This is the workbook for the second module of the “Essential Skills for Personal Success!” curriculum. It focuses on skills for managing health, including reading health information pamphlets, filling in a medical history form and applying for a health card. The authors also discuss the specific health challenges of losing weight and quitting smoking.
Open and distance educational institutions share a commitment to principles of access and flexibility which, in turn, reflect a set of foundational beliefs that shape learning activity. Housed within this broad mandate is an explicit recognition of the presence and value of mature learners’ prior learning.
While the recognition of prior learning at post-secondary institutions in Canada is not widely practiced, it constitutes a solid plank in Athabasca University's mission as an open and distance institution. Although both challenge-for-credit and portfolio assessment strategies are used at AU, learners are best able to control their destinies and celebrate their diversities by engaging in the reflexive portfolio processes.
In this literature review, the author outlines the relationship of family math and family literacy, explores the importance of play in developing early skills, and traces the mathematical development of early childhood. She reviews several large and small scale family math programs, and discusses common findings as to what makes these programs successful.
WWestnet conceived and organized Expo 06 in an effort to engage businesses from across western Canada in an essential skills event that would focus on best practices in the development, delivery and assessment of integrated workplace based training initiatives. Expo 06 showcased workplace projects and programs that integrate essential skills development into training and daily work.
This report has been prepared for distribution to all participating program practitioners. We anticipate that these research findings will promote a better understanding within the literacy community of the common struggles practitioners face when working with adults who have learning disabilities and hope it will lead to increased knowledge of the most effective resources and approaches for teaching these learners.
"The Boys' and Girls' Literacy: Closing the Gap" project is unique in that it aims to develop strategies that would particularly have a positive impact on boys' literacy. This holds substantial merit in that the strategies and methodologies selected to address the literacy performance of boys would not disadvantage girls. These strategies included literature circles, male mentors, and providing boy-friendly reading materials.