Integrating Essential Skills into Training - National Adult Literacy ...

♦ …integrating the information into a small training program which will hopefully be
applied province wide
♦ In curriculum development
♦ To contribute to the development of training curriculum in my region
♦ Will use the information in the literacy classes I teach
♦ Employer education; weave into learning plan for training-on-the job; creativity and
problem solving will now be the driving force for all workshops that need to be
designed
♦ Will incorporate the new ideas into my existing curriculum and activities; will try to
teach everything from an essential skills perspective
♦ I’ll definitely have a closer look at the Numeracy at Work and Reading at Work
materials
♦ Will review all my materials and resources to see if they’re pertinent to teaching
essential skills
♦ Will use the ES websites and will share ideas with my clients on how they can
acquire ES and why they are important
Other
♦ Very professional and well organized.
♦ Lots of fun, good networking opportunity.
♦ Really liked the workbook
♦ Need more frequent short breaks / healthy snack alternatives
♦ Room too hot
You said it best!
I wanted to let you both know about the success of the conference from my point of
view, on different levels. I admit I didn't know how useful Essential Skills would be for a
CDO, thought I'd learn. ...and learn I did! You'd think that everybody knows about
transferable skills like reading documents and finding information. However, it's sort of
like discovering the secret of opening the little plastic pre-packaged vinegar used in
diners. I was managing quite fine - eight out of ten times I didn't spill the vinegar on
myself AND my fries. However, the day I discovered the secret slit in the corner of the
package -- it was like I had gained some sort of magic touch. Mercy. It was the same
thing with the Essential or transferable skills like common sense - is not so common.
The magical moment for me was one of the resources from Pat Salt, the use of the flow
charts. Did you know that there is a meaning for different shapes? Probably...but I
didn't. It was like opening the vinegar package once again! Using each shape during
the flow chart process creates clear understanding, cuts the time factor - and
keeps things simple. It'll be most useful when I am meeting with employers to assist
with training plans. FINALLY, I have something that I can suggest be woven into any
training plan. Flowcharts are such simple tools yet the usefulness for explaining
progressive steps within the education and training system is invaluable. Education of
employers regarding essential skills will not only help them with being clear about
duties, but also save time, and help create a plan for accountability. For the trainee it
will aid in his/her gaining useful skills for present and future use.