Community Literacy of Ontario - Our Voice newsletter - April 2007 issue

December 2007

Learner Skill Attainment Bulletin

LSA Present and Future

Currently learner skill attainment in Ontario is captured across the five LBS levels using a variety of assessment tools and methods and reported electronically through the Information Management System (IMS). Increases in LBS learning outcomes levels (along the scale of levels 1 -5) is the primary measure and the basis of inter-agency understanding of assessment results. The assessment approach is goal-directed and is based on learners attaining the literacy skills required for their goals of employment, further education and training, and independence. The approach is “outcomes-based” where the skills are gained by completing meaningful tasks and activities related to the main goal for that learner. Skills learned are embedded in the tasks being completed. “Authentic” assessment tools (demonstrations) as well as other assessment tools are used to assess the whole, meaningful task required by the goal.

The LSA Initiative is exploring the use of Essential Skills/International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey scales as a common language for all stakeholders in Literacy and Basic Skills. The LSA Initiative is focused on building a LSA Framework supported by three of the nine recognized Essential Skills:

• Reading Text
• Document Use
• Numeracy

The Essential Skills/IALSS scales will provide transparency of results at the provincial level, within the Employment Ontario spectrum and nationally.

Many of the elements of the current assessment approach remain constant under the LSA Initiative. The assessment approach is still goal-directed but it is now also “transition-oriented”. Assessing the success of learners is based on the attainment of literacy, numeracy and essential skills required for transitions to specific destinations that are part of their goals of employment, further education and training and lifelong learning.