Ptlls_Theory_5

Name: Andrew Grainger Course: PTLLS Tuesday Night Tutor: Roberta Hall Theory Task 5 (Level 4) – Explain ways to embed elements of Functional Skills in your specialist area. Functional Skills are commonly referred to as the core skills in English, Maths and ICT. Developed to replace Key Skills, Functional Skills are seen as being vital in helping students gain useful, transferable skills in Maths, English and IT which will help prepare them for employment or further learning. Functional Skills can be delivered as a ‘stand alone’ qualification, or as part of (or along side) other academic or vocational qualifications such Modern Apprenticeships or Diplomas. The delivery methods for functional skills can vary between colleges, schools and training providers – there is no right or wrong way to deliver them, but each method can have its advantages and disadvantages. The main methods are: • Discrete. This is where functional skills are delivered separately from the students other subjects, usually by a dedicated team of functional skills tutors. |Advantages: |Disadvantages: | |Easier to track learners progress |Learners do not see the relevance of functional skills to their| | |learning | |Dedicated functional skills tutor/s |Learning may lack context with subject area | | |Can have poor attendance – students do not see the importance | | |of functional skills | • Embedded. This is where functional skills are taught by tutors within the students usual study programme using opportunities within that study for functional skills. Wilson (2008:45) defines this well: ‘Embedding means that functional skills are taught within the main subject topic in a seamless way.’ |Advantages: |Disadvantages: | |Learners see the relevance of functional skills as it is part |More difficult to track progress | |of their chosen subject areas. | | |Attendance no problem – part of usual study classes |If student is doing more than one subject functional skills may| | |be repeated | |Do not have to timetable extra lessons in |Tutors may not be experts in functional skills and be | | |uncomfortable with their delivery | |Due to relevance and attendance achievements generally higher | | |No need to ‘contextualize’ functional skills as they are part | | |of regular study pattern | | There can also be a mixture of the two methods, with functional skills taught by specialists within the context of the learners usual study programme in conjunction with other subject tutors. This is usually referred to as partly embedding. Wilson (2008:45) and Scales (2008:255) both agree that embedding functional skills is the favorable way from a learners perspective and also that integrating functional skills into the subject areas needn’t be difficult given a little planning and thought: ‘(The skills) are best acquired when embedded. There are so many instances when embedding is natural and easy’. – (Scales) Wilson argues that every teaching and learning activity has the potential for embedding functional skills and uses an example of a catering student to demonstrate this: ‘A catering student baking a cake will have to: • Read the recipe • Calculate the time the task will take • Measure the ingredients • Talk to the teacher • Talk to other learners • Solve problems’ The student above has carried out their normal curriculum activity, but has used skills which can be measured against functional skills. Functional skills can be embedded in most vocational areas in this way, thus putting them into context and removing the fear of ‘doing’ Maths and English. In my role as a Key/ Functional Skills Tutor working with Electricians I do not deliver the main aspect of students learning (Technical Certificate, done elsewhere), and so cannot embed their Maths and English as in the examples above. I have therefore had to develop ways of delivery which contextualize the subjects for the students. This is a case of discrete delivery of Maths, English and ICT, but using the students subject area to keep it as real and relevant to them as possible. In Maths for example the students are given a plan of a house and a customer specification and are required to put a quote together for the work. This involves: • Estimating cable runs • Working out floor areas • Calculating time and labour costs • Calculating a percentage profit mark up • Pricing materials and working out a total cost etc. etc. Similar strategies are used for English - for example producing a report on electrical safety or ‘Part P’ and writing to a customer with a quotation for the job, and also ICT – preparing a business letterhead in Word for example. In conclusion it is generally agreed that the delivery of functional skills is best for the learner when embedded, however if this is not possible (as with myself) we need to be creative in keeping the delivery as real and in context as possible to keep them relevant and interesting to the learner. This in turn leads to higher attendance and achievement rates which is the desired outcome. Word Count: 782 References: Scales P (2008) Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector 2nd edition, Open University Press Wilson, L (2008) Practical Teaching, Melody Dawes http://www.qcda.gov.uk/qualifications/functional-skills