Core Skills
Sector-Specific Entry-Level Skills
| College Sector Practitioner Training Strategy | Community-Based Sector Practitioner Training Strategy |
| Laubach Literacy Ontario Training Strategy | School Board Sector Practitioner Training Strategy |
| School Board Entry-Level Skills |
With the completion of the Ontario Literacy Coalition's Adult Literacy Educator Skills List, which described “what is reasonable and attainable for an experienced literacy educator,” Ontario's four sector networks had a document to work from as they began the process of researching and authenticating the initial training needs of their practitioners. In compliance with the Ministry of Training Colleges and University's multi-phase Literacy Practitioner Training Strategy, each sector developed its own list of core skills for its entry-level practitioners, through broad consultation with its members.
The following sections briefly describe the research, validation methods and the resulting skills lists for the four sector networks.
College Sector Practitioner Training Strategy: Teachers for Tomorrow
Colleges have been delivering academic preparation courses for adult students since 1964 when the Community College system was established. The College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading (CSC), which represents the college literacy sector, has defined its role as assisting the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and leading the Ontario College System in the creation of provincial resources, procedures and standards related to the development and delivery of relevant programs and/or services. (Source: www.collegeupgradingon.ca/about.htm)
In order to complete the entry-level college practitioner skills list, college program managers were surveyed in late 1999 and early 2000 to gather data about hiring and practitioner training. Copies of the survey were forwarded to the adult upgrading program managers in all 22 English language colleges in Ontario. Survey data was collected by phone. In order to research entry-level skills of practitioners, a second survey was administered in May 2000 to adult upgrading teaching staff and managers.
College faculty and managers selected 29 skills as essential to the success of a beginning practitioner in college adult upgrading programs.
