9 • Institute for Work & Health (IWH)
• Determine which essential skills are key to performing the job tasks targeted by a training
program, as well as the complexity level associated with each of the essential skills required
to do the job.
• Consider any gaps in the foundational skills trainees may have that prevent them from being
'ready to learn' the training content.
• Keep essential skills assessments under one hour to reduce frustration and fatigue among
trainees doing the assessments. (In our pilot study, we tested for document use and
numeracy skills. Some trainees took two hours to complete the test, which was frustrating to
them.)
Quick Tips
Once a candidate program is identified, it is a good idea, if resources permit, to conduct a
test of the key essential skills of one or more groups of trainees under the current program.
This test can be done online (for a fee) through providers of workplace ES assessments (e.g.
Essential Skills Group, Bow Valley College).
Going Beyond
Review your training programs to determine which ones have a large proportion of trainees
who are expected to have gaps in essential skills relative to the requirements of the job.
These are likely the most suitable for embedding ES curriculum.
Talk to program instructors about candidate training programs because they tend to be
familiar with the typical skill levels of trainees. Also consider the level of education required by
occupations targeted by training programs. Occupations that do not require a post-secondary
credential are more likely to have workers with gaps in essential skills.
Identify a training program in which to
embed essential skills curriculum
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