Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

Essential Skills

The Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy Initiative (http://www.rhdcc-hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/essential_skills/general/home.shtml) was launched in 2003. Its aim is to ensure that Canadians have the right skills for changing work and life demands. The website contains almost 200 occupational profiles that can be used to help you:

• learn more about the skills you need in various occupations
• develop workplace training programs, learning plans, or job descriptions
• investigate career options
• create educational tools to enhance skills development

In total, there are nine Essential Skills. They are:

• Reading Text
• Document Use
• Numeracy
• Writing
• Oral communication
• Working with Others
• Continuous Learning
• Thinking Skills
• Computer Use

Lee Torvi from Literacy Plus (Renfrew County Community Upgrading Program) (www.literacyplus-renfrewcounty.ca) has provided the following information that she adapted from the Conference Board of Canada (www.conferenceboard.ca/) – their Workplace Literacy Central is another excellent resource.

We need essential skills to succeed in our daily lives. These skills are also valuable if we want to enter, stay in, and progress in the world of work. These are skills that we develop as we work on individual and group projects.

Basic Skills

We will have a base for further skills development when we can:

Communicate

• read and understand information in a variety of forms (e.g., words, graphs, charts, diagrams)
• write and speak so others pay attention and understand
• listen and ask questions so that we understand and appreciate the points of view of others
• share information using a range of information and communications technologies (e.g., voice, e-mail, computers)
• use relevant scientific, technological and mathematical knowledge and skills to explain or clarify ideas

Manage Information

• locate, gather and organize information using appropriate technology and information systems
• access, analyze and apply knowledge and skills from various disciplines (e.g., the arts, languages, science, technology, mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities)
• decide what needs to be measured or calculated
• observe and record data using appropriate methods, tools and technology
• make estimates and verify calculations

Think & Solve Problems

• assess situations and identify problems
• seek different points of view and evaluate them based on facts
• recognize the human, interpersonal, technical, scientific and mathematical dimensions of a problem
• identify the root cause of a problem
• be creative in exploring possible solutions
• readily use science, technology and mathematics to think, gain and share knowledge, solve problems and make decisions
• evaluate solutions to make recommendations or decisions
• implement solutions
• check to see if a solution works, and act on opportunities for improvement

Personal Management Skills

Personal management skills include skills, attitudes and behaviours. We will have more opportunities when we can:

Demonstrate Positive Attitudes & Behaviours

• feel good about ourselves and feel confident
• deal with people, problems and situations with honesty, integrity and personal ethics
• recognize our own and other people’s good efforts
• take care of our personal health
• show interest, initiative and effort

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