Portage College’s Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) has partnered with Community Learning Network (CLN) to develop Foundational Learning Instructor Micro-Certifications for CALP staff and volunteers. The online professional development training is designed to develop and enhance literacy and numeracy instructional skills. The training focuses on the technical skills associated with working with learners at various foundational literacy and numeracy levels within a variety of settings. First offering begins in October 2021.

“When communities and post-secondary institutions work together, we all benefit,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education. “This new micro-credential empowers individuals seeking to retrain or upskill to further their careers. At the same time, countless Albertans will benefit from enhanced quality of instruction, helping them build essential literacy and numeracy skills and reach their goals.”

The Foundational Learning Instructor Micro-credentials foster the development of the competencies and practical strategies that CALP staff and volunteers use to develop and deliver foundational learning programs to adult learners. The micro-credential training offers CALP staff access to take training on-demand that can be implemented in real time with the learner(s) in front of them. The training, which is available to CALP staff (including volunteers), provides an approach to professional development that is accessible, responsive, active, and mobile. This initiative focuses on upskilling and refining the practices of community-based programs to allow practitioners to be more effective in their programming.

Lisa Dickner, Executive Director from Community Learning Network says, “We really appreciate the work done by Portage College staff to customize this training specifically for CALP practitioners to support their learners. We’re looking forward to providing the CALP system with this new professional development pathway through micro-credentialing.

The skills gained will be immediately applicable to working with foundational learners at the CALP locations across Alberta. A micro-certificate is designed to be available as an on-demand training program and the CALP staff and volunteers will have focused and relevant training that is accessible when they need it.

“Portage College is very excited to be working with the Community Learning Network to provide micro-credential training to CALPs across the province,” said Nancy Broadbent, President and CEO of Portage College. “As a Community College with an extensive background in community-based programming and foundational learning, this micro-credential builds on Portage’s history and expertise.”

Two Foundational Learning Instructor micro-certificates will begin on Oct 11, 2021. The micro-certificates will be issued by Portage College for each course. Space is limited to 35 seats per cohort. To register for the Instruction in Foundational Literacy or Instruction in Foundational Numeracy, contact training@portagecollege.ca or call Charlene McAdams at 1-780-623-5508.

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About Community Learning Network

Community Learning Network (CLN)’s purpose is to strengthen the Community Adult Learning System in Alberta so that CALPs have access to responsive professional learning, and are able to deliver quality community-based adult learning. CLN’s purpose is also to ensure that funds allocated to the CALP system provide the greatest return on investment, and that collaboration, alignment and connectivity exist throughout the adult learning system.

Community Learning Network provides and promotes professional development, training, customized support, mentoring and networking opportunities to Alberta’s Community Adult Learning Programs. Originally founded in 1987 as the Company of Coordinators, Alberta's Community Adult Learning Councils' coordinators took an early leadership role in the province, ensuring that community-based adult learning practitioners were connected, supported and had access to resources to help them be successful in the field.

About Portage College

Portage College is a public board-governed community College, operating seven strategically located campuses in northeastern Alberta. Collaboration, inclusion, and a commitment to success and accountability are at the core of the College’s values. Portage College has been serving the region for over 50 years and is proud to be the first choice for learners in northeastern Alberta.

Offering more than 30 certificate and diploma programs face to face and online in areas of business, accounting, arts, health care, food sciences and education, as well as apprenticeship trades training, university transfer and academic upgrading, Portage educates thousands of full-time and part-time students every year through their programs and continuing education courses.

Media Inquiries:

Lisa Dickner
Executive Director, Community Learning Network
780-485-4926
ed@calp.ca 

Jaime Davies
Portage College, Corporate Communications Manager
780-623-5581
Jaime.davies@portagecollege.ca