AlphaPlus

To acknowledge International Literacy Day week, we invite you to read an opinion piece on the impacts of the digital divide: "When the Digital Divides us: International Literacy Day is a time for Action" https://alphaplus.ca/when-the-digital-divides-us-internati/ You can also read more about digital divide issues in Ontario here: https://alphaplus.ca//the-impact-of-ontarios-digital-divi/ #alphaplus #digitaldivide #LBS #ILD2020 #literacyskills #lbscovid19 #digitalskills

Missed our presentation at the Pop Up PD for Literacy Educators webinar on August 27th? During this session, we reviewed how programs have shifted and adapted to remote teaching and learning, and detailed the tools and resources used to support these transitions. This session is designed to keep LBS program teams connected and informed of each others successes and challenges and to share knowledge. A big thank you to the Pop Up PD committee of the Learning Networks of Ontari...o, E-Channel and the Provincial Support Organizations for Literacy for inviting us. If you missed the session, you can view the slides and access the recording here https://e-channel.ca/practitioners/pop-pd-resources. Learn more about the Pop Up PD for Literacy Educators and the upcoming sessions at https://learningnetworks.ca/resources-publications/popuppd/ Learning Networks of Ontario

This years International Literacy Day #ILD2020 will focus on Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond with a focus on the role of educators and changing pedagogies. The theme will highlight literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective and therefore mainly focus on youth and adults. "At a time when we need to reinvent a world of hope, literacy is more important than ever. On this International Day, I thus invite all those involved in education... to redouble their investments and mobilize all their resources to unleash the potential of each individual in the service of a shared world." Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General, on the occasion of International Literacy DayT https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/literacyday

The Northern Literacy Networks have created a new literacy awareness video and invite the literacy community to share it + participate in the "Name This Video" contest. The contest runs from Sept 8th to Sept 21st and the winner will receive a $250 gift card. To enter, participants must be 19 or older and reside in Ontario. #ILD2020 #literacyskills #LBS #adulteducation Contest: https://northernliteracynetworks.ca/name-the-video-contest/ ... Video: https://youtu.be/pgAgTZgbYRo The video is available in English and ASL. Learning Networks of Ontario - North Region Literacy Alliance of West Nipissing The Mid North Network for the Coordination & Development of Adult Learning

A great initiative...

@OrilliaLiteracyCouncil is organizing their 10th #feastforlearning with a special twist! Their fundraising efforts are focusing on expanding their digital programming and... Their silent auction will be online this year! Learn more at https://www.odlc.ca/feast-for-learning Please share with your social networks to help ODLC get the community involved.

The Pop Up PD webinar "Working together to support learners during a pandemic the good, the bad and the unexpected" is next Thursday, August 27 at 2 pm. Have you registered yet? Monika and Alan are excited to share what they have been working on and learning from their coaching programs when it comes to using technology during the pandemic. Here is a link to a printable flyer with more information and registration links for all upcoming Pop Up PD sessions: http://bit.ly/...popupPDAug27flyer Contact North / Contact Nord | E-Channel, Contact North | Learning Networks of Ontario - North Region | Community Literacy of Ontario | Literacy Link South Central | Quality in Lifelong Learning - QUILL Learning Network #AlphaPlus #lbscovid19 #digitaldivide #technology #adultliteracy #ontario

Check out these remote tram building activities: https://www.quizbreaker.com/remote-team-building-activities

Thank you everyone for watching and participating in the Adult Literacy Round Table today! Thank you Jill Andrew, Phylicia Davis-Wesseling, Reb Chevalier, Christine and Alan for bringing to the forefront and elevating the discussion about the #digitaldivide. The recording will be available soon on ... https://www.facebook.com/JillAndrewTO/ Jill Andrew - MPP, Toronto-St.Pauls Parkdale Project Read KGO Adult Literacy Program

The Adult Literacy Round Table from last week got rescheduled to today at 7 pm! NEW LINK: https://www.facebook.com/JillAndrewTO/ Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/757566271658732 (you dont need a Facebook account to watch). Join Alan Cherwinski and Christine Pinsent-Johnson of AlphaPlus along with Reb Chevalier of Parkdale Project Read and organizer Phylicia Davis-Wesseling, Founder & Program Manager, KGO Adult Literacy Program, participate in a Adult Literacy Roun...d Table with Member of Provincial Parliament Jill Andrew. COVID-19 has further demonstrated the importance of adult literacy and we discuss how the digital divide has impacted literacy workers and adult learners across the province. Now is time to advocate and push for more support, resources and visibility for this work.

It seems there were technical issues with live streaming the Round Table today. We hope the session will get rescheduled or recorded so we can share it with you.

Join Alan Cherwinski and Christine Pinsent-Johnson of Alpha Plus along with Reb Chevalier of Parkdale Project Read and organizer Phylicia Davis-Wesseling, Founder & Program Manager, KGO Adult Literacy Program as we participate in a Adult Literacy Round Table with Member of Provincial Parliament Jill Andrew. Access the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/331636311302245/ (you dont need a Facebook account to watch). COVID-19 has further demonstrated the importance of... adult literacy and we discuss how the digital divide has impacted literacy workers and adult learners across the province. Now is the time to advocate and push for more support, resources and visibility for this work. Jill Andrew - MPP, Toronto-St.Pauls Parkdale Project Read KGO Adult Literacy Program #AlphaPlus #AdultLiteracy #LBS #digitaldivide #Ontario #apdigitaldivide

Join our team members Monika and Alan on August 27 at 2 pm ET for #PopUpPD webinar Working together to support learners during a pandemic - the good, the bad and the unexpected hosted by a committee of the Learning Networks of Ontario, E-Channel and the Provincial Support Organizations for #Literacy. Register at https://bit.ly/popuppdaugust27 Monika and Alan will share what they have been working on and learning from their coaching programs when it comes to handling the un...expected shift to remote teaching and learning during the pandemic, what tools and resources have the programs been using (such as video meeting tools, online classes, connecting via mobile apps, texting and much more), what has been working well and what hasnt, plus whats being planned for the Fall. Learn more about the Pop Up PD for Literacy Educators at https://learningnetworks.ca/resources-publications/popuppd/ Community Literacy of Ontario Literacy Link South Central Quality in Lifelong Learning - QUILL Learning Network Contact North / Contact Nord E-Channel, Contact North Learning Networks of Ontario - North Region #AlphaPlus #LBS #technology #lbscovid19

Looking for tips and ideas on organizing online auction/fundraiser... Have you done it? What software/tools/service have you used? What worked for you? What didnt?

Since the COVID Alert app only works on phones purchased in the last five years, it prevents people who dont have access to newer technology from participating and seriously hinders the required app adoption rate. There was likely no way to design a COVID Alert App strategy that could get around the current digital divide in Ontario. The #digitaldivide is putting everyone at #risk, but some people more than others. #lbscovid19

The COVID Alert app sends you a phone alert if you may have been exposed to #covid19, and lets others know if you test positive without sharing any personal information. It uses random codes that cant identify you or your location, personal or health information or even who the app belongs to. Visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covidalert to learn more. Using COVID Alert app is completely voluntary. You choose to download, use or delete it. The more people who use it, the mo...re effective it will be in helping to protect each other and our communities. #LBScovid19 #AlphaPlus #digitalskills #technology

Lots of ideas for icebreaker activities in #online sessions: https://symondsresearch.com/icebreakers-for-online-teaching #digitalskills #AlphaPlus #techsavvy #computers

Covid-19 related resources. Thank you for sharing Laubach Literacy Ontario

Looking for some online PD opportunities? We put together a short list of organizations that have developed free and low cost webinars. All are relevant to LBS and remote delivery. Check it out! https://drive.google.com//1DmS5Z1LadBMv3ajEWlKBfhWPX/view #AlphaPlus #LBS #digitalskills #techsavvy #professionaldevelopment

Im a teacher and I watched serious documentaries about Apollo 11. But YouTubes recommendations are now full of videos about conspiracy theories: about 9/11, Hitlers escape, alien seekers and anti-American propaganda. YouTubes autoplay function can pull users down the internet rabbit hole for hours on end and generate video recommendations that arent always welcome... Here are some tips on how to quickly disable the autoplay feature: bit.ly/youtubeautoplaytip

Calgary Learns (https://www.facebook.com/calgarylearns) recently posted this article in their newsletter and it has generated/regenerated a conversation amongst practitioners https://www.proliteracy.org//ALE_ResearchJournal-v002_01-2

We are excited to report that the survey winners have been selected and contacted. First iPad is going to a Community based program in Toronto and the second one to a teacher with a Sudbury School Board program. Congratulations! A big thank you to everyone for participating. Survey report will be available soon. Stay tuned!

Are you looking for some PD this Summer? From July 13 to July 31, @ISTEconnects is organizing a Summer Learning Academy #ISTEsla20 with webinars, micro courses and access to a professional learning community. US$20 for three weeks, plus you have the option to purchase ISTE membership for US$60 when registering: https://summerlearningacademy.iste.org Please note that the sessions are geared towards K-12 and focus on the US curriculum standards.

A free learning tool created with the aim of helping build digital information literacy skills.

Interest information (English text only) and links that might be of value to instructors looking for internet savvy type content. Alan "In this Data Detox, youll learn about algorithms and filter bubbles to gain more insights into how you (and those around you) may be swayed by the technology behind popular platforms. Youll have the opportunity to reflect on your news feed, and gather suggestions to widen your pool of information in order to better understand other perspectives." https://datadetoxkit.org/en/wellbeing/filterbubbles

Great tip for math learners.

A great list for your review...

Are you purchasing devices for your learners? What are you getting? Laptops, chromebooks, tablets? What is helping you make the decision? What other things do you have to take into account? If you purchased already, what did you get? Please share your ideas/tips/specs with us and other organizations considering the purchase as well.

This year, #CanadaDay will be celebrated differently. But just because were apart, it doesnt mean we cant be together online. Find a #CanadaDay2020 virtual celebration: http://Ontario.ca/CanadaDay

The shift to remote delivery in LBS survey is now closed. We received 368 responses in English and French -- an astounding rate of participation! Thank you to all. The iPad winners will be notified by email on July 10th.... The report will be made available for all once completed.

Are you curious what other programs are doing as we practice physical distancing? Here are some promotional materials from @DixonHall. Have students in their area? Consider referring them to Maxine and Pauline.

Another great webinar from @ContactNorth

Lots of interesting topics to explore here http://summerlearningacademy.iste.org/

Our remote delivery in LBS survey closes on June 26! Have you participated yet? AlphaPlus is conducting this survey to learn more about the transition from predominantly in-person delivery to some form of remote delivery, including communication, instruction and new initiatives. ... . SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lbs19 Thanks for your consideration and please share this information widely. #apsurvey #LBS ##remotedelivery #AlphaPlus #COVID19

As we become more dependent on technology to help accomplish our everyday tasks, we tend to forget how easily the information stored on our computers or USB sticks can be lost. Here are great tips from @GCFLearnFree.org on how you can protect your files from accidental loss by creating a backup on an external hard drive or online backup service: https://edu.gcfglobal.org//techsa/backing-up-your-files/1/

Looking for fun and innovative ways to use zoom or other video conferencing tools with your learners? Here are some great ideas: https://hookedoninnovation.com//25-strategies-to-engage-z/