December 2007 Bulletin #1
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Community Literacy of Ontario 80 Bradford Street Suite 508 Barrie,Ontario L4N 6S7 Tel: 705-733-2312 Fax:705-733-6197 Research and Writing: |
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
The Main Course - The Nine Essential Skills Behind the Scenes - The History of ES Testing the Waters - Surfing the ES Site |
Community Literacy of Ontario
Essentially Yours:
Training in the Essential Skills
What’s the Buzz About Essential Skills?
In the September 2007 edition of Our Voice, CLO announced plans to provide information and training on HRSDC’s nine Essential Skills (ES). As promised, we are pleased to present you with the first installment of “Essentially Yours: Training in the Essential Skills,” a project funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. Whether your agency is familiar with Essential Skills, or has already integrated them, we are confident the information we provide will prove a valuable resource for agencies and learners alike.
A recent survey indicated that the understanding and use of ES varies within our membership, and there is some uncertainty about how to use ES tools for learners with independence goals. After many years of development at the federal level, Essential Skills are being explored by community literacy agencies as building blocks for LBS programs and learners.
Fear not. Despite ES tools and resources having been created primarily for employment purposes, ES development is not job-specific training. It is skill enhancement that supports life-long learning, benefiting everyone in all facets of their lives. Simplistically, Essential Skills are the skills adults use to manage their daily activities. From making a shopping list to conducting scientific research, Essential Skills range from simple to complex, and can be further developed through experience, instruction, and practice. Essential Skills have been described by HRSDC as the “fundamental skills that make it possible to learn all others,” meaning they are the literacy skills that people need to adapt to an ever-changing environment.
ES development is not aimed only at learners with lower skill levels, as statistics show that many high school and post-secondary graduates lack the necessary ES to reach their full potential. While ES development certainly impacts the economy by creating a more capable workforce, it can have a significant impact on adult learners’ training plans and success. LBS learners who receive training integrating an ES approach, develop skills that lay the groundwork for progress.
With these bulletins, and the other Essentially Yours initiatives (see The Road Ahead on page 8), CLO hopes to take the mystery out of ES implementation by exploring Essential Skills tools and resources, and showing you how to use them. Let the learning begin!
