Essential Skills in Action
The Adult Learning Training Centre in
Perth, Ontario is in the processing of
changing their Training Plans to reflect
Essential Skills language. The
practitioners work with learners to
identify occupations they are
interested in, and then compile a
list of authentic workplace
materials from the corresponding
ES profile. Materials are used for
training purposes - to identify skills
and tasks, and for creating learning
activities and demonstrations.
Supplementary to the material found on
the ES site, Program Director, Laura
Mullin says they also rely on a variety of
government websites, as well as LLEO’s
curriculum for entry level jobs to provide
authentic learning tools.
Preparatory Training Programs of Toronto (PTP) runs an experiential program called the Teamwork Project that uses team-based activities to develop Essential Skills. Authentic activities include running a snack shop, producing a newsletter, and participating on a planning committee. Teams are multileveled, and chosen based on learners’ interests. The Teamwork Project provides a context for learning and practising ES in a hands-on environment, where learners must use a multitude of ES to carry out their tasks. PTP Executive Director, Barb McFater, says the project is their most ”sustained and comprehensive effort to incorporate ES training into programming to date.” http://ptp.ca/main/
Essential Skills Resources
Literacy Link Eastern Ontario (LLEO) has developed a Common Assessment of Essential Skills (CAES) tool to help practitioners tie Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) outcomes to Essential Skills. Demonstrations taken from their Common Assessment of Basic Skills (CABS) manual have been articulated to the nine Essential Skills using a template designed to align the two systems. CAES is particularly useful because it increases the number of skill sets that can be identified within a given demonstration. The articulation tool is scheduled to be released in the spring. Visit http://www.lleo.ca/cabs3/index.html for information about the CABS manual, and CABS on-line.
Ready for Work Simcoe/Muskoka Literacy Network is in the final stages of piloting six workforce curricula to prepare LBS level 1 and 2 learners for entry-level positions. Each unit has been articulated to the Essential Skills. They have also prepared an ES module for practitioners that offers a variety of learner activities. A manual will be available soon. www.nald.ca/smln/index.htm
