Electronic Resources

Electronic Resources contains multiple evidence-based research reports, evidence-based teaching strategies, on-line materials, and links to research and literacy practice Websites.

• NALD National Adult Literacy Database – The largest and most comprehensive location for adult literacy and basic education in Canada, NALD is the “central library” for Canadian literacy. A  bit clumsy to navigate, but research, statistics, full reports of every type are housed here. You can get on the update Listserv and receive information on new additions to the NALD database upon request.  This database is located in Fredericton, NB,

Ontario Practitioner-Based

• AlphaPlus Especially strong on electronic supports and the use of digital literacy with how-to suggestions, this Website also focuses on literacy and basic education research that has been conducted in Ontario, including in the Francophone and deaf communities of adult literacy.

• Canadian Literacy and Learning Network. This CLLN Website is especially helpful in that it houses many of the more recent Canadian reports on adult literacy–statistical reports, the Movement for Canadian Literacy submission for a Pan-Canadian literacy plan, even the petition form to advocate for promoting literacy education as submitted to the federal government some years back.  The website also has a valuable learners section listing helpful materials for self-study and instruction, as well as plain language Learners’ Stories.  You will also find a number of good links to other websites (although these need to be updated).

• Essential Skills Ontario. This new Essential Skills Ontario Website  is hosted by the Ontario Literacy Coalition based in Toronto. The Website has a number of purposes, including:  A Research and Policy section that highlights Essential Skills Ontario’s latest research and initiatives  and  an easy-to-use Resources section where you can find all of Essential Skills Ontario’s downloadable documents, online resources, and information on  webinars.   New to the Canadian electronic resources scene, it is really worth checking into regularly.

• Festival of Literacies. Based out of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Ontario, this Website contains Research-in-Practice reports and studies, it includes information on Podcasts and resources being hosted in various parts of Canada.

British Columbia Practitioner-Based

• Decoda This comparatively new Website takes up where Literacy BC left off. It contains RiP studies as well as many recent Essential Skills reports and updates. See Research-in-Practice reports conducted by British Columbia practitioners.

International Practitioner-Based Websites

“If practitioner research can allow us to identify aspects of learning or allow us to improve in our teaching, then it is definitely an extremely important part of any teaching course and a process that should be undertaken within each of our teaching contexts. Tutors [teachers,  instructors and trainers] should welcome the opportunity and set aside any anxieties or concerns they have about embarking on the process.” —Participant in literacy action research, United Kingdom

Australia Practitioner-Based

• ALNARC Adult Literacy and Numeracy Australian Research Consortium (ALNARC) - This Australian Website provides reports and discussions on research, best practices, and literacy training.  The findings and materials often have relevance to Canada.

United Kingdom Practitioner-Based

• NRDC   The National Research and Development Centre Located in London, England, the NRDC is the national centre for adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL. Its mandate is to improve professional practice and inform policy using a robust evidence base. The centre has an international reputation and works across the UK and worldwide.  Go to this Website to download excellent practitioner materials on teaching literacy, numeracy, ESOL and much more. For action research, check out the very helpful report: Maximising the impact of practitioner research: A handbook of practical advice.

• RaPAL   Research & Practice in Adult Literacy Located at Lancaster University, England, this site gives information on literacy activities and research in England as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland. This site is especially interesting because it also contains critiques of U.K. governmental policy.

United States of America Practitioner-Based

• “Literacy tent”  Adult Literacy Education Wiki - Here is a treasure trove of practice-driven information and discussion. This highly engaging Website gives descriptions and provides discussions on action research. Here you will find resources and projects from practitioners in states such as Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Library of Education Research.

• LINCS  Literacy Information and Communications System A U.S. federal government sponsored website providing a huge range of resources for literacy practitioners—from workplace to family literacy to policy documents.  Similar  to NALD, this Website contains literature reviews, reading teaching strategies information and information on the economics of literacy. It focuses on both adult and child literacy.

• NCSALL  National Centre for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy This centre for literacy was located at Harvard University for several years but their federal contract has since ended. The information that is still on the  NCSALL Website remains relevant today.

• PALPIN  Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Practitioner Inquiry Network This valuable website is under the Learning from Practice project sponsored by the Pennsylvania state government. The multiple Research-in-Practice reports are now in the huge USA ERIC data base (Education Resources Data Base) . You may need to use Google to get to PALPIN but it is well worth it.  You will find discussion-based Practitioner Inquiry reports and action research reports here under various literacy headings.

• Pennsylvania Action Research Network (PAARN) This website was also under the Learning from Practice project, like the PALPIN project (above), and it too was sponsored by the Pennsylvania state government for many years. Here is where perhaps the most Research-in-Practice reports can be found. A wonderful resource but clumsy to get at. Google this project by its name; or, since the Pennsylvania reports are in ERIC, go to the LINCS Website (above); or, if you like, try PALPIN  Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Practitioner Inquiry Network. It will get you to the many Pennsylvania reports too. It is worth the effort–a hundred or more Research-in-Practice projects are described and categorized under various literacy headings as the result of the PAARN and PALPIN initiatives.

• Rhode Island Adult Education Teacher Inquiry Project. This Website provides a listing of resources & activities in the US as well as activities in Rhode Island.  www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/inquiry

• VAERN  Virginia Adult Education Research Network. Here is one of the few Websites that contains practice-based reports and also a useful guide  on Action Resarch (by Suzanne Cockley) which  gives guidance on how to conduct research in literacy settings.  You will find other examples of Guides under the Publised Resources button of this same SARN Website. www.aelweb.vcu.edu/resguide/resguide1

• WE LEARN: Women Expanding/Literacy Education Action Resource Network. A rare website developed specifically for women learners and practitioners with a wide variety of activities, discussion circles, and resources.  This highly engaging Website is really worth looking at since it is one of the few that focuses on the majority of those who make up the instructors, teachers , tutors and learners in adult literacy; namely, women. Check it out.

Canadian Academic Literacy Websites

The Canadian Centre for Research on Literacy (CCRL).  Located at the University of Alberta, Edmonton,  the CCRL is one of the few Canadian universities to have established an electronic resources Website for literacy in the English language. You will find current, peer-reviewed and other published articles, books and chapters from the faculty of the UofA in this Website. These resources concern adult and child literacy, as well as other areas of adult education interest.