'We aim to bolster foundational skills'
Photo by Eiji Hayashi (Flickr CC)
The Conseil consultatif sur l’économie et I’innovation (CCEI) is recommending that the Government of Quebec fund a project by Concordia and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) to design a new web-based learning platform for adult literacy.
This innovative program is based on the established learning software ABRACADABRA. It aims to boost workers’ essential reading and writing skills, and help them maintain their long-term employability.
“We are excited that interactive digital learning materials designed at Concordia, and recognized worldwide, are at the forefront of yet another leading-edge solution,” says Concordia’s president Alan Shepard.
“This time, in partnership with experts at UQAM, we aim to bolster foundational skills for Quebecers and help them thrive in the workforce. They can then better meet the expectations of a rapidly evolving high-tech economy.”
Robert Proulx, rector of UQAM, says, "The launch of a free, interactive learning platform for adults aiming to improve their literacy not only responds to a crucial human need but also to a priority for Quebec society.
"Built on research findings, this new digital resource draws on the solid collaboration and expertise of both Université du Québec à Montréal and Concordia University. It squares perfectly with the Government of Quebec’s Policy on Educational Success, launched this past June.”
ABRACADABRA is a technology-enhanced learning platform for children, designed by Concordia’s Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) and partners.
The French-language application of the software is the result of collaboration between a team of researchers from Concordia and UQAM.
The Learning Toolkit+ (LTK+) suite, which includes ABRACADABRA, was recently awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. LTK+ includes five evidence-based bilingual tools — ABRACADABRA and READS for literacy, ELM for numeracy, ePearl for self-regulation and ISIS-21 for information literacy. It has helped thousands of students aged five to eight improve their reading and writing, as well as strengthen related skills.
The software suite is currently in use in nine English-language school boards across Quebec, has been accessed by more than 100,000 online visitors, and is available without charge worldwide.
Quebec's premier Philippe Couillard formed the Conseil consultatif sur l’économie et I’innovation in 2016 to accelerate growth in all sectors. Chaired by Monique F. Leroux, the council is made up of 32 people recognized in the business community.
Find out more about Concordia’s Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance.
Read the recommendation from the Conseil consultatif sur l’économie et I’innovation.
