CONTRIBUTORS:
Rob Mark is the Leis Project Coordinator which is based in the School of Education, Queen’s University Belfast. Rob is also is responsible for the coordination of adult tutor training programmes and has in recent years been involved with a number of adult literacy research projects. He is currently participating in an EU funded project which is examining literacy and basic skills policies & practices across Europe.
Phyllis Murphy is the supervisor of the LEIS project on behalf of the UCD Equality Studies Centre. Phyllis is co-coordinator of the Center’s Outreach Programme which delivers equality education and training to a range of community activist groups.
Ursula Howard is the Director of National Research & Development Centre (NRDC) for adult literacy & numeracy in England. NRDC is dedicated to research and development on adult literacy, language and numeracy. It was established as part of Skills for Life, the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills. The Centre aims to improve practice and inform policy through the generation of knowledge, by creating a strong research culture and by developing professional practice.
Carole Medel-Anoneuvo is a Senior Research Specialist at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Institute of Education (UIE), one of six educational institutes. UNESCO, is a non-profit organisation which is involved in providing international research, training, information, documentation and publishing on literacy, non-formal education, adult & lifelong learning. By drawing on its long and unique experience linking educational research, policy and practice in these areas and by using its competence, its influence and its resources UIE makes a special contribution in enhancing access to learning, and improving the environment and quality of learning for all in all regions of the world.
Lyn Tett is Professor of Community Education at the University of Edinburgh. She recently jointly coordinated a UK (ESRC) funded research series of seminars which enabled the expertise of researchers, policy makers and practitioners to be combined to take forward the socio-cultural approach to adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL education. The seminar series sought to shift the focus from a functional and externally imposed definition of literacy, numeracy, communication and language learning to multiple, open definitions that focus on what people do with their skills, with whom, when and how. Lyn has written widely in the field of adult literacy learning and she is currently an evaluator for the Leis project.
WORKSHOP LEADERS:
Bonnie Soroke and Toni Lambe are Development workers on the LEIS project based at Queen’s University and at UCD. Participants on this workshop will be introduced to two visual art forms - zipper sculpturing and collage - and given opportunity to play with materials, using their created products to explore equality issues within adult literacy education.
Liz Weir is a professional storyteller based in Co Antrim. In this workshop participants will have the opportunity to explore how the age-old tradition of storytelling can help people learn by building confidence, motivating, and creating an appreciation and acceptance of difference.
Jonathan McIntosh is an ethnomusicologist at Queen's University Belfast and specializes in the learning and performance of music and dance in Bali, Indonesia. If you choose to take part in the gamelan music workshop you will be able to play a short piece of gamelan music, as well as experiencing how Balinese methods of teaching and learning are applied in a western context.
Full details of the workshops will follow later after registration.
