Weblog: Training
Grant Writing Workshops
The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center is conducting a series of workshops designed to help you strengthen your grant writing skills. Whether you're a veteran grant writer or a novice, these workshops will help you to identify what grantees look for in a well-developed grant and hone your writing skills.
Needs Statement
New River Valley - April 3, 2008 - 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Capacity and Design
Hampton Adult Education - March 20, 2008 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided)
New River Valley - April 4, 2008 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided)
Evaluation and Budgeting
Henrico County Adult Education - April 1, 2008 - 9:00 am - 12:00 noon & 1:00 - 4:00 pm (two sessions of the same workshop)
Rocky Mount - April 15, 2008 - 1:00 - 4:00 pm
You may register online at the VALRC calendar (http://www.calendar.valrc.org). Click on the workshop's heading and complete the online form. Priority will be given to Adult Education practitioners in adult education programs affiliated with public schools and community based literacy organizations who receive Department of Education funding.
VALRC Has Upgraded its Events Calendar, Registration System
The VALRC has launched a new online events calendar to replace our previous system. Not only is our new calendar simpler and easier to use, but users now have the ability to register for events online through the calendar interface!
Navigating the calendar
On the VALRC website, click on the Calendar tab at the top of the page.
You'll be taken to a list of upcoming events, with the nearest events listed near the top. On the right, you'll see a small monthly calendar. Days with scheduled trainings or other events are highlighted in red. Clicking on a specific day will take you to that day's events.
If you want a more concise look at our upcoming events, there is a list titled Upcoming Events for the Next 90 Days on the right hand side of the page that offers a quick overview of events. This list is also clickable.
Registering for events Under the title of each event is a link in green text that says Click here to register for this event. When you click that link , it will take you to another page with a full description of the event and a short online form at the bottom of the page. To register, complete all of the fields in this form and then click the Send Registration button. Voila--you're registered for the event you chose, and should receive registration confirmation via the email address you provided on the form.
If you have any questions about registering for events, please contact Marianne Baker (mdbaker@vcu.edu) or Christopher Poole (cpoole2@vcu.edu).
COABE 2007: The Colonial Institute
The Colonial Institute, Virginia's regional COABE conference, is scheduled for October 10-12, 2007 in Williamsburg, Virginia. The featured speaker is Stephen D. Brookfield, internationally acclaimed scholar in adult education. Dr. Brookfield has written ten books on adult learning, teaching, critical thinking, discussion methods and critical theory. In addition, there will be strands by Barbara Given, Rosemary Caffarella, Lennox McLendon and many others. A Williamsburg Tavern Style dinner is included in the cost of registration. Please visit the VAACE website for conference information.
Online Course Registrations
Due to an upgrade of the Blackboard server here at VCU, we will be unable to process any online course registrations after Friday, May 4 until Monday, May 21. You may still submit your registration during that time, but it will not be processed until Monday, May 21. If you have any questions regarding this shutdown, please contact Lauren Ellington at courses@valrc.org.
MoneyWi$e Financial Literacy Training
A MoneyWi$e Financial Literacy Training is scheduled at Capital One's state of the art training facilities on the beautiful West Creek Campus in Goochland, Thursday, May 3, from 10 am to 4 pm. This is the third of four trainings paid for by Consumer Action. To register, please contact Marianne Baker at 800-237-0178 or mdbaker@vcu.edu. You will receive a confirmation and directions. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Norrell at 800-237-0178 or norrellch@vcu.edu.
Consumer Action and Capital One first launched the MoneyWi$e partnership in April 2001. Since then, the program has produced and distributed a six-part series of MoneyWi$e educational materials to provide consumers with the building blocks for developing and honing personal finance skills, from saving and budgeting to balancing a checkbook, understanding the basics of credit and credit repair and how parents can talk to teenagers about money.
By providing free brochures in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), the MoneyWi$e program is able to address financial literacy across both income and ethnic barriers.
MoneyWise is a financial education project of Consumer Action and Capital One.
Regional Reading Workshop for Nonprofit Organizations, May 2 & 3, Fredericksburg
Adult Reading Instruction: Assessing Needs, Addressing Needs, Achieving Outcomes, Susan McShane, Trainer, NCFL. This workshop is a pilot project of the National Center for Family Literacy, funded by Verizon Foundation, and developed for community-based literacy organizations.
Description: This training offers a detailed introduction to the research, with emphasis on translating the research into practice. It introduces the components of reading that may contribute to a (perhaps unrecognized) reading problem: alphabetics skills, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It also introduces common reader profiles identified by research and suggests resources for initial assessment. Participants learn and practice a variety of research-based instructional strategies for addressing adults' needs in the reading-component areas.
Primary Audience: Tutors and other instructors Secondary Audience: Program administrators from community-based adult literacy programs
Click here to register:We will send you a confirmation, directions, and a list of hotels in the region. Please be aware, workshop costs are free, but hotel costs are on your own.
For questions regarding registration, please contact Catherine Norrell at 800-237-0178 or norrellch@vcu.edu
This article continues... »Adult Learner Writer's Awards
The Literacy Fair of Virginia is accepting written student submissions for the Fifth Annual Outstanding Adult Learner Award. Attached are two documents for distribution to your teachers, tutors, and students.
The award, sponsored by the Literacy Fair of Virginia, Inc., will honor our outstanding adult learners. The top four submissions will receive a monetary award and a plaque. The winners will be asked to come in person to read their submissions.
The Literacy Fair, which is celebrating 20 successfull years, will be held Thursday, May 17, 2007 on the John H. Daniel Campus of Southside Virginia Community College in Keysville, Virginia.
Click here for the letter Click here for the student information form
Our theme this year is "Celebrate Literacy!"
Contact: Sandra M. Thompson (434) 736-2084 or svthoms@svccdan1.sv.vccs.edu
Registration for Online Courses Is Now Open
The Resource Center is excited to offer all of our online courses this fall. These courses are free to adult educators in Virginia, and you may complete them on your own schedule in the convenience of your home or office.
Courses offered are Adults as Learners: An Orientation, ESOL Basics, and Using Technology to Enhance GED Instruction. The registration deadline for all courses is Friday, October 13; courses begin Monday, October 16. Register now to reserve your spot in one of our innovative online courses! More information and registration for each course is available below:
If you have any questions regarding these courses, please contact Lauren Ellington at leellington@vcu.edu or 800-237-0178.
Workshop Update
Numeracy workshops are posted regularly on our VALRC site. Some are restricted to a local program's teachers only and others are regional and open to all. Some workshops fill up fast and will say "Closed" for that reason. Since the status changes daily, please click on "Calendar" and see what's new and what's available for you. Ask your Program Manager when your program is hosting!
Upcoming Numeracy Workshops
As of August 31, Numeracy workshops have been successfully held at VAACE, in South Hill, Manassas, Middle Peninsula, Lebanon and Roanoke. Upcoming workshops are listed below. However, they fill up fast, so please watch the VALRC calendar to stay updated.
- Chesterfield County: Number Sense and Algebra on September 30 (CLOSED)
- Winchester: Number Sense & Data & Statistics on October 14 (OPEN)
- Fairfax: Data & Statistics on October 28 (CLOSED)
- Roanoke: Measurement & Geometry on November 2 (registration will open soon)
- Workshops in the works: Eastern Shore, Abingdon, Hampton area, Cumberland County and Central Virginia
GED Connection Training - Sept 30
Where: Northern Neck Technical Center, Warsaw, VA
Date: Saturday, September 30
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Learn how to use GED Connection to prepare your students to pass the GED! Register now to guarantee your spot; registration deadline is September 22.
With GED Connection, your GED program will:
- Incorporate a multimedia approach using video programs, workbooks, and online activities
- Make GED preparation learner friendly for every learning style
- Address all five subject areas and integrate skills across disciplines
- Help students see ways they can use the skills they are learning in the family, community, and workplace.
As a result of this workshop you will be able to:
- Use GED Connection to prepare your students for success with the GED
- Customize the delivery system and content to meet your individual program and learner needs
- Design an innovative delivery system that can serve adult learners you may not otherwise be reaching using more traditional approaches
2006 Literacy Trainer Institute - July 26 and 27
The Literacy Support Center (LSC), a project of the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center, is pleased to announce that registration for the 2006 Literacy Trainer Institute is open to all trainers in Virginia. This two-day Institute will feature workshops by Susan McShane, author of Applying Research In Reading Instruction for Adults, and by the Virginia Mentoring Partnership. Other topics that will be addressed are Learning Disabilities (LD), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and online training. The registration fee is $15.00. To find registration forms and detailed Institute information, please click on the links below.
For questions about the Institute, call Victoire Gerkens Sanborn at 800-237-0178 or email her. For questions about registration or reserving a room, contact Marianne Baker at 800-237-0178 or email her.
Spring 2006 Online Courses
The Resource Center is excited to offer all of our online courses this spring. These courses are free to adult educators in Virginia, and you may complete them on your own schedule in the convenience of your home or office. Courses offered are Adults as Learners: An Orientation, ESOL Basics, and Using Technology to Enhance GED Instruction. The registration deadline for all courses is Thursday, April 20; courses begin Monday, April 24. Register now to reserve your spot in one of our innovative online courses! More information and registration for each course is available below:
Online Courses Fall Session
We are excited to offer all of our online courses this fall. Take advantage now of these free (to Virginia adult educators) professional development opportunities. The courses offered are Adults as Learners: An Orientation, ESOL Basics, and Using Technology to Enhance GED Instruction. The registration deadline for both courses is Wednesday, September 21; courses begin Monday, September 26. Register now to reserve your spot in one of our innovative online courses! More information and registration for each course is available below:
Online Courses Summer Session
We are excited to offer our online courses this summer. Take advantage now of these free (to Virginia adult educators) professional development opportunities. The courses offered are Adults as Learners: An Orientation, and ESOL Basics. The registration deadline for both courses is Wednesday, June 22; courses begin Monday, June 27. Register now to reserve your spot in one of our innovative online courses! More information and registration for each course is available below:
TABE Certification Training Online for Forms 9 & 10 is now available
We are pleased to offer you training on both versions of the TABE that are currently in use.
If you have previously certified for TABE 7 & 8 (either through a face-to-face training or online), you will not need to recertify for TABE 9 & 10. However, there are quite a few changes to TABE 9 & 10. It would help you to better administer and understand the tests if you review the TABE 9 & 10 Certification Training, Modules 2 and 3.
The TABE Certification Training Online is free to Virginia adult literacy education providers only. At this time, the training opportunity is not available to out-of-state users. Register now for TABE Certification Training Online (Forms 7 & 8 or Forms 9 & 10).
If you have any questions regarding this online training, please contact Lauren Ellington at 1-800-237-0178 or by email.
Summer Institutes 2005
We have added information about the Summer Institutes 2005 to our website, including the registration forms you will need to sign up. Check out the Summer Institutes 2005 website now!
TABE Certification Online Training
We are very excited to announce that the TABE Certification Training is now available online. This training was created by Debbie Bergtholdt, George Bailey, and Lauren Ellington with the approval of the publishers, McGraw-Hill.
This training will certify you to administer the TABE assessment. It is self-paced and is designed to be completed in just three hours. Register now to get your certification. More information on this training is available on the TABE Certification Training Online page.
GED Fast Track Teacher Training
There will be five additional GED Fast Track Teacher Training sessions in February and March. Although these trainings are open to anyone, priority will be given to teachers that are currently teaching a fast track class, or will be teaching one in the future. The schedule is:
- Williamsburg: February 18, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Radford: February 25, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Fishersville: March 4, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Keysville: March 11, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Arlington: April 1, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Registration is open to anyone, and registration deadlines are a week prior to each training.
Online Courses: Spring 2005
Registration has closed for these courses. If you would like to know when they are being offered again, we recommend subscribing to our VAELN listserv.
We are very excited about the online courses that we are offering this year. Our two previous courses (Adults as Learners: An Orientation and ESOL Basics) have been revised and have a new look. We are also offering a new course for our users called Using Technology to Enhance GED Instruction. The registration deadline for all three courses is Wednesday, January 12; courses begin Monday, January 24. Register now to reserve your spot in one of these free professional development opportunities! More information about each course is available below:
Training Section Added
In an effort to provide you and your staffs with more effective and varied training opportunities, we are changing our approach to professional development. Our goal is to provide services tailored to the particular needs of your programs. Rather than choosing from the set of prescribed trainings in the Professional Development Guide, as you have in the past, we encourage you to contact one of our specialists to discuss your program's requirements. Based on the information you provide, the specialist will develop a customized training session for your program.
Our training page has been updated to reflect this change in approach. Please take a moment to look this over and pay particular attention to the individual specialists' lists of training areas. Then, instead of consulting the Professional Development Guide, contact the specialist who focuses on the type of training you need. He or she will assist you in creating a custom-tailored training program for your staff.