Upgrading

Hoping to change careers or find a new job that fits your interests?
Ready to get your grade 12 and not sure how to start?

We offer safe, free, confidential, one-to-one tutoring in our office a time and pace that works for you! Connect with use to see what kind of services might fit your needs and what upgrading programs might work with your schedule. Support is offered in reading, writing, and math upgrading.

If you would rather meet through distance learning, we can arrange connecting through a variety of online tools.

Our tutoring space and waiting area is cleaned with hospital grade sanitizers between each session. Our office is cleaned daily in line with Provincial guidelines.

The CVLLC provides support and assistance with students hoping to enter Adult Basic Education at North Island College, and provides assistance with North Island Distance Education School courses.

For more information about this program, please contact us to set up an appointment.

English language learning

DUE TO STAFFING LIMITATIONS, OUR ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP IS ON HOLD INDEFINITELY. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Are you seeking support with learning to speak English as an Additional language or do you have a friend or colleague who might benefit from additional support with English?

Take the first step! Go online and assess your level of English competency through the online self-assessment tool provided by the government of Canada.

If you are a Permanent Resident or Refugee Claimant, get in touch with the Immigrant Welcome Centre for English classes through their LINC program (for formal certification for employment, education programs, or Canadian citizenship).

For Canadian citizens looking to expand their English knowledge, reach out to North Island College through their Adult Basic Education program.

Get in touch with us for more information about English learning in our community or support with navigating your learning goals.

Information retrieved from Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks.

Digital Literacy

What is digital literacy?

Digital literacy is more than technological know-how: it includes a wide variety of ethical, social and reflective practices that are embedded in work, learning, leisure and daily life.

Traditional definitions of literacy have focused on skills relating to numeracy, listening, speaking, reading, writing and critical thinking, with the end goal being developing active thinkers and learners who are able to engage in society in effective and meaningful ways. These skills are needed for full participation in digital society as well, but they are only part of a larger set of skills and competencies that are required.

Digital Literacy Competencies

• Use represents the technical fluency that’s needed to engage with computers and the Internet. Skills and competencies that fall under “use” range from basic technical know-how – using computer programs such as word processors, web browsers, email and other communication tools – to the more sophisticated abilities for accessing and using knowledge resources, such as search engines and online databases, and emerging technologies such as cloud computing.

• Understand is that critical piece – it’s the set of skills that help us comprehend, contextualize, and critically evaluate digital media so that we can make informed decisions about what we do and encounter online. These are the essential skills that we need to start teaching people as soon as they go online.

• Create is the ability to produce content and effectively communicate through a variety of digital media tools. The ability to create using digital media ensures that Canadians are active contributors to digital society. Creation – whether through blogs, tweets, wikis or any of the hundreds of avenues for expression and sharing online – is at the heart of citizenship and innovation.

The CVLLC offers free one to one tutoring and support with learning to use devices like:

• Laptop and desktop computers

• Smartphones

• Tablets/iPads

We also provide a weekly Tech Drop in on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for support with your personal devices. Entrance is at the rear of our office from 1-3PM.

Due to COVID-19 our program has been specifically redesigned to allow for the required distance between learners and tutors (2 metres) and allows for sharing of screens between laptops, phones or tablets. We can accommodate in person learning for any device.

Our tutoring space and waiting area is cleaned with hospital grade sanitizers between each session. Our office is cleaned daily in line with Provincial guidelines.

For more information or to register for classes, please connect directly with our Literacy Coordinator by contacting our office.

Information retrieved from MediaSmarts.

Family Digital Literacy

At the Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Centre we recognize the need for technology and it's continuous presence in everyday day life, and we choose to embrace educational tools in all their forms. Digital learning has and will continue to be an integral part of cognitive development.

Using technology in uncertain times

Although our Family Digital Literacy App Guide was create before COVID-19, it is now more important than ever. With parents being solely responsible for the education and well-being of their children help and support through digital teaching tools has become crucial. But which tools are best? Which are the most education?

We have tested a variety of Apps which focus on Early Childhood Literacy, Mindfulness and Emotional Well being, as well as Apps providing Parental Support. We update this list yearly as to give you the most up to date and cutting edge technology.

*All Apps listed in this brochure are FREE in their basic version.

in person workshops

meeting

In the area of Zoom life, we understand the limitations, difficulties and stressors associated with distance or blended models of learning. This is why we have remodelled our Internet Cafe space (located at the back of our office) to provide an in-person workshop space for groups to learn together in the physical world!

sharing

In an effort to maintain physical distancing, we have designed our program to ensure that the workshop facilitator can see your screen as you follow guidance or instructions. Our laptops are connected to independent screens facing the instructor. If you run into trouble or start to struggle, your instructor will be able to follow the steps you take in real time.

safety

Your physical (and digital) safety is important to us. Our workshop space is designed to allow for distance from other participants and is easily cleaned to strict guidelines modelled after Public Health orders before and after each group enters.

Programs already running in workshop format include:

Online Safety (2 parts): Basic Security and Accounts and Scams

Using Google Docs

If interested in booking a workshop, please reach out to us by phone at 250.338.9906 or by email. We are always happy to support you with developing a specialized workshop to meet your learning needs.

Follow us on Facebook to be the first to hear about updates, get information about upcoming workshops or learn more about our programming for adults and families.