Work in Progress

Community adult language, literacy and numeracy provision in Australia: Diverse approaches and outcomes

• Summary
• Purpose
• Approach
• Research questions
• Methodology
• Organisations

Summary

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to obtain as full a picture as possible of non-accredited adult language, literacy and numeracy (ALLN) provision across Australia. In addition to basic demographic data about the students, information will be obtained about their motivations and outcomes, about what forms of assessment are used, and about pathways to other education, training and employment, and about quality control and professional development. The result will be a national database of community ALLN providers, providing the first comprehensive profile of this important sub-sector, along with a report on their students' characteristics, motivations and outcomes.

Approach

Survey and Case Studies

Research questions

1. What is the extent of literacy and numeracy provision in community settings in Australia?

2. What sorts of learners utilise these programs and what are their motivations?

3. How are learning outcomes assessed and to what extent do learners achieve successful outcomes?

4. To what extent are pathways from community settings to other education, training and work encouraged and in what ways?

5. How can community agencies best be assisted to maintain, expand and improve their service to ALLN learners and hence their impact on the wider community? (This will include exploration of appropriate reporting mechanisms to ensure this sub-sector is properly represented in the national statistics.)

Methodology

Main activities

* Literature review of relevant community ALLN studies.

* Development of draft questionnaire and development of draft semi-structured interview schedules for three different audiences: ALLN Program Manager/Coordinators, Teachers/tutors, Students.

* Pilot testing of questionnaire and interview schedules with Caboolture Community Adult Literacy Group Inc, Queensland.

* National survey of all identified providers organisations in every State and Territory which are believed to provide non-formal and non-accredited ALLN programs. This list will be compiled through liaison and negotiation with relevant bodies, including the State representatives on the Australian Council for Adult Literacy Executive, Adult Learning Australia, the Neighbourhood House Network, State Adult Literacy bodies, State government departments responsible for funding community ALLN agencies, relevant volunteer agencies, and through the Reading Writing Hotline database of community-based Adult Language Literacy and Numeracy programs using the validated questionnaire and reply-paid envelopes. It is anticipated that the questionnaire will include questions on numbers of students, their perceived motivations, educational and personal backgrounds and general levels of literacy and numeracy. Questions will also seek information about what outcomes are achieved and how these are assessed, as well as on the extent to which pathways to other education, training and work are fostered and achieved, and what additional support community organisations need for ALLN provision.

* Interviews with Managers/Coordinators, key teachers/tutors and, where appropriate and possible with students (on a confidential basis), in approximately six community learning providers of ALLN programs in several States/Territories with rural / regional / urban mix. Interviews will be audiotaped and the transcripts will be sent to interviewees for checking and changing if desired, within a specified timeframe.

With all the strategies and the most generous co-operation of relevant organisations, however, the Research Purpose Statement remains the guiding reality for the project: 'The purpose of this research is to obtain as full a picture as possible of non-accredited adult language, literacy and numeracy (ALLN) provision across Australia'.

Data Analysis

* The national survey will provide in the first instance data for Research Question 1: a comprehensive national listing of providers, categorised by type of provider. Any quantitative data will be analysed using SPSS if this seems warranted. Responses to the national survey will also provide initial data for Research Questions 2 to 5.

* Transcripts of interviews will be analysed for detailed data that will provide more substantive answers to Research Questions 2 to 5.

* Responses from the national survey and the interviews will be combined to provide a strong picture of non-accredited ALLN provision in Australia.

Furthermore:

1. The analysis of the data from the survey is expected to provide a national picture of the nature of non-accredited ALLN provision, including by state, by type of provider, by the nature and purposes of the ALLN 'courses' offered, by types of learners, by numbers of learners, by types of teachers/tutors, by perceptions of outcomes, by perceptions of 'pathways' to other training, education and/or work, by the nature of reporting - to whom and about what, and by what sorts of support would most assist their non-accredited ALLN provision. The data from the surveys will be quantified where appropriate, and will otherwise be categorised under the direct supervision and with the involvement of the Principal Investigator. The strategies will be described in the report.

2. The case studies are expected to provide a deeper understanding of the types of learners who access these sorts of programs, and of their motivations, of the sorts of issues facing non-accredited ALLN providers, how they perceive their place in the provision of ALLN in Australia, and the extent to which they want to be better acknowledged in that provision, including how they might reasonably contribute to national reporting of their activities. It is anticipated that the case study respondents will also provide valuable information about their perceptions of their impacts on individual development, as well as on the impact they make on their communities.

Organisations

The key objective of the Centre for Learning Research at Griffith University is to undertake research that investigates learning problems and challenges, develops innovative learning solutions, advances learning theory, and promotes innovative practices and policies in general, higher, adult, community and vocational education.

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