Evaluate_a_Range_of_Ways_to_Embed_Elements_of_Functional_Skills_in_Your_Specialist_Area.

First we should define what the Functional Skills are. The functional skills are essential skills in Language, Mathematics and ICT that enable us to deal with life’s everyday challenges. We tend to be faced with practical issues at work, home, leisure, education shopping… For example, they help us: • recognize value for money in all aspects of life • filling in a job application by hand or online • using a bank ATM It is about using Language, Mathematics and ICT to be a productive member of society. Functional skills are key to being successful. As one improves their functional skills, they will find more doors open in education life and work. In the employment sector, these skills will be valued and used by employers as a platform to build on. This is also true if the learner is continuing in Education. Learners that have developed their “functional skills” are better able to apply their knowledge of Language, Mathematics and ICT in tackling the day-to-day problems that arise. As per Geoff Petty (2009:471) the following steps should be taken to incorporate functional skills into teaching: • Assessment requirements for the skills to be embedded should be conducted as per set standards of the examining body • Skills to be embedded should be identified in alignment to the nature of the subject taught • The amount of practice required for each skill should be decided roughly to ensure practical implementation • Opportunities within the content should be utilized to ensure the students learn both the subject and the skills. A key characteristic in appreciating IT based classes is having sound problem solving skills that are built on sound functional skills. Language, Mathematics and ICT are the building blocks of the very powerful tool; Problem-Solving. In the words of Ken Watanabe (2009), “Problem-solving kids (people) don’t just reach their goals faster; they evolve faster, too. They check out the impact of their actions and try to learn from their successes as well as their failures”. PBL or Problem Based Learning better prepares students to apply their learning to real-world situations. This in tern will help students develop communication, reasoning and critical reasoning skills. By developing problems that: • Capture students’ interest by relating to real-world issues • Draw on students’ previous learning and experience • Necessitate that students do some independent research to gather all information relevant to the problem …and designing assessment tools that: • Account for process (e.g. research, collaboration) as well as content skills • Are closely tied to course learning objectives • Balance individual and group performance …the instructor will help embed the learner’s functional skills and problem solving abilities for ICT and other lessons. References: 1) Geoff Petty (2009) Teaching Today (ISBN 1408504154 ) – Nelson Thornes Ltd 2) Ken Watanabe (2009) Problem Solving 101 (ISBN 978-1-101-02918-3) – Penguin Books