Norma Lesperance Receives Lois Land Award of Achievement

Sioux Hudson Literacy Council (SHLC) and Good Learning Anywhere (GLA) are proud to announce the 2011 recipient of the Lois Land Award of Achievement.  Congratulations Norma Lesperance of Nipigon, Ontario!

When we are working at a distance with our learners, many outsiders have a hard time understanding what we do at Good Learning Anywhere.  How are we helping learners achieve their goals?  And truthfully, we sometimes wonder what sorts of impacts we are having on learners too.  The results are not always quantifiable and recorded in statistics.  It’s part of the challenge when working at a distance.

However, I would like to introduce you to Norma.   I got to know Norma over a period of almost 4 months.  Norma is a tremendously hard worker.  Norma clearly had her goals in sight and worked very hard at figuring out what she needed to do to reach her goal.  We commend Norma on her focus and we know that Norma will continue to apply what she learned from the Good Learning Anywhere and ENABLE programs.   Here is a short video about the ENABLE program that was produced by Thunderstone Pictures.

When I told Norma that we selected her for this award, she was very excited.  I asked if we could share her success story by means of answering a few questions.  She declined that and decided she would like to reply in a paragraph format.  This is her journey.

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 I first heard about this program through an “ENABLE” project that was offered to a handful of adult learners at Lake Helen Reserve. The on-line course was one part of many that we were required to participate in. As an adult learner these on-line courses made me less afraid of the computer. By this I mean, that I took a college course on-line a few years ago and I can honestly say that I was not prepared to do certain tasks with the computer. I didn’t understand networks, modems, e-mails, attachments; nothing. But now thanks to these courses and the jobs that followed; I am more confident in my computer skills.

When I was in high school the first time around, (in the late seventies, early eighties) I was a shy, gawky teenager, you wouldn’t catch me reading out loud, public speaking, or even standing up in front of a room full of my classmates. The computer had given me the ability to “speak up,” to “express my opinion,” to “participate,” without the fear of being laughed at, ridiculed, or rejected.

 Like I’ve stated before, I’ve become more confident in my computer skills and this meant more job opportunities were becoming available to me. Since I have graduated in October of last year, I have gained employment as a relief secretary, an after-school tutor, then onto the Band Manager’s Assistant for the Red Rock Indian Band. I’m very proud of all my accomplishments and I plan to celebrate my achievements at our Annual Graduation Dinner on June 20^th.

The only advice I can offer others is, “Just do it!”

 If I had one word or sentence to describe my experience with GLA/ENABLE, it would have to say: “AWESOME, TOTALLY AWESOME!”

Norma

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Norma earned her Grade 12 diploma with the help of the ENABLE and Good Learning Anywhere programs.  As a matter of fact, she is having a graduation celebration today at Lake Helen Reserve 53A.  She is also going to take the skills that made her successful and continue to apply them throughout her lifelong learning journey.  Norma has told us that she wants to continue her learning and eventually become a school teacher.

Norma…we can’t wait for that day and who knows, maybe you’ll be teaching online too!

On behalf of Sioux Hudson Literacy Council (SHLC) and Good Learning Anywhere (GLA), we congratulate Norma on her achievements and sincerely hope all her dreams come true.

To learn more about the ENABLE program with Anishinabek Employment and Training Services, please visit their website: www.aets.org.  To learn more about SHLC and GLA, please visit us at www.siouxhudsonliteracy.com or call us at 866-550-0697.

Lois Land Award for Acheivement

Courtesy Sioux Bulletin

December Learner of the Month

December Learner of the Month – Darcy

At Good Learning Anywhere and Sioux Hudson Literacy Council, we take a lot of pride in announcing our learners of the month.  It’s never an easy decision but for the month of December, Darcy made it much easier for us.

As an online practitioner I had the great fortune to meet Darcy online in several live classes from our Self-Management/Self-Direction series.  From Day 1, Darcy was actively engaged in the class demonstrating a lot of participation.  She always had a positive spin on things and her attendance was fantastic.  As a practitioner, it was always comforting to see when Darcy logged in to class and was ready to learn.  I knew how important these classes were to her and that her energy would be contagious for the class.

I also had the great fortune to meet Darcy in person, along with several other learners, at Haldimand-Norfolk Literacy Council in Dunnville, Ontario back in December 2010.  I was invited to participate in their Volunteer and Skills Development Training celebration and hand out some certificates to the learners.  It was a very special moment to put a voice to a face and then hear how we are making in impact in their lives.  Here is an article on how grateful the learners are to HNLC – Students Thank Literacy Council for Transforming Their Lives.



Unknown to Darcy, I had a special award for her: December Learner of the Month.  I usually don’t get nervous speaking in front of others but this time I did.  I wasn’t sure if I would be embarrassing Darcy in front of others or making her feel awkward in any way.  My intent was to celebrate her success and share her story with others.  At the end of the celebration, I asked Darcy if she would be interested in sharing a little more about her online learning experience with other learners and professionals in the literacy field.  In her words, here is what she had to say:

When I enrolled in the Volunteer Development Training Program, I had absolutely ‘no’ idea of what it was that I would really be getting into. There were a number of other individuals who took part in this program and we all had a lot to offer and a lot to learn from each other.

What I learned most (and I guess it was something I had forgotten that I already knew) is this: Anything I chose to do is a commitment that I am making with myself.  It was rewarding for me to give myself the time to get out of the house, meet some new people and to “complete’ something.  Respect and confidentiality were right up there on the list too.

Twelve weeks sounds like a bigger number than 3 months; so, I’ll say it took three months to ’rebuild’ with totally wonderful people.

I had three days per week that I had committed to myself to attend a volunteer Placement (Salvation Army-Food Bank), a personal interest online course Introduction to Aviation and the actual (Volunteer Development Training Program) online courses :  Introduction to Online e-learning, Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem, Time Management,  Communications, and Decision Making.  Also we were instructed in WHIMIS, Safe Heavy Lifting, Customer Service, Conflict Resolution Skills, and a fun time doing Personality Dimensions.

Let me tell you that if you think that we are not affected by just a person’s voice, WE ARE.

I found myself needing to hear those voices of the instructors.  It’s about upbeat, positive people who are delivering information to you because they either love the topic or because they really want to be a part of your successes.

For a while I felt like I was running around in circles and why am I doing this…?

Then it was coming to a close and I reflected on my past involvement with a Community Theatre and how a bunch of people would audition for roles in the play, others would work toward building the set and finding props, others would work on scheduling rehearsals, ticket sales, publicity and then it would be over in about the same amount of time (3 months) from beginning to end of production.

This was sort of a behind the scenes way to get back with the “living”; getting out there and just being and doing.

I received a Diploma from the Volunteer Development Training Program, Certificates for completing the online courses and that was it.  I did it!  I completed a three month program, met a lot of great people and now it is over, or is it?

I also met with an e-Learning coordinator who researched some of my interests and found a college Course (online) that under my circumstances (living in a small town, no colleges, and no vehicle) I can still obtain an Education.  How exciting is that?!!!!  Very!!  Thanks everyone.

I’d say may experience with e-Learning has been a positive one.  It is a commitment to yourself and you’re worth it!

The people who I admire, respect and confide in are my support in any endeavour I chose. They know who they are.

On behalf of Sioux Hudson Literacy Council and Good Learning Anywhere, we congratulate Darcy and wish her all the best with her future goals.  If you ever need anything Darcy, you know where to find us.

Lillian Ruttan – Learner of the Month November

“I jumped in full-force.”

That is how Lillian summarized the beginnings of her journey.

 

I think that pretty much sums up who Lillian Ruttan is when she’s in an online class. Full-force, full-energy, full of life.

And that is one of the reasons why she is Learner of the Month for November 2010.

To call Lillian an ambassador for Good Learning Anywhere is fitting for a few reasons:

1. Lillian is always “there”: she’s always participating, always ready to learn.
2. Lillian is a facilitator: she will troubleshoot with learners and help instructors, in and outside of class.
3. Lillian spreads the word: from Lillian’s enthusiasm and community spirit, we’ve gained more than a few new learners from her neck of the woods and across Ontario.

Just this past fall, I met Lillian when I visited the lovely ladies of the Adult Learning Line in Kenora.  Before meeting her, I felt I already knew her, as she had attended more than a few of my classes: I knew her as a warm, gentle and kind person, a woman who is strong in her faith and who is enthusiastic about learning.  And, that is exactly who she is.  But as it is with most online interactions, what I thought I knew about Lillian was only the tip of the iceberg.

What really shone through for me was Lillian’s sense of humour and her passion for helping others.  As I was busy attempting to set up the iMac to take some group photos, I overheard Lillian telling other learners how our online sessions are all recorded and was showing them how to access the classes within a Centra account.

 

Lillian’s journey to Good Learning Anywhere began over a year ago.  I had the joy of instructing Lillian in her first class, Introduction to Online Learning.  From that day on, Lillian discovered a passion for computers.  In fact, working with computers, understanding how they work, and learning how to fix them is part of Lillian’s goal for the future.  Computer know-how is an important skill to have today, and with the skills she’s gained in the online classroom, Lillian is well on her way.

Lillian’s success boils down to a few things in her life: the Adult Learning Line and Good Learning Anywhere.  She said she was introduced to upgrading and learning by Lynn Kowal, one of the wonderful practitioners of the Adult Learning Line.  It was Lynn who inspired her to take that big leap to becoming an adult learner.  And though Lillian had made the step towards improving her skills twice before, she told me it was the Adult Learning Line and the availability of the Good Learning Anywhere program that really “made it stick”.

 

So Lillian, I thank you for your spirit, your generosity, your committment to learning, and for “jumping in full-force”.

 

It is a pleasure and honour to know you and name you Learner of the Month for November!

Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Eady

Yep, that’s right.  Good Learning Anywhere has a brand new baby doctor!

And not just any doctor, my friends. 

Dr. Michelle Eady, a leading thinker and advocate of Indigenous literacy in both Canada and Australia, is about to be awarded her Phd.  Not only is she receiving her doctorate, Michelle will be honoured with a blessing from an Elder and will be giving the Valedictorian Speech as well.

Michelle has been with Good Learning Anywhere since it’s very beginnings, and has advocated for literacy for First Nations, Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit for many years.  Michelle envisioned and implemented interactive online literacy classes for SHLC’s Good Learning Anywhere project.

Sadly for us, Michelle has relocated herself and her family to Australia, and though we are poorer for not having her here with us in Ontario, we know that Michelle is spreading the goodness and rightness of literacy for Indigenous people wherever she goes.

Here are some messages from your friends at Sioux-Hudson Literacy Council.

Congratulations Michelle.

ps. Michelle, be sure to share your grad experiences with us.