Integrated approaches to teaching adult literacy in Australia: A snapshot of practice in community services

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

Summary

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to investigate ways in which trainers and assessors integrate literacy practices into their vocational education and training program.

A key aspect is how RTO staff interpret the language, literacy and numeracy requirements in Training Packages.

Approach

Qualitative - interviews and video observation of practice

Research questions

1. How is literacy conceptualised in practice by RTO and enterprise personnel in the VET system?

2. What literacy practices are developed in an integrated approach?

3. What teaching and learning strategies are employed?

4. What are the key factors that might describe the 'integrated model' of adult literacy delivery?

Methodology

This study will involve a combination of video observations of training for demonstration of practice and semi-structured interviews (post and pre-observation).

A total of four Registered Training Organisations delivering the Community Services and Health Training Package at Certificate Level III, covering both institutional and enterprise models as well as large and small providers, will be included in the study. Managers, trainers, assessors and learners (with actual numbers subject to the sites selected) will be involved in the study.

Organisations

Communication in Education and Training Pty Ltd offers research and consultancy services in the areas of adult language, literacy and numeracy and vocational education and training. Rosa McKenna and Lynne Fitzpatrick are Company Directors and are the principal researchers working on this project. Professor Donald Leu and Dr Joy Cumming will be working on the project with the researchers.