National Adult Literacy Database

Pat Salt, a learning support strategist with PLS Consulting in Calgary, has a new approach to learning that constitutes a major shift in thinking when it comes to essential skills.

She presented her views at Made in the North, a unique pan-territorial forum for exploring effective approaches to adult literacy and skills development.  The event, which was held in October 2012 in Yellowknife, attracted approximately 160 educators, policy makers, literacy experts, elders, businesspeople and other northerners with an interest in adult education.

Titled “Thinking about the Embedding of Essential Skills, Especially in Terms of 21st Century Learners,” Pat’s presentation addresses the need for a “more holistic and socially relevant approach to essential skills, one that defines essential skills as the skills individuals and societies need to survive in the 21st century.”

“Essential skills must be seen as the drivers for all that we learn and all that we need to know - skills that help us to locate, analyze, assess, manage and act upon information, especially when new creative ways of addressing the world and each other are required,” Pat said.

“Once learning skills become an embedded part of everything we learn, we can then better decide how to apply our new knowledge. Learning itself must change.”

Pat feels it is imperative that essential skills become more than the embedding of skills we need at work. They must become the skills we need to pursue sustainable development; reduce poverty; rebuild economies; support families; promote social cohesion; eliminate violence and discrimination; and succeed in a connected, global community - which includes enabling people to succeed in more than one culture.

“These are issues for the North but not only the North,” Pat said. “Essential skills should become both learning outcomes and then learning tools that are aimed at giving us what we need to cope and survive.”

The Made in the North forum was organized by the Yukon Literacy Coalition, the NWT Literacy Council and Ilitaqsiniq - Nunavut Literacy Council. It was sponsored by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the three territorial governments.

Made in the North forum resources are located at http://www.madeinthenorth.ca/?page_id=7.

Pat has also made available a more extensive version of her slide presentation.

For more information she can be reached at p.salt@shaw.ca.

About the presenter:

Pat Salt has extensive experience addressing essential skills locally, nationally and internationally. As part of her work as a learning strategist, Pat develops and delivers training curricula targeting integrated methodologies for curriculum delivery, self-employment in the SME sector, experiential learning strategies for trainers, incorporation of essential skills into technical training programs, Aboriginal-specific essential skills approaches, and innovative assessment. Pat is also an Essential Skills researcher and has served as a quality control reviewer for HRSDC in their development of Essential Skills profiles, and published Essential Skills profiles for Canada’s Journeyman Red Seal Program. As part of a new professional direction, Pat creates integrated e-learning programs, featuring high levels of interactivity and self-determined learning paths. Internationally, Pat has produced integrated essential skills curricula and competency-based learning standards in Ghana, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia and Chile. Pat has also developed essential skills-based workshops and training packages for Aboriginal populations in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

This article was prepared by:

Christy English
NALD Editor/Stakeholder Liaison
Tel: 506-462-5034 or toll-free: 1-800-720-6253
Email: christy.english@nald.ca