conferencing literacy

I am just back from the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre 2007 National Symposium in Halifax. Still trying to sort through all that I learned.

The highlights:

1. Invigorating and refreshing conversation with some of the good literacy folks who were able to attend ~ Nancy Jackson, Nadine Sookermany, Suzanne Smythe, Janet Skinner, Sue Shore, Arthur Bull, Charles Ramsey and Wendy DesBrisay (in order of appearance).
2. Presentations that brought learner voices to the conference.
   
   • Corrina Craig from Our Place Society, Victoria, BC told us about Street Life’s Creative Turn
   • Arthur Bull of the Marine Resource Centre, Digby, NS told us about Visual Media as a Tool for Community Development; and
   • Jason Brown of the University of Western Ontario, London, ON told us about Adult Learning in Aboriginal Community-Based Inner-City Organizations.
3. A presentation that brought literacy practitioner voices to the conference.
   • Wendy DesBrisay, Movement for Canadian Literacy, Ottawa, ON told us about A Fully Literate Canada: What does it mean? What is it going to take?
4. The brave, clear literacy voices. The above group conferenced with passion and compassion and, for those who could not be there, I think that you would be proud of how well our field was represented by this tiny, fierce contingent.
5. Support. Some of the ALKC people and conference participants responded with passion and compassion.
   

The less-than-high lights:

1. The lack of diversity among participants. And along the same lines ~ the reports on projects about work in aboriginal communities not being presented by aboriginal people.
2. The pervasive view that sets of numbers and/or tiny boxes can describe learning as measurable, quantifiable sets of skills rather than what it actually is: a process of developing self, community and awareness (see the scottish approach).
   
3. The pervasive sadness of literacy workers. This ordinarily innovative and brave group is finding it difficult to envision a future for the field. I think that we all know why.