Hi all,
I've included a couple of resources below that are not precisely related
to workplace education, but that a workplace educator might want to use
for the general interest of workers, such as health education.  There
are several resources on entrepreneurship and microenterprises, and
there were a few dealing with aspects of evaluation and testing.  I hope
you find something of interest to you.
As always, remember that the URLs provided may wrap to two lines, and
you might have to cut and paste both halves together in your address box
to access them.
Donna



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>From the Aspen Institute Equal Opportunities Program e-news, Vol. 3, #4

<http://www.aspeninstitute.org/atf/cf/{DEB6F227-659B-4EC8-8F84-8DF23CA70
4F5}/EnewsV3No.4.pdf>
FIELD evaluates initiative geared to people with disabilities 
FIELD has been contracted by The Abilities Fund to evaluate a two-year
initiative designed to raise awareness of the opportunities and
resources available to people with disabilities who are pursuing
self-employment. The initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor,
will train select staff involved in vocational rehabilitation in how to
help people with disabilities who want to start and grow businesses. In
addition, The Abilities Fund will offer Web-based training and lending
services directly to the entrepreneurs. The evaluation will examine the
success of implementation efforts and their sustainability as a result
of changes in perceptions and linkages to effective support systems.
Learn more about this project
<http://fieldus.org/MicroTest/AbilitiesFund.html>

FIELD to evaluate Kellogg rural entrepreneurship project 
FIELD recently signed a three-year evaluation contract with the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation to implement a national evaluation of the six
grantees in the Kellogg "Entrepreneurship Development Systems (EDS) for
Rural America" project. The Foundation awarded $12 million in grants to
six collaborative efforts in nine states to stimulate entrepreneurship
across rural America. Each of the six groups will receive $2 million
over three years to promote entrepreneurial activity in their region,
showcase successful models of entrepreneurship activity to rural
communities outside their area, leverage significant new investments,
and stimulate state and national interest in rural entrepreneurship
policies and strategies. FIELD will work in partnership with six local
evaluation teams, gathering information to provide a comparative
analysis of the operations of the six EDS sites, and will highlight the
key lessons in developing and maintaining a successful EDS. FIELD also
will assess the potential for replicating the successful elements of the
six EDS sites nationally. 
Learn more about the EDS project
<http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=75&CID=357&NID=61&LanguageID=0>

Publication features presentation by FIELD Director
Insights offered by FIELD Director Elaine Edgcomb during an April
conference on the role entrepreneurship can play in the revitalization
of New Orleans and the surrounding area are included in a newly released
publication. Entrepreneurship: The Foundation for Economic Renewal in
the Gulf Coast Region compiles comments and presentations made by the
experts at the conference, held April 10-11, 2006. The event was
sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of
Advocacy, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Public Forum
Institute. 
View a PDF of the publication
http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/proceedings06.pdf

Conference report includes insights from FIELD Director
A new publication, based on papers and discussions featured during a
conference in late 2004 on emerging research topics in the community
development finance field, includes observations about microlending and
microenterprise shared by FIELD Director Elaine Edgcomb. The publication
was prepared by the conference sponsors: The Federal Reserve Banks of
New York and Philadelphia in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank
of Cleveland. To catalyze conference discussions, selected participants
prepared papers on various topics that were reviewed by others. Edgcomb
reviewed a paper by Lisa Servon entitled, "Microenterprise in the United
States: Current Challenges and New Directions." A synthesis of Edgcomb's
review is included in the publication. 
Read conference report
<http://www.phil.frb.org/cca/capubs/CDF-Summary.pdf>

Participants reflect on sectoral training in report 
A recent report from WSI features the thoughtful observations and
poignant words of a group of sectoral workforce training participants as
they considered how that experience affected them and their families, as
well as the barriers they face in the workforce - four years post
training. Skills to Live By: Participant Reflections on the Value of
their Sectoral Training Experience was created to help readers gain
insights into both the value and practical limitations of high-quality
sector training programs' ability to help people make it in today's
economy. <http://www.aspenwsi.org/publications/06-010.pdf>

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>From New Zealand Literacy Portal  <http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/>


Assessment
Literacy task assessment guide - 2003 (Can)
The information gathered in this Canadian report (137 pages) represents
the results of a lengthy analysis of many literacy surveys and the test
items contained in them.  The method of analysing the complexity of
literacy tasks described in this guide should be of interest to anyone
responsible for the creation or revision of public documents.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2416&ruid=2182

>

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Welcome to CABS Online (Can)
CABS is the Common Assessment of Basic Skills.  Seventy-nine
demonstrations from the CAB manual have been recreated in a vibrant
online environment to provide a practical assessment tool for use with
literacy and basic skills learners who can work with computers.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2425&ruid=2182

>

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e-Literacy
Harnessing Technology to Serve Adult Literacy (US)
This website has been developed by David Rosen, previousely the Director
of the Adult Literacy Resource Institute in Boston, to integrate
technology into adult basic education.  It is very comprehensive and
includes online resources, professional development and contextualised
technology.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2435&ruid=2182

>

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Health Literacy
The silent epidemic: The health effects of illiteracy - 2006 (US)
This US article describes the issues that patients with low literacy
have when dealing with doctors and health care providers.  This is part
of an online journal and you will need to scroll down the page to get to
it.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2519&ruid=2182

>

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Literacy
Literacy, language and numeracy in the construction industry - 2004 (UK)
This UK report (66 pages) describes an action research project on
literacy, language and numeracy support in the construction industry in
the Black Country. The scope was to establish a benchmark of current
best practice in integrated delivery within vocational courses. A number
of recommendations are listed as part of the Executive Summary.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2572&ruid=2182

>

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Skills in the UK: The long-term challenge: Interim report - 2005 (UK)
This UK report (18 pages) looks at the challenges facing the UK in
developing skills in order to maximise prosperity and productivity and
to improve social justice.  The report contains a lot of useful
information and sends a clear message about the urgent need to increase
basic skills in the UK.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2577&ruid=2182

>

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Research
Strategies for low-level literacy students - 2004 (Aus)
This is an Australian research report that examines strategies used with
low-level learners and provides strategies and approaches that could be
applied in the classroom.  It also provides a foundation for developing
resources and curriculum for low-level literacy students.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2424&ruid=2182

>

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Vocational
Essential skills and success in apprenticeship - 2001 (Can)
This Canadian paper (39 pages) gives a rationale for developing the
essential skills of apprentices.  There is a discussion about what are
essential skills and why they are critical for anyone undertaking an
apprenticeship.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2508&ruid=2182

>

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Hunt the Hazards (Aus)
This is a fun online game to teach health and safety. The game shows
common hazards in places like a supermarket, warehouse, kitchen and the
home.
<http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2501&ruid=2182

>

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