ESSENTIAL SKILLS
CURRICULUM GUIDEBOOKPage 109- Curriculum Resources
Three types of resources are identified in the curriculum guidelines: non-contextualized,
contextualized, and technical. These resources have been listed throughout the
guidelines. It is not intended that instructors use all of the resources outlined but,
instead, choose material and deliver its content as it best suits individual learner needs.
Non-contextualized resources are not related to any trade or occupation. These
resources may be used to review the competencies in a stand-alone manner before
transferring the skill to trade-related materials. They can be useful when learners have
identified literacy challenges or when basic strategies need to be understood before
applying them to higher order learning.
Contextualized resources provide Essential Skills applications in the context of a
specific trade or occupation and are generally written at a more basic level than technical
materials. They are particularly useful when learners have identified Essential Skills gaps
but can only identify relevance/motivation to the task if it is related to their specific
trade.
Technical resources are trades training materials from which Essential Skills can be
extracted. These resources are written at a higher reading level than non-contextualized
and contextualized resources and can often be found in block release training and college
trade programs. Generally, learners who would benefit from these materials have few
Essential Skills gaps in their learning.
- Preparation and Delivery
Instructors will be provided with a complete copy of the Essential Skills Frameworks
associated with the trades/courses for which they are responsible. Instructors will use
essential skills assessment information to build a learning session for one client or a
group of clients.
The instructor will be required to prepare lesson plans as a tool to organize and plan the
delivery of training. A lesson plan template in included in Appendix A. A brief description
of each section of the lesson plan is included in the attached template to serve as a
guide. The instructor may add additional notes and documents as required. Completed
lesson plans should be kept on file to provide continuity in subsequent sessions.
It is important to note that, even though objectives and competencies progress from
least to most difficult, instruction need not move in a linear fashion. In recognition of
their prior knowledge, learners may begin their study at any objective in the curriculum
frameworks, may not require instruction in all of the competencies in each band, and/or
may simultaneously complete competencies in all six Essential Skill curriculum
frameworks.