOW!
- Online literacy newsletter
National
Literacy Secretariat
Manitoba
Education, Training and Youth: Adult Learning and Literacy
Branch
Literacy
Partners of Manitoba
University
of Winnipeg
University
of Manitoba
|
