The student-focused bilingual AWAL project was developed as a way to bring the Essential Skills Research, not just to teachers, but also to students. This project, building on the work of the Pathways to Employability Multi-Board Consortium1, developed a classroom resource which exposes students in Grades 7-12 to the theory behind the Essential Skills on a variety of occasions so that this language becomes meaningful, informative and commonplace. In its design, the resource ensures that students will not just hear it and speak it; they will live it and experience it through continued, deliberate, and explicit practice and application.
A third-party evaluator conducted initial research through an environmental scan. The research focused on teachers’ understanding of the Essential Skills and queried them as to how best to implement a Student AWAL program that is replicable and sustainable. This research was shared with the resource developer prior to designing this Student AWAL resource book.
This student-focused AWAL resource book was designed as a graduated AWAL experience for students in Grades 7-12. It is divided into four sections:
1. Introductory Level
This graduated experience begins as an introduction, which provides the necessary foundation for all activities.
The purpose of these activities is to provide students with opportunities to explore and familiarize themselves
with the HRSDC website so they have a foundation in the Essential Skills Research and are then able to
apply this knowledge as they progress through the next three levels. These activities are strongly
recommended for all students if they have not received any prior Essential Skills training.
2. Beginner Level
Beginner level activities were designed for students in grades 7-8. These activities are generally more simplistic
and gradually introduce students to Essential Skills within a variety of their courses. Some of the activities are
visually-based projects which allow for classroom displays that act as constant reminders of Essential Skills throughout the school-day and the school-year. They can act as a visual cue and an excellent teaching tool
when referring back to previous activities that incorporate the Essential Skills.
3. Intermediate Level
Intermediate level activities were designed for students in grades 9-10. At this level, there is a broad range of
activities that focus on the reflective and/or kinesthetic components of experiential learning. Although many
of the activities may seem subject specific, they provide a model for the infusion of the Essential Skills that all
teachers could use in their subject areas.
4. Expert Level (Grades 11-12)
Expert level activities were designed for students in grades 11-12. At this level, students are encouraged to
work more independently and in small group structures. Assignments are designed to challenge students’
abilities and skills and provide them with an opportunity to teach others about the Essential Skills and selfevaluate
their own performances and demonstrations of skills. Many expert activities focus on a higher degree
of involvement from community partners, which provides critical relevancy for senior students.
Return to note 1 Pathways to Employability is an Ontario multi-board consortium pilot project of the Waterloo Region District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, District School Board of Niagara and Limestone District School Board to document, design, implement and evaluate school-work transition (SWT) programs leading workplace destination students to entry-level employment in the areas of: Auto/Truck Services, Business Support and Retail Services, Construction Technology, Horticulture and Landscaping, Hospitality, Tourism, Personal Care Services and Printing.