knowledge exchange

Formal, non-formal and informal learning: The case of literacy and language learning in Canada

Executive Summary

This research report investigates the links between formal, non-formal and informal learning and the differences between them. In particular, the report aims to link these notions of learning to literacy and essential skills, as well as the learning of second and other languages in Canada.

Philosophical underpinnings of this research are:

There is value in learning of all kinds.
Learning is a lifelong endeavour.
An interdisciplinary approach is valuable.

Notions of formal, non-formal and informal learning may be briefly outlined as:

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Google Docs

Moodle course for using Google Docs at: http://21cif.mrooms.net/course/view.php?id=61

Learning Technologies in Action

The Association for Learning Technology's annual conference, ALT-C
2008, brought together over 700 delegates and more than 100 speakers
from all over the world. Catherine Dhanjal reports on some highlights
from the conference.

Here are some highlights from the ALT conference: a report on two
presentations from the business sector, and a fascinating seminar on
the divide between businesses who use internet and communications
technology (ICT), and those who don't.

More at: http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=191719&d=680&h=608&f=626&dateformat=%25e-%25h-%25y

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Our work begins with Bill and Melinda Gates’ belief that all lives
have equal value. We think all people deserve the chance to have
healthy, productive lives. Our approach to giving is driven by the
foundation’s guiding principles.

Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett set our overarching
grantmaking priorities—such as improving health and reducing extreme
poverty in the developing world and improving high school education in
the United States. They establish high-level goals for our grantmaking
programs. Then our three program teams devise a strategy for meeting
these goals.

More information at: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

Measuring 21st-century skills

To remain competitive in an increasingly global, knowledge-based
economy, today’s employers need graduates who are adept at so-called
“21st-century skills” such as using information and communications
technology (ICT) to gather and assess information, collaborate,
innovate, think critically, and solve problems. Yet, in meeting this
need, educators face a few key challenges: How can they teach these
skills to students in the context of the core curriculum? And, how can
they measure students’ attainment of these skills?

With the generous support of Learning.com, the editors of eSchool
News have compiled this collection of stories from our archives, along
with other relevant resources from around the web, to help you and your
staff best answer these questions in your own schools.

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Student Skills

Student skills for 21st Century society

Brain Briefings

A series of two-page newsletters explaining how basic neuroscience discoveries lead to clinical applications. (Click Here for Chronological List)

More information at: http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainBriefings_main

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)

Our name has changed from the Office of Indian Education Programs, OIEP, to the Bureau of Indian Education, BIE.

After you have looked over our new site, please take a moment and
tell us if you were able to find the information you were seeking and
provide any comments or recommendations you have to make the site even
better. Click on Contact BIE - Feedback to provide your comments.

The BIE has responsibility for 184 elementary and secondary schools
and dormitories as well as 24 colleges, and our Bureau-operated Haskell
Indian Nations University and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Our post-secondary institutions, schools and dormitories are located on
63 reservations in 23 states across the United States serving
approximately 60,000 students representing 238 different tribes.

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Organizations

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Xiwasan sutixa: OLE Bolivia

Xiwasan sutixa’ is Aymara for ‘this is our name’ – and there is a new name in the OLE family: OLE Bolivia. Under the gifted leadership of Yamandu (Yama) Ploskonka, OLE has hit the ground running in this South American country!

While formal incorporation of a national OLE is in progress with recruitment of a national board of directors, Yama has brought together a team of local volunteers to translate the Sugar computer interface used in the XO computers from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) into Aymara, the language spoken by over two million Bolivians. During the weekend of September 13-14 the team worked through a 25-hour-long marathon session on this important project. . A further translation project will allow OLE members to use the Course Development Studio and access the Billion Kids Library in Aymara.