Learning About Learning: Coming Together in Professional Development (March 2012)

Colleen Rogan leads participants in a post-activity discussion.

Over 50 people gathered at the Union Gospel Mission on February 17th for the first workshop in the Supporting Learners & Learning DTES PD Workshop Series. Those in  attendance included both educators, volunteer tutors, learners, and service providers representing schools and organizations in the Downtown Eastside such as Carnegie Learning Centre, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, Downtown Eastside Education Centre, Frontier College, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Raincity Housing, SFU Community Education, Union Gospel Mission, VCC-Harbour Lights, and Vancouver Coastal Health. 
     
The workshop opened with a free lunch during which participants had an opportunity to connect with others. Colleen Rogan from ELSA NET engaged participants in exploring strategies and activities to support adult English language learners.  John Gotowiec from Pacific Community Resources led participants in a discussion around
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and about how to support
learners with FASD.

Presenter John Gotowiec
Participants’ motivations for attending the workshop were various. In general, most indicated that they wanted to:
  • Learn how to make a learning environment as inclusive as possible
  • Learn how best to positively support people with FASD in the DTES
  • Learn more ideas for facilitating ESL classes
  • Be able to identify particular learning styles and to work mindfully with this knowledge
  • Gain a greater awareness of students' perspectives 
  • Understand more about their own   learning differences and disabilities

Feedback following the workshop was positive and some of the highlights included learning with colleagues, the informative scope of the presentations, and being reminded that the learner needs to set the schedule.

The DTES Professional Development Workshop Series is sponsored by the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable and its member organizations. The series has also been made   possible through generous support from the Rotary Club of Vancouver Arbutus.  Upcoming workshops are scheduled for April 13th at the Carnegie Learning Centre and May 11th at the Downtown Eastside Education Centre. Workshop descriptions, presenters’ bios, and the on-line registration form can be found here on the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable website under 'Workshops 2012'.