The Process of Integrating Essential Skills into Curricula
and Programs

Summary

• Identify and research the occupations to be included in the program
• Examine the profiles and determine which workplace essential skills are to be included.
• Gather authentic workplace materials.Gather authentic workplace materials.

• Remember – when you teach a workplace essential skill, always start with a skill that is familiar from a different context first.
• For example:
  • Use food tin labels and then move to chemical product labels.
  • Use car registration regulations before moving to manufacturing regulations.
  • Use city and province maps before moving to geophysical maps.
  • Use familiar schematics such as bus route maps before moving to workplace schematics.

• Examine the existing course outline.
• Identify where and how the essential skills should be added or spliced in
• Design curriculum that incorporates workplace essential skills instruction and uses authentic workplace materials

Destination In Sight

• If we are going to have training programs, we need to include the workplace essential skills that will give learners the foundation to succeed.
• I would hope that participants will be able to return to their colleges and institutions and promote the inclusion of workplace essential skills into the career and training programs offered.
• You may need to seek out the help of essential skills consultants to get started.
• I hope I have been able to shed some light on how to do it. I truly believe that workplace essential skills should and can be integrated into curriculum.