Functional_Skills

Evaluate a range of ways to embed elements of Functional Skills, in your specialist area. Functional skills are the essential English, mathematics and ICT skills that will enable learners to deal with everyday situations and practical problems in education, in work and in their everyday lives. Learners will be expected to use these skills confidently, effectively and independently, and to be able to transfer them to a range of different situations and contexts in their learning, work and everyday lives. These are vital skills that will enable learners to achieve, to progress and to develop their employability skills. (LSIS, 2011) Examples of the current situation regarding functional skills are - “5 million adults in the UK cannot read the yellow pages” “7 million adults cannot work out the correct amount of medicine to give a child from the label on a packet” (Francis & Gould, 2009, pg158) This research illustrates the importance of functional skills and the wolf report, whilst not quoting functional skills, reinforces this need. The government response to this was “Good qualifications in English and maths are what employers demand” (Gove, 2011) The City & Guilds website states that there are four ways to embed functional skills into your area, but these are the main two we use in motor vehicle. Mostly embedded: taught by functional skills specialists with reinforcement and application through a range of purposeful contexts developed and applied across the programme. (City & Guilds, 2011 This technique is used for mainly first year students who need specialist teaching to prepare them for exams and their primary learning goals. Fully embedded: taught, developed and applied across the learning programme by all teachers using naturally occurring opportunities for functional skill development. (City & Guilds, 2011) This technique is used for those students who have demonstrated their ability with functional skills and do not require specialist teaching, having reached a required level in proceeding years it enables them to build upon their prior learning. English In the Motor Vehicle environment Functional Skills English is essential, for example the writing of curriculum vitae’s, job cards and vehicle reports, the use of handouts for the learners to complete, and even down to the simple need to identify tool types and sizes. Mathematics Mathematics is embedded into all motor vehicle lessons and is used for example in the calculation of gear ratios, the measurement of MOT braking efficiency, the adding and division for wheel alignment, the use of measuring equipment and the identification of fixings. ICT Functional skills ICT has become an integral part of the industry as the modern vehicle is technologically advanced and the need to use specialist equipment is required. The correct use of software packages is taught to access vehicle technical data, and use of diagnostic equipment and code readers. Bibliography LSIS (2011) Excellence gateway, Functional skills, available at http://tlp.excellencegateway.org.uk/tlp/fs/fs-resources/front.php Francis. M, Gould. J, (2009), Achieving your PTLLS Award (first edition), London, SAGE Publications ltd. City & Guilds, (2011), Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) available at http://www.anqdevelopment1-linux.co.uk/04-TheoryTasks/Theory5.htm Gove, M. (Education secretary), (2011), BBC News – Teenagers must stick at English and maths, Wolf report, London, BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13366871