Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

Delivery Models

Throughout the province of Ontario, literacy and basic skills instruction is offered in a variety of formats by programs operated by community-based agencies, by school boards and by colleges. There is no one “right” way to deliver literacy instruction. Traditionally, school boards and colleges offered programming in classroom or group settings while community-based agencies tended to provided one-to-one instruction using volunteer tutors. Over the years, however, programming has evolved to best meet the needs of learners, funders and the agencies themselves. Many programs provide a blend of different approaches that truly reflects a learner-centred approach. Let’s take a few minutes to examine the various delivery models.

One-to-One Delivery

In this model, trained instructors (usually volunteer tutors but sometimes paid staff) work directly with one learner at a time. The instructor and learner usually meet once or twice a week, for one to two hours at a time. Generally, a staff member will first work with the learner to develop a training plan and then share that with the instructor. Intake is generally continuous. This type of program is usually offered in community-based programs.

Instruction can take place at the literacy program or in another location such as a library or community centre. Sometimes students work one-on-one with an instructor and then join a small group or a class. Or, sometimes students work one-on-one with a volunteer tutor to supplement the work they are doing in a small group or class.

Small Group Delivery

In this model, trained instructors (usually paid staff but sometimes volunteer tutors) work with a group of two to ten learners. The amount of time the group meets varies based on a variety of factors such as funding, learners' needs and available space.

Within the small group, learners may be working at a similar level or have similar goals. In smaller agencies, however, the group members are likely to have a variety of skills and goals. Small group instruction can be offered for just a few hours each week or on a more full-time basis. Intake may be continuous, or there may be specific beginning dates to join the group.

You can find out more about small groups from Community Literacy of Ontario's excellent resource, Small Talk: A Resource Guide for Using Small Groups in Community Literacy Agencies. This resource is available online at http://www.nald.ca/clo/resource/SmallTalk.pdf.

In 2005, Community Literacy of Ontario (www.nald.ca/clo) (CLO) conducted an agency survey that revealed a dramatic shift towards incorporating small group programming into community-based agencies in Ontario. However, this doesn't mean that programs have abandoned the one-on-one approach; in fact, 92% of the 72 programs that responded to the survey offer both methods of delivery. Exactly half of adult learners enrolled in community-based agencies participated in each type of programming.

When asked by CLO to describe the benefits and challenges of the two types of program delivery, here is what Ontario community literacy agencies said:

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