Additional Resources

The following are some examples of tools and resources that may be useful for Learner Plan development. These resources were of interest to LBS practitioners interviewed during the development of this module. This is not intended as an exhaustive list, and we encourage you to explore the resources available on the Internet .

• The Government of Canada has a website devoted to Essential Skills. It provides access to tools and resources to help meet the Essential Skills needs of
  • Job seekers and workers
  • Apprentices and tradespersons
  • Trainers and career counsellors
  • Employers

• Moving Forward: Curricula and Resources for Learners on the Independence Goal Path

This resource from Community Literacy of Ontario is an OALCF competency-based learning curricula that can be used with learners on the Independence goal path. Moving Forward includes information sheets, activity sheets and practitioner information within five modules:

• Communication
• Food and Nutrition
• Household Dangers
• Managing Your Money
• Time Management and Organization

Moving Forward also has a listing of 49 additional resources. Available from CLO in print on a cost-recovery basis plus postage or downloadable for free on CLO’s website.

• Measure-Up (How do your skills Measure Up?)

SkillPlan has developed an online site with free task-based activities to practice and test skills in three Essential Skills: Reading, Document Use and Math. Please note that you will need to type the link in your browser http://www.skillplan.ca/measure-up to access this resource.

• The OALCF Implementation Strategy Resource (ISR)

This resource was developed by CESBA and contains five tools to help practitioners and learners work within the OALCF. One of these resources, the Embedded Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Reference Guide for Ontario (ESKARGO), is particularly useful with the selection of tasks and how to bridge the gap between selecting a task and knowing what to teach. The ESKARGO contains lists of skills and knowledge found in tasks that are situated within each particular competency, task group and level. It also has an ESKARGO Attitudes Rubric to help learners consider how attitude plays a role in successful task performance.

This site has some useful interactive tools and videos to help learners on the Employment goal path understand the needs of their goal and goal path. These tools and resources are built around Canada’s Essential Skills (ES), which are task-based and levelled the same as the OALCF. There is also a section that explains the difference between a task and a skill-building activity and many activities to build into the Learners’ Plans.

• SkillPlan materials

SkillPlan has developed many resources which contribute to essential skills development and include task-based activities. Please note that you will need to type the link in your browser http://www.skillplan.ca/measure-up to access this resource.

• Task-based Activities for LBS

This helpful online resource is a repository of activities developed by QUILL Learning Network especially for the OALCF goal paths and competencies.

The publication, OALCF Tools and Resources provides information on OALCF tools and resources including these publications:

• The Goal Path Descriptions
  • Introduction
  • Apprenticeship
  • Employment
  • Independence
  • Postsecondary Education
  • Secondary School Credit
• Integrated Tasks by Goal Path
• Foundations of Transition-Oriented Programming

• Including E-channel programming into learner plans can be advantageous for both the learners and the practitioners. Online workshops and courses are available through The Learning Hub, Good Learning Anywhere, ACE Online, Deaf Learn Now and F@D (Formation à Distance).These offer learners a different learning method and more experience with digital technology while requiring less practitioner involvement within your program. There is An Information and Referral Guide for Ontario’s Online e-Channel Program that may help you with the process and each of the individual providers have course schedules or catalogues on their site.

• The SNOW Inclusive Learning site, from OCAD University in Toronto, has some great information on learning in inclusive classrooms and with assistive and adaptive technology, alternative print formats to help learners with disabilities and to meet the requirements of the Accessible Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

• TOOLKIT: Current Best Practices and Supportive Interventions for Learners and Clients with Learning Disabilities by Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy is full of wonderful information and tips to help you include the best support learners in your plans.

• The Learning Networks of Ontario (LNO) is a coalition of 16 regional LBS networks located throughout Ontario. These networks are constantly researching and developing new materials, to help us provide the best literacy services to the learners. Some of the tools in the Instructional Resources section may be valuable additions to some learner plans. The Goal Path Summaries developed by Literacy Link Eastern Ontario (LLEO) in 2017 may offer a more updated view of the various goal paths. The Apprenticeship path has been divided into two paths, Apprenticeship and Skills Training. Both are available along with Secondary, Post Secondary, Employment and Independence