Adult Education and Family Literacy

Professional Development Resource Center

The Professional Development Resource Center (formerly known as the State Literacy Resource Center) is a State Leadership project funded through the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Title II - Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, serving Adult Education and Family Literacy programs in Colorado. The PDRC is administered through the Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education and Family Literacy office.
 
There are four regional Professional Development Resource Centers in Colorado, providing professional development and resource library services to adult education and family literacy practitioners and programs:

• Denver/Metro
• Four Corners
• Northern Colorado
• Southern Colorado

Professional Development

The Professional Development Resource Centers facilitate several professional development and training opportunities each year, based on results of the Professional Development Self-Assessment for Colorado Adult Education Teachers.
For more information on upcoming PD and training events, contact your regional PDRC, or visit the PD MAP web page and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Calendar.

PD Resource Center Library Services

Three of the four centers maintain library collections of instructional and staff/professional development materials.  Materials circulate for four weeks and are renewable.

• Search the Professional Development Resource Center Collection
  Search by subject, title, or author for materials in the PDRC collection.  AEFLA and Even Start program staff may borrow materials directly from the PDRCs; other agency staff may access the collection through Interlibrary Loan through their public, school, or college library.  AEFLA and Even Start programs are responsible for any non-returned or damaged items borrowed by their staff members.  Other borrowers must comply with the Interlibrary Loan policies of their local libraries.
   
• Northern Colorado Literacy Resource Center Catalog (pdf)
  Contact the Northern Colorado PD Resource Center for information on its lending policies.
   
• Southern Colorado PD Resource Center Catalog (pdf)
  Contact the Southern Colorado PD Resource Center for information on its lending policies.

LINCS (Literacy Information aNd Communication System) Resource Collections

Resource Collections
The LINCS collections, developed by the now-closed National Institute for Literacy, are currently maintained by the U.S. Department of Education's Division of Adult Education and Literacy. These are subject-oriented collections of high-quality instructional resources, including multi-media resources, informed by research, especially scientifically based and other rigorous research, for use by adult education and literacy educators.

• Basic Skills
• Program Management
• Workforce Competitiveness

Archived Special Collections
These are gateways to specialized information on literacy practices and materials for use in adult education and literacy programs. NIFL provided funding for these special collections from 2001 to 2006. The Special Collections websites are retained and available for informational and reference purposes only, but are no longer actively maintained.

• Assessment
  
• English as a Second Language
• Equipped for the Future (EFF)
• Family Literacy
  
• Health and Literacy
  
• Literacy and Learning Disabilities
  
• Program Leadership and Improvement
• Science and Numeracy
  
• Technology Training
  
• Workforce Education
  

E-Mail Discussion Groups / Listservs for Adult Educators

• CLICK
  CLICK is an e-mail announcement and discussion list for AEFLA and Even Start program managers and staff.  Agencies and individuals with an interest in or connection to adult education and family literacy in Colorado may also subscribe and participate. For information about CLICK and how to subscribe contact: Debra Fawcett; fawcett_d@cde.state.co.us
   
• National Discussion Lists
  Join or learn more about national electronic discussion groups (listservs) sponsored by the National Institute for Literacy on topics of interest to adult educators and literacy providers.