Aboriginal Literacy Intake Assessment Tool (ALIAT) for Levels One and Two USER GUIDE SALN Project Research Consultant: Dr. Janice Acoose Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. 721 Ave. K South Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7M 2E7 www.saln.ca ALIAT Copyright © 2012 Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. This publication is the property of Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. (SALN), and may not be reproduced, in its entirety or in part, without written permission from the SALN. Cover photo: Prince Albert Métis Jiggers at the SALN Gathering 2008. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. (SALN) would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution and support of the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy for the opportunity to develop this innovative and unique assessment tool. The SALN would like to acknowledge the involvement, support, and in-kind contributions of the many organizations and their representatives who participated on the Development Team, the Management Team, and the Scoring Session. As well, the SALN would like to thank the staff for their hard work and dedication to completing this Aboriginal assessment tool. The Aboriginal Literacy Intake Assessment Tool (ALIAT) Project was completed in two Phases. Phase I was from November 2011 – April 2012. Phase II was from June 2012 – November 2012. The purpose of both project phases was to design an Indigenous value-added assessment tool that would be useable as a learner/student intake and exit placement instrument for both academic and life skills learning environments. Inclusive of Indigenous perspectives, ALIAT’s goal was to provide literacy and adult basic education practitioners with an assessment tool that would successfully bring First Nations and Métis adults back into formal learning environments. The SALN’s vision for ALIAT is to empower the lives and career goals of First Nations and Métis Learners in ways that are inclusive of their culture and language. ALIAT Management Team (ALIAT Project Phase I & II) Dr. Janice Acoose, Research Consultant Cheryl Bashutski, Ministry of the Economy Carol Vandale, M.CEd., Executive Director, SALN Ross Grandel, SALN Staff (November - June 2012) Robert (Bobby) Henry, Research Consultant Phase I ALIAT Development Team (ALIAT Project Phase II) As well as the Management Team members, the following people contributed generously of their time and resources: Jacqueline Bruce, Onion Lake Education Centre, Onion Lake Michael Crowe, Lakeland Community College, Lloydminster Elaine Ebenal, Saskatchewan Literacy Network, Saskatoon i | P a g e ALIAT USER GUIDE Jean Dudley, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Saskatoon Pat Duggleby, Saskatchewan Provincial Library and Literacy Office, Regina Lisa Irlbeck, Carlton Trail Community College, George Gordon First Nation Bev Kulach, Southeast Regional College, Piapot Angela Letendre, Dumont Technical Institute, Prince Albert Dr. Lloyd Robertson, Northlands College, La Ronge Dr. Ida Swan & Dr. Angela Weenie, First Nations University of Canada, Regina Kristi Yarshenko, Great Plains College, Maple Creek ALIAT Scoring Session Field testing of items for the ALIAT instrument was conducted from June – September 2012. The following people gathered to score the results of those field tests to ascertain the validity and reliability of the items and questions in this ALIAT document. Dr. Janice Acoose (Co-Facilitator), Saskatoon Cheryl Bashutski (Co-Facilitator), Ministry of the Economy, Regina Florence McLeod, Elder, Montreal Lake First Nation Jackie Bruce, Onion Lake Education Centre, Onion Lake Marlene McKay, Greater Catholic School Division, Saskatoon Natania Bartlette, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST)/Mayfair, Saskatoon Elaine Ebenal, Saskatchewan Literacy Network, Saskatoon Carol Vandale, M.CEd., Executive Director, Saskatoon ii | P a g e ALIAT USER GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... i ALIAT Management Team (ALIAT Project Phase I & II) ...................................... i ALIAT Development Team (ALIAT Project Phase II) ........................................... i ALIAT Scoring Session ..................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. iii INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 USING THE ALIAT & COMPANION USER GUIDE .......................................................... 3 A Note on Terms ............................................................................................. 3 Intake Information .......................................................................................... 3 The ALIAT ...................................................................................................... 4 Scoring & Assessing Learner Responses ........................................................... 4 SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH LEARNING DOMAIN ........................................... 6 Listening Domain ............................................................................................ 6 Speaking Domain ............................................................................................ 9 Reading Domain ........................................................................................... 11 Writing Domain ............................................................................................. 12 Numeracy Domain ........................................................................................ 14 iii | P a g e ALIAT USER GUIDE ALIAT ANSWER KEY ................................................................................................ 15 METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING LEARNER’S PLACEMENT ........................................ 19 ALIAT BENCHMARKS ............................................................................................... 20 ALIAT ASSESSMENT REPORT ................................................................................... 22 APPENDICES........................................................................................................... 23 Appendix A: Terms & Acronyms .................................................................... 23 Appendix B: ALIAT Project Phase I & II Background ....................................... 24 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 27 iv | P a g e ALIAT USER GUIDE INTRODUCTION Known by its acronym ALIAT, the Aboriginal Literacy Intake Assessment Tool is an Indigenous instrument created to assist and guide adult basic education and literacy instructors in assessing adult Learners’ skill strengths for placement in specific programs. ALIAT is a reliable, valid, and relevant Indigenous adult basic education assessment tool comprised of a PROTOTYPE, an INSTRUCTOR’S USER GUIDE, and a SALN ALIAT ITEM BANK for the creation of a customized ALIAT instrument, available for use upon permission from SALN. All ALIAT documents evolved from a collaborative process with First Nations and Métis Keepers of Knowledge, Saskatchewan adult learners, a Development Team, a Management Team, the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc. (SALN) staff, and literacy workers from various adult basic education (ABE) institutions. This process evolved during two project phases, Phase I (November 2011 – April 2012) and Phase II (May – November 2012). Between June - September 2012 (Phase II), all the items in the PROTOTYPE and some in the SALN ITEM BANK were rigorously Field Tested and Scored1. As well, during Phases I and II documents were revised and edited by SALN staff based on intensive consultations with literacy and assessment experts. An Indigenous assessment tool for adult Learners, ALIAT illustrates culturally specific knowledge, evident throughout in expressions of ceremonies, languages, governments, dances, art, and music, and, which continues to grow in relations with EuroCanadian based knowledge. ALIAT relies primarily on First Nations and Métis Keepers of Knowledge; in other words, experts whose ideas and work continue to carry the traditions, values, history, and languages of their own people. 1 A footnote citation appears next to the items that have been Field Tested and Scored in the SALN ALIAT Item Bank. 1 | P a g e ALIAT USER GUIDE Within the ALIAT PROTOTYPE there are five Learning Domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Numeracy. ALIAT places Listening and Speaking before Reading, Writing, and Numeracy as Learning Domains to honor and acknowledge First Nations and Métis oral traditions which now, in addition to the printed word, continue to pass on knowledge and ways of knowing. The item and its questions in each Learning Domain are relevant to First Nations and Métis people because they encourage Learners to draw on their own life experiences. The importance of cultural relevancy was noted by many of the learners who participated in the ALIAT Field Testing. One of them wrote, “Finally, I can see myself and my own life in a test.” ALIAT is valid and reliable as an Indigenous assessment instrument because it has been Field Tested in 6 ABE institutions with over 100 participants. The majority of the participants were First Nations or Métis Learners who