Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

This research will build as much as possible on the current assessment approaches of LBS delivery agencies. Vubiz conducted a scan of assessment practices in some LBS agencies by means of a web-based survey that select literacy agencies were asked to fill out. In April 2006, Vubiz also held a provincial focus group to discuss assessment practices and learner skill attainment.

During the same period, Dr. Pat Campbell also conducted research as part of a study on assessment practices, tools and resources within the Canadian literacy community. This report, “Student Assessment in Adult Basic Education: A Canadian Snapshot” is available on NALD at www.nald.ca/fulltext/snape/cover.htm.

Recent CIPMS initiatives include MTCU exploring the enhanced use of available data from the IMS to begin to formalize measures around efficiency. As well, MTCU will be working with literacy agencies to improve response rates to the learner satisfaction survey and they are encouraging the expanded use of AlphaRoute. CIPMS is also about effective program monitoring, program evaluation, goal setting, documenting activity, and evaluating, recording and demonstrating progress.

CIPMS has been used in Job Connect to help them demonstrate effectiveness, efficiency and customer satisfaction. Complete details are not yet available because they haven’t had enough time to establish comparative data, but the Ministry has indicated that they will also be using this approach with the One-Stop Centres.

More on the CIPMS initiative is scheduled to be rolled out in 2006; in the meantime, you can find more information by checking with your program consultant.

c) It can validate the goal-directed nature of the training
Outcomes-based evaluation helps agencies discover and demonstrate if they are doing the right activities to bring about the outcomes identified as being needed by the students. For example, when evaluating outcomes for the goal of further education and training, not only could you identify how many students passed the required entrance tests, but you would also follow-up with them to find out how they cope with the new learning situation. This information would help you prove that your agency did indeed have an impact for the goal of further education and training.

Designed and hosted by in collaboration with CLO