Hi Avril ...

Yes - I can see that the numbers of participants are really important, and that also calls into question whether literacies learners are fully able to participate; some obviously will but others may struggle because the level of literacy required is beyond them at that point. 

I like the idea of learners being able to access an online course ... we may have scope for that here because we have high numbers of learners who are either already engaging in computing classes or who are interested in doing so. 

I really like your last point about a national forum for ALN learners.  I don't think it exists in GLOW but I'll check - and I think that the forum idea merits consideration from the likes of Education Scotland. 

Julia