The Adult Learner Requiring Upgrading (no ESL needs)

Learners with English as a mother tongue may come to a SPO looking to upgrade their skills. Returning to school for such learners is based on various factors including literacy level1, previous educational attainment, age, employment status, and annual income - all of which impact level of engagement in adult education and training programs (Rubenson et al., 2007; Statistics Canada 2005, 2009; Zhang & Palmetta, 2006). Learners in this context may have low literacy level (prose and document as defined by IALSS2). In other words, learners in this context have the ability to perform tasks in Finding & Using Information and Communicating Ideas & Information at a complexity level below 3, according to the Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF). Conversely, learners in this context may not have literacy needs - as defined above - but require upgrading to achieve entry into credential programming such as a General Education Diploma (GED), an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.), pre-apprenticeship training, or Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) programs.

Questions are provided in the Core Questions section of this website to assist SPO practitioners (i.e. assessors, teachers, managers, caseworkers etc.) in identifying prior learning experiences, academic needs, and goals for the Adult Learner Requiring Upgrading.

  1. The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) Report (Statistics Canada, 2005); The International Adult Literacy & Skills Survey (IALSS) Report (Statistics Canada, 2009)
  2. IALSS – International Adult Literacy & Skills Survey