eVALBEC
October 2020 | VALBEC | Web version
VALBEC Webinar via Zoom
23 October 2020 @ 9:00am AEDT
Shame: One of the Biggest Obstacles for Adult Learners
Presented by Holly Armstrong – Head of Student Success for Advance EDU, Denver Colorado.
How can shame impact adult learners and how can we help them build their confidence and competence?
This presentation is designed for adult educators and anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the ways that shame may be one of the biggest obstacles for adults in the classroom. Learn practical strategies to help students navigate those obstacles while building shame resilience based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown and the experiences of real adult learners.
Holly Armstrong has supported adult learners in multiple contexts, and for the past 5 years specifically worked with non-traditional and struggling college students. She has also seen shame impact learners in all levels of the U.S. education system as a remedial reading teacher, instructional coach, director of literacy and curriculum, and creating instructional intervention programs. She is now the Head of Student Success for AdvanceEDU, a U.S. nonprofit that aims to increase college and career access by providing personalized and flexible support for students who need it most.
Free to VALBEC members – non members $20.00
1. From the President
Bring on October!
The dawning of spring in the last month has certainly helped me shake off the lockdown blues.
The VALBEC committee is busy planning a bumper online conference in December – I am sure you will be inspired by the diverse and rich content! The deadline for submissions of proposals is early November so plenty of time to get together with colleagues and plan a collaborative session… or a solo one.
Competition winners from last e-VALBEC were the two entrants – Manjit and Despina – congratulations.
Linno Rhodes
VALBEC President
2. Committee Contributions
2020: The UN Year of Plant Health
As we approach mid Spring, I have started to plant my yearly crop of tomatoes in my exceedingly small garden. There are many different types of vegetables and flowers that thrive during Spring and early Summer.
I attach this website from Sustainability Victoria which has a clear and easy to follow section on ‘Grow your own food”
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-your-home/Live-sustainably/Grow-your-own-food
The second website is from the Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Foundation, there is a section on Newspaper Planting Pots that can be easily adapted to an Adult Learning setting.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation has many activities that can be used as practical guides.
https://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/content/primary-schools
3. VALBEC Membership
Join or renew online.
https://archive.valbec.org.au/membership/
If you join in August, September or October, deduct 50%. Renewal falls due the following February.
Members receive:
- Fine Print three times a year – a high quality journal for discussion and debate about good practice, theory and policy issues. Feedback and contributions are actively sought from members about content and issues.
- eVALBEC – our e-mail communication keeping members informed of professional development activities, general committee activities and more up to date policy changes.
- Discounts for the Annual Conference and other VALBEC statewide professional development.
- Issues-based forums.
- Focus on significant policy issues impacting on the field.
- Free numeracy resources.
4. Conferences
VALBEC – All Comers Welcome: Educating for community and growth
Online: Wednesday, 2nd December 2020
The Call for Presentation page is ready to receive abstracts.
https://www.valbec2020.com.au/call-for-abstracts/
This year uncertainty, necessity and, maybe, sheer desperation have forced teachers and students to approach their roles in new ways. There are challenging, interesting and surprising stories to share.
We invite you to consider these two propositions:
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Teachers as life-long learners.
The Call for papers closes 2nd November 2020.
Your presentation may be
- Pre-recorded or live
- Power point with audio presentation
- Panel discussion
- Live presentation
All presentation types will have
- Chat available during the presentation
- A facilitator will be present to help respond and manage the chat
More information can be found at our website https://archive.valbec.org.au/2020-conference-home/
ACAL AGM and 2020 Arch Nelson Address
21 October 2020 5:00pm AEST
The speaker this year is Pamela Osmond and her topic is ‘Re-thinking Foundation Skills: What advice would Arch Nelson have for us?’
At last year’s ACAL pre-conference workshop in Sydney, participants discussed how we might ‘weave a richer narrative of adult literacy and numeracy’. There seemed to be agreement that the present foundation skills discourse and available provision reflect a very restricted narrative and that it might be time to re-consider and re-imagine what an alternative, richer and more inclusive narrative might look like. This presentation will elaborate on some of the suggestions and blue-sky thinking from that session, and relate it to Arch Nelson’s vision of a community development approach to adult basic education.
Public Pedagogies of Location
1 October – 12 November 2020, Thursdays 10:30am – 12:30pm AEST
The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN) Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Virtual Summit is a 2 day online event open to ACEN Members (free) and Non-Members. Explore the Summit theme “Beyond 2020: Creating the Future with WIL” through showcases, refereed paper presentations and interactive roundtables.
Beyond 2020: Creating the Future with Work Integrated Learning (virtual)
27 – 28th October 2020
The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN) Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Virtual Summit is a 2 day online event open to ACEN Members (free) and Non-Members. Explore the Summit theme “Beyond 2020: Creating the Future with WIL” through showcases, refereed paper presentations and interactive roundtables.
2020 VDC Virtual Teaching & Learning Conference
19 – 20th November 2020
The 2020 program delves into the fundamentals for excellence in Vocational Education practice and consists of highly interactive workshops as well as high-profile keynote presentations on the theme of VET teaching and learning strategies for engaging with industry and learners.
5. Upcoming PD
Industry engagement for ACE RTOs delivering EAL and Foundation Skills qualifications
7th October 2020 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm AEDT
Adult Learning Australia
To support ACE RTOs, Adult Learning Australia has convened a panel of stakeholders to participate in an industry engagement session, which will be focussed on English as Additional Language (EAL) and Foundation Skills qualifications.
Our industry panelists:
Peter Strong – CEO – Small Business Association of Australia
Kate Bunker – Director of Learning – Australia Library and Information Association
Margaret Basillie – Human Resource Management Advisor – Jobs Australia
TasTAFE accredited training for Adult Literacy Tutors
TasTAFE is making a difference in Tasmania by training tutors to support adult literacy learners.
The CHCSS00101– Language, Literacy and Numeracy Tutor Skill Set includes three units that cover adult learning, language, literacy and numeracy skills development.
TasTAFE is committed to teaching people to help others gain the skills they need for everyday life, and welcomes enrolments from anyone in Australia (fees apply for those living outside of Tasmania).
Using the Psychology of Learning to Help Learners Struggling with their Course
7th October 2020 @ 10.00am – 10.30am
VET Development Centre
Michelle Charlton discusses learning principles to support learners, foster engagement and build confidence in a learning environment.
Teaching Strategies for Challenging Behaviours
13th October 2020 @ 3:30pm – 4:30pm
VET Development Centre
Karen Dymke outlines how teachers can help minimise disruptive behaviours by creating safe learning environments and building positive relationships with students.
Engaging International and Culturally Diverse Students
29th October 2020 @ 12:30pm – 01:30pm
VET Development Centre
Cate O’Dwyer offers insights and observations about differences in expectations, methods and practices in teaching learners from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
Early Career & Emerging VET Researcher Webinar Series
Australasian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA)
Next webinar 16th October 2020 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Australia’s peak national VET research association, AVETRA plays an important role in connecting early career and emerging VET researchers with peers and mentors. In 2020 a new webinar series, aimed at connecting membership from across Australia, provides opportunities to engage with key VET issues and researcher capability development.
6. Resources
Scootle
Scootle provides Australian teachers with access to more than 20000 quality-assured digital learning resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
https://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/p/home
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a free service for schools, non-profit organisations and anyone with a personal Google account. Classroom makes it easy for learners and instructors to connect with one another – inside and outside of the classroom. Classroom saves time and paper, and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate and stay organised
7. Fine Print
Do you read Fine Print? What would you like to see more of or less of in Fine Print in 2021? Do you like the format? Do you have a great idea that you would like to see realised in the pages of the VALBEC journal? If you don’t read Fine Print, we would love to hear from you too – what would make it more appealing to you?
Please send your feedback to Deryn Mansell, Fine Print editor at fineprintvalbec@gmail.com. This is also the address to send your proposal if you would like to submit an article for publication in Fine Print in 2021.
The next issue of Fine Print will reach members and subscribers in November. If you’re not familiar with the journal, have a look at the Fine Print archive or the special online release of Issue #1, 2020.
8. Unions
Australian Education Union
National Tertiary Education Union
9. Awards
VET International Practitioner Fellowships
The Department of Education and Training in partnership with the International Specialised Skills Institute is offering five (5) Fellowships of $13,000 to a VET practitioner who is employed within Victorian Government contracted Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), including TAFEs, private RTOs and Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board registered Learn Local Providers (LLPs).
International Specialised Skills Institute Fellowships contribute to building the Education State by driving innovation and best practice and reducing educational disadvantage within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. Fellowships will explore innovative responses to VET related challenges in industry and the classroom.
Would you or a colleague make the perfect VIP Fellowship applicant? Further information is available at – http://www.issinstitute.org.au/fellowship-applications/
Applications for this round close at 5pm, October 30 2020
Australian Training Awards
The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training (VET). The Awards commenced in 1994 and will be held in Melbourne on Friday 20 November 2020. There will be 18 categories presented – nine for individuals and nine for businesses and registered training organisations.
10. Special Dates
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Organisation: Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia Ltd
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and every year many events take place during October including the National Awareness Event, Light it Red for Dyslexia, which started in 2015.
Light it Red for Dyslexia is an annual event that is administered by Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia on behalf of the national Dyslexia Support Groups.
Website: codereadnetwork.org/
United Nations World Space Week
4 – 10th October 2020
Who didn’t want to be an astronaut when they were a kid? This week celebrates the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition as well as every child’s imagination.
National/State: International
Website: www.worldspaceweek.org/
World Teacher’s Day
5th October 2020
Organisation: UNESCO
World Teachers’ Day held annually on 5 October is a UNESCO initiative, a day devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world. The real point is to provide a time to look at and address issues pertaining to teachers. Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.
National/State: International
Website: Unesco World Teacher’s Day
Mental Health Week
5 – 11th October 2020
Organisation: Mental Health Foundation of Australia
Mental Health Week is an annual national awareness event held in October every year. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the wider community, to increase community awareness and education about mental health issues and to encourage participation in life enhancing lifestyles.
National/State: National
Website: www.mentalhealthvic.org.au/
Anti-Poverty Week
11 – 17th October 2020
In 2020, Anti-Poverty Week will be held from the 11th to the 17th of October. This year we are supporting affordable housing for all as the best solution to reducing poverty and partnering with the Everybody’s Home campaign. We are also continuing to support the Raise the Rate campaign led by ACOSS to ensure that unemployment payments never go back to $40 a day.Website: antipovertyweek.org.au
Website: antipovertyweek.org.au
World Food Day
16th October 2020
Website: http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en/
Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week
17 – 23rd October 2020
Each year, many schools and public libraries from all over Australia spend a week celebrating books and Australian authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians develop activities, offer competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.
Website: cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week
Disarmament Week
24 – 30th October 2020
Website: https://www.un.org/en/events/disarmamentweek/
Halloween
31st October 2020
Website: https://thebestticher.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/halloween-activities-for-adults/
11. Employment Opportunities
Neighbourhood House Victoria job vacancies
Manager – Position description
Organisation: Horsham Community House
Enquiries: Christine Zubrinich, wwgnhn@gmail.com
Junubi Wyndham Project Officer – Communications – Position Description
Organisation: Wyndham Community and Education Centre
Enquiries: Poly Kiyaga, jobs@wyndhamcec.org.au
Breaking Digital Barriers Project Officer – Position Description
Organisation: Duke Street Community House
Enquiries: Lana Bedford, manager@dsch.org.au
Manager – Position Description
Organisation: Seawinds Community Hub
Enquiries: Robert Barnes 0412 548 920
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