Essential Skills Resources SKILLPLAN

Controlling Complexity

• Learnquestionstructuretheorytoenhanceunderstandingandcontrolquestiondifficulty.

• Usetheinstructionalmaterialtoteachaquestion-answeringstrategytolearners.

• BasedontheworkofPeterMosenthalandMichaelHardt.

Developing Work-related Learning Materials

• Aguidetolinkinginstructionwithworkplaceapplications.

• Usefulfordevelopingasinglelesson,aseriesoflessons,oracurriculum.

• AlsoavailableinFrench.

Document Use at Work

• LooksatcomplexitiesofDocumentUseintheworkplace.

• FocusesondocumentclassificationandEssentialSkills.

• Examplesofdocumentsincluded. Thinking Strategies for Numeracy

• TeachesthinkingstrategiesusingworkplaceNumeracytasks.

• Designedtobeinstructorled,andincludespracticeactivities.

• DVDe-bookisavisualteachingaidforeducators.

Writing at Work

• Examinesthepurpose,style,organizationanduseofwritingformatssuchasmemos,entryforms,logbooks,bulletinsandregulationsfromover50workplacesettings.

• AlsoavailableinFrench.

Professional Development for Educators

Essential Skills Resources for Educators

skillplan.ca

Performance by Design, Inc.TMBC Construction Industry

Skills Improvement Council

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SkillPlan Developing Work-related Learning Materials

Exercise 1: Choosing Workplace Documents 13

Exercise 1: Choosing Workplace Documents Worksheet

Strengths of this document

Weaknesses of this document

• content is not technical•

• content seems personal, not occupation specific

•

Strengths of this document

Weaknesses of this document

• •

Strengths of this document

Weaknesses of this document

• •

SkillPlan Developing Work-related Learning Materials

14 Excercise1:ChoosingWorkplaceDocuments

Items for purchase each month

*lined paper, 12 packs*10 binders*pack of pencils*pack of black or blue ink pens*4 packs of coloured copy paper – green, blue, yellow, purple, pink*file folders, legal*pack of dry erase markers (gray with white end)

On the last Thursday of each month, check the supplies. May change the amount ordered each month as needed.

Exercise 1: Documents A

SkillPlan Developing Work-related Learning Materials

Excercise1:ChoosingWorkplaceDocuments 15

Year Produ Product B1996 26 01997 28 01998 29 141999 30 192000 27 402001 24 352002 19 242003 20 322004 23 262005 26 452006 25 39

0 10 20 30 40 50

Percentage

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Model A12Model 453

Comparison of Models

Model A12Model 453

COMPARISON OF MODEL 453 AND MODEL A12

ModelA12,launchedin1998,isshowingincreasedpopularityoverourclassicModel453.Year Produ Product B

1996 26 01997 28 01998 29 141999 30 192000 27 402001 24 352002 19 242003 20 322004 23 262005 26 452006 25 39

0 10 20 30 40 50

Percentage

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Model A12Model 453

Comparison of Models

Model A12Model 453

Sales over the past decade

Exercise 1: Documents B

Numeracy at Work

• Featuresonthejobapplicationsofnumeracy:MoneyMath,SchedulingorBudgetingandAccountingMath,MeasurementandCalculationMathandDataAnalysisMath.

• AlsoavailableinFrench.

Reading at Work: Workplace Reader

• Learnerspracticetransferablereadingskillssuchaslocating,comparingandcontrasting,andevaluatinginformation.

• Activitiesbasedonauthenticworkplacedocumentsandreal-lifestoriesofworkers.

• AlsoavailableinFrench.

Oral Communication on the Job

• Teacheseffectivecommunicationattheworkplaceusingauthenticworkplaceapplications.

• Scenariosfeatured:Firstdayatanewjob,workmeetings,interactingwithco-workers,andjobtraining.

• ThisbookhasactivitiesforlearnersandaCDwithlisteningactivities.

Reading at Work: Facilitator’s Guide

• InstructorreferenceforadditionalactivitiesandsourcedocumentstosupplementtheWorkplaceReader.

• AlsoavailableinFrench.

Essential Skills Resources for Learners

Educator Guide and Learner Workbook

skillplan.ca

SKILLPLAN

Numerical Estimation

340 Numerical Estimation

Activity 2 - Test your eyeball estimating skills

2a. The typical armspan for an adult, the distance between the outstretched fingertips, is aboutsix feet. Look at the photographs and estimate the width of the garage door and the parkbench.

2b. A Canadian two dollar coin is 2.8 centimetres; the penny 1.9 centimetres. How long andwide is the fossilized fish? How long and wide are the arrowheads?

2c. We are familiar with the height of normal adults;most are about 1.75 metres or 5’ 8” tall. The steelfence is about 2 metres or 6 feet high. Use each ofthese heights to determine the height of the top of thepumpjack in the photo.

2d. The pumpjack is shown at the lowest point in itscycle. To pump the oil out of the ground, it will riseabout the length of the horse’s head (marked on thephotograph). How high do you estimate the top ofthe pumpjack reaches when it is at the highest pointin its cycle?

Workplace Reader 23

Checking Groceries – Chapter 1

In this activity, you have practised combining multiple pieces of information inparagraph format. This skill is useful in many occupations. For example:

• Airline Sales and Service Agents read bulletins about customer serviceissues and changes in customer policy.

• Campground Operators read rules of the campground to guests toguide their actions in the campground, and read insurance policies todetermine extent of coverage.

• Shippers and Receivers read policy manuals to learn about shippingprocedures for various companies.

What are youlooking for?

What are youlooking at?

How will youfind the

information?

How will youcheck your

answer?

Practice QuestionQuestion 4The following situations are considered theft in theGuidelines to Successful Employment. Which policynumber refers to each situation?

a) An employee decides to sample the new flavours ofjelly beans in the bulk food section.

policy item ________

b) A supplier is offering a free toy with each purchaseof a certain cereal. The cashier takes a toy home forher nephew without buying the cereal.

policy item _________

THINKABOUT…

The answers to Activity 2 are at the end of the chapter.