Essential Skills- Ontario Skills Passport

The Ontario Skills Passport web site is an amazing, in-depth and "essential" resource for all of our programs.

The Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) provides clear descriptions of the Essential Skills and work habits important for work, learning and life. Essential Skills are used in virtually all occupations and are transferable from school to work, job to job and sector to sector.
The OSP offers high school students, adult learners, job seekers, workers, employers, teachers, trainers, practitioners, job developers and counsellors a common language, resources and tools that help build competence, confidence and connections.

To watch an insightful tutorial on the OSP website, click on the link below:

http://skills.edu.gov.on.ca/OSPWeb/jsp/en/OSPWebcast.jsp

At the Ontario Literacy Coalition annual conference, I was thoroughly impressed with the presentation on the OSP. Although the focus of the passport is work-related, there will be additional resources added relating to life and independence in the near future.

TOEFL PREPARTATION

This is a great site for self- assessment in the different areas of the TOEFL test.

There was an update on pbwiki about BCPS and their web 2.0 activities. They have a version of 23 things and a wiki about teaching thoughtful learners. Please take a look at the wikis.

GOOD QUESTIONS

1. "Tell me why you're here"
"Can you show me what you've been working on?"
"What brought you to the learning centre?"

Things to show her and talk about:
A: Goal sheet / page - this shows her all the things you would like to work on at the learning centre.
B: Some of your work (things that you're most proud of)
C: Training Plan - this shows her what you are working on now.


2. "How do you know you're achieving your goals?"
"How do you know you're getting better?"
"How do you know you're showing progress?"

Things to show her and talk about:
A: Progress Sheet - this shows her the skills that you have acquired since coming to the program.
B: Any demonstrations - these "demonstrate" that you have reached a short term goal.
C: Training plans - changes to your training plans / more training plans once you have reached a goal show that you are moving on.


3. "Do you feel that you have enough hours / time at the learning centre?"


4. "Do you have access to the computers?"
"Do you use the computer?"
"What kinds of things do you use the computer for?"
i.e. learning software, internet, email, research, learn 2.0, facebook

5. "Do you use other things besides text books for study purposes?" (especially if employment is goal) i.e. computers, cash registers, calculators, phone books, log books, manuals, checkbooks, pay stubs, bills, etc.

Note: This would be a good post for ALC Updates.
Stock.xchng: Jay Lopez