Tools for the Trade: A Guide to Success in Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a unique combination of on-the-job training and technical training. Success in apprenticeship depends on many things—essential skills such as reading text, using documents and solving mathematical problems; personal characteristics and attitudes; and job-related skills. Tools for the Trade is written for individuals considering or completing an apprenticeship in the building trades or other settings. It addresses a number of issues specific to apprenticeship. A problem solving model and strategies are introduced. Essential skills as they relate to success in apprenticeship are explained. There is also an opportunity to evaluate skills. The final chapter discusses attitudes and behaviours as keys to success. Tools for the Trade points apprentices in the direction of lifelong learning in their careers and is a major contribution to the apprenticeship tool box.

Document Literacy: A Guide for Workplace Educators and Instructors

This publication is intended for workplace educators teaching basic skills in the workplace, to provide some ideas for developing learning activities for document literacy. It familiarizes educators with the complexities of document use and assists them in preparing adult learners for the document literacy demands of the workplace. In the course of their working day, most workers will use documents such as entry forms, catalogues, and graphic representations. Many are printed on paper, but others appear only on a computer screen. Document Literacy uses authentic workplace documents as examples to describe documents and the distinctive cognitive processes that are needed to use them.

Language of Documents: A Guide to Information Display in the Workplace

A sequel to Document Literacy, this publication demonstrates the visual and organizational features that distinguish among document types, and the transferable features of reading documents. It provides document examples appropriate for some workplace education settings which could also be models for adaptation, and establishes a common language for talking about documents. Some scripted lessons are included.

TOWES — The Test of Workplace Essential Skills

TOWES is the Test of Workplace Essential Skills, an accurate measure of three basic skills that are essential for employment: reading text, document use and numeracy. The skills that TOWES measures are essential because they form the foundation for satisfactory job performance. They are the skills foundational to learning new skills.

TOWES uses authentic workplace documents – such as catalogues, order forms, labels, schematics, regulations and manuals – as the source materials for problem sets. About 20 problem sets are selected to create a pen and paper test that requires up to two hours to complete. Questions mimic actual workplace tasks. The test-taker assumes the role of a worker who needs to use information embedded in documents to complete the task. Scores are referenced to the requirements of the occupation(s) for which the test is designed.