In order to participate fully in the workforce and in a democratic society, individuals must have a firm foundation of literacy and essential skills. To help make that happen, the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has expanded its focus to encompass the world of work. NALD@Work is an online repository containing program models, teaching and learning materials, assessment tools, research documents and much more.

• Are you interested in the issues of workplace literacy, Workplace literacy is an overarching term that includes a wide variety of basic and essential skills people use at work including reading documents, completing paperwork, writing reports and making calculations. foundation skills, learning for the workplace and essential skills? Essential skills is a term often used to mean foundation skills. An initiative of Human Resources and Social Development Canada identified and validated nine Essential Skills: reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning, thinking skills and computer use. Workplace literacy is an overarching term that includes a wide variety of basic and essential skills people use at work including reading documents, completing paperwork, writing reports and making calculations. Essential skills is a term often used to mean foundation skills. An initiative of Human Resources and Social Development Canada identified and validated nine Essential Skills: reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning, thinking skills and computer use.
• Would you like to learn about the success factors for workplace literacy initiatives?
• Do you want to know about starting a workplace learning program?
• Are you interested in motivation for starting a program?
• Do you want to know how to conduct an organizational analysis to see if a program is needed in your workplace?
• Perhaps you want to find out more about selecting a program model, choosing an instructor, how to select program materials or how to assess learning needs?
• Do you want to know more about clear-language initiatives?
• Maybe conducting a program evaluation is important to you.

If the answer is yes for any of the above, you are in the right place.

NALD@Work is designed for:

• employers;
• labour unions;
• workers/employees;
• workplace educators/instructors;
• policy-makers, researchers, and academics; and
• learners – everyone with an interest in workplace literacy, learning and essential skills.

NALD@Work is a key resource you can use to develop workplace education programs. By offering a digital library, the latest news items, a calendar of events and links to websites, organizations and providers, NALD@Work is your link to the world of workplace literacy and essential skills. Under the Tools section alone you’ll find a handy glossary of workplace terms along with links to educational, self-evaluation and workforce preparation resources.

NALD@Work is your library. If you have a document, a news item or an event you would like to see posted, send it electronically to communication@naldatwork.ca.