ESSENTIAL SKILLS
CURRICULUM GUIDEBOOK
- Introduction
The Curriculum Guidebook is designed to provide support and practical advice to
instructors who are delivering Essential Skills training, as well as to those who wish to
incorporate Essential Skills into technical training. Currently, this Guidebook has been
prepared for thirteen trades; however, the template can be adapted for use in any trade.
The thirteen trades include:
Automotive Service Technician
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Cook
Construction Electrician
Industrial Electrician
Machinist
Metal Fabricator
Oil Burner Mechanic
Plumber
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
Steamfitter-Pipefitter
Welder
- Why Essential Skills?
Essential Skills are needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for
learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to
workplace change.
Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and
international agencies have identified and validated nine essential skills. These skills are
used in every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways.
Reading Text
Document Use
The Trade Essentials curriculum materials
currently uses six of these Essential Skills:
Reading, Document Use, Numeracy,
Oral Communication, Writing and
Computer Use
Numeracy
Oral Communication
Writing
Computer Use
Thinking Skills
Working with Others
Continuous Learning
For more information on Essential Skills, visit the website at
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/essentialskills
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