Module 3 – Curriculum
Workplace Skills
One of the main goals for adult literacy learners is often employment. Learners who have never had a job may be asking for assistance with skills necessary for getting work. Some may be trying to improve skills to obtain better-paying jobs or jobs with benefits. Those who have a good job may need to learn new skills in order to keep the job or advance. Even those who state they want a GED often want one to get a job, improve their employment, or keep their current job.
While literacy skills in math, reading and writing are generally important in the workplace, employers look for far more. To support adults with employment-related goals effectively, instructors need to be familiar with the competencies expected by all employers as well as resources for teaching those skills. They may need to assist students with skills necessary to obtain employment and even instruct them in skills specific to their particular workplace.
Consider various jobs you have held – in particular, jobs you held early in life, or ones where you were asked to learn or use completely new skills:
- What did you do to get those jobs? What do you think impressed the employer at the beginning?
- How did you feel about work in these early jobs? What was it like trying to learn new skills while at the same time being new on the job?
- What were some of the early lessons learned from these jobs? What skills did you learn at these jobs that seemed important for most jobs?
- What supports or resources, if any, did you find to help you become more confident and competent on the job?
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On your worksheet, make some notes about skills needed to be successful in the workplace. Then state why you think these skills are important to you as an instructor, and for adult learners. |
Click "Next" below or a specific topic on the outline to the left to continue.
Workforce and workplace education for adults is quite a large topic. Only a brief overview of the issues, skills, and curricula is included in this course. If this topic is of strong interest to you, be sure to review the links “For Further Study” in the Workforce Skills sections.