Congratulations to the 2010 Winner of the LLRC Master's Research Award

Congratulations to the 2010 Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada Masters Research Award winner! The recipient of the 2010 LLRC award is Gail Lori Prasad. Gail completed her thesis at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, under the supervision of Dr. Normand Labrie. Her thesis is entitled:

Alter(n)ative Literacies: Elementary Teachers' Practices with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students in One French-Language School in Ontario

Abstract: This case study was conducted in one elementary French-language school in Ontario with 1 administrator, 4 teachers and their culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. Through the integration of bhabha's (1994) notion of Third space, multiple literacies theory (Cummins, 2001; Masny 2009) and by drawing on interviews, observations, and students' work samples, I conceptualise an alter(n)ative literacies framework to address growing diversity in French-language schools. The term alter(n)ative is developed to express the intertwined benefit of expanding traditional notions of literacy to include alternative language practices and the potential alter-ative effect of re-envisioning the resources children bring to their literacy and language development at school. This thesis argues that teachers can critically (re)interpret official policies concerning French-language schools in order to effectively foster students' alter(n)ative literacies development. In doing so, teachers affirm the plurality of students' multiple identities as a foundation for their participation within evolving cosmopolitan franco-ontarian communities.


LLRC Master's Research Award

Application Deadline: Extended to March 12, 2010

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LLRC Master’s Award

The recipient of the award will receive a maximum of $500 for the receipted expenses to attend the LLRC Annual General Meeting to accept the award and to present a paper or a session based on the work. An announcement of the Award Winner and the two finalists will appear in the CACS/ACEC Newsletter.

Submission Requirements

The award is offered for a thesis or scholarly project completed and accepted in the two calendar years prior to the date of submission. Submissions can be made electronically. Individuals are asked to submit the following:
  • a covering letter with name, university and department or faculty, supervisor, date of defense or completion;
  • an attached summary of 1000 - 1500 words. This summary must be ready to be sent out for blind review (e.g., it must have all identifying information about the author, university, and supervisor removed from the document). The summary should state the title and discuss the problem(s) /question(s) addressed in the study, a brief review of the major literature, the design methodology, the major conclusions, and a statement of significance. A submission may be disqualified if an abstract exceeds the 1500 word maximum.

Definition

Language and literacy education is defined as follows: literacy for all ages; censorship; language arts teaching and learning; language/ reading / writing across the curriculum; listening; literacy curriculum; literacy education; literacy foundations; literature selection; literature teaching; oracy practices; oracy processes; reader response; reading; reading practices; reading processes; response processes; second language teaching and learning; writing; writing practices; writing processes; literacy and cultural studies; multi-media literacy; literacy and technology.

Selection Process and Criteria

Three finalists will be invited to submit an electronic copy of their theses/projects for review. Finalists are responsible for forwarding the copy to the Awards Chair within 7 business days of receipt of notice. Submission should be sent electronically. The major criteria are excellence in research, creative and thoughtful representation of data and significance of the work for language and literacy education. All modes of inquiry and research are invited as are all modes of reporting. The submission will be examined for significance, substance, and distinctiveness by a panel of three experienced and active researchers in language education who are members of LLRC/CCAL.

Notification

Applicants will be notified well in advance of the CSSE conference at which the award will be presented.

Please send applications and/or inquiries to:
Dr. Jill McClay
Department of Elementary Education
551 Education South
University of Alberta
Edmonton AB T6G 2G5
Email: jill.mcclay@ualberta.ca


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