The Ottawa Catholic School Board’s Adult Learning & Skills Development (ALSD) program is more than just a pathway to high school credits—it’s a lifeline for adults seeking to improve their skills and take the next step toward education, employment, or personal growth. This year, we offered 15 different programs alongside four additional Skills for Success pilot programs, reaching 320 learners across our community. These initiatives focused on building confidence, improving literacy and digital proficiency, and helping learners engage more fully in their careers and communities.
Skills for Success: Four Programs Making a Difference
In the 2023-2024 school year, we piloted four targeted Skills for Success programs that addressed the unique needs of our adult learners. These programs weren’t just about building skills but building confidence and creating opportunities for real change.
- Workplace Literacy Funding: Digital Skills for Home Childcare Workers
This program specifically helped home childcare workers, many of whom are immigrant women, to strengthen their digital skills. In today’s workforce, digital literacy is essential, and this program gave participants the tools they needed to succeed in their roles and maintain employment. - Underrepresented Groups Funding: Focus for Change for Newcomer Women
Designed as a safe, supportive environment, this program was dedicated to helping newcomer women prepare for the workforce. Alongside employment preparation and work placements, it created a space for these women to build confidence and find security as they integrated into their new communities. - Employment Readiness Program for Adults with Mental Health Challenges
- This program focuses on enhancing the employability of adults facing mental health challenges. Through small group settings, participants built essential skills for entry-level employment and gained the confidence to take their next steps into the workforce.
- Virtual Preparation for School Bus Driver Training
With school bus drivers in high demand, this program provided prospective drivers with the training and practical experience they needed to succeed. Collaborating with local bus companies, we gave participants hands-on job shadowing experiences, bridging the gap between learning and real-world application.
These Skills for Success programs increased learner participation and helped individuals transition successfully into their chosen educational or career paths. By addressing the needs of diverse communities, we’re empowering adult learners and exceeding expectations.
Collaborating for Better Learning: The AlphaPlus PAL Working Group
It’s not just the learners who are growing—our instructors are too. Georgina Smith and Joe Spencer, two of our dedicated ALSD instructors, took part in a unique collaboration this year as members of the AlphaPlus Planning a Lesson (PAL) working group. Alongside a small group of peers, they co-created lesson-planning resources designed specifically for adult literacy educators across Ontario.
This wasn’t just about the “what” of teaching but the “how.” Georgina and Joe didn’t just stop at theory. They conducted focus groups with their learners, asking insightful questions to understand how adult learners use digital technology and how lesson flow can be improved. The feedback from these sessions played a vital role in refining the working group’s approach, ensuring that the needs and voices of learners were at the heart of their work.
Reflecting on the project, Georgina said, “It was nice to be involved in a project that didn’t focus on what we teach but on how we teach — including the reasons behind different strategies and the value of learner feedback.” Working alongside educators from different organizations gave Georgina and Joe a fresh perspective on teaching methodologies and room to reflect on what works best in adult education.
Building on Success
Through innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to supporting adult learners, the ALSD program continues to empower individuals in our community. Whether it’s through targeted Skills for Success programs or by enhancing how we teach, we’re preparing our learners for the challenges ahead and helping them succeed, one step at a time.