Training materials. The Key Skills Assignment: An Assignment to Cover all Six Key Skills for Both Levels 2 and 3

Citation

(2003), "Training materials. The Key Skills Assignment: An Assignment to Cover all Six Key Skills for Both Levels 2 and 3", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445cad.002

Training materials. The Key Skills Assignment: An Assignment to Cover all Six Key Skills for Both Levels 2 and 3

Training materials

The Key Skills Assignment: An Assignment to Cover all Six Key Skills for Both Levels 2 and 3

Anthony J. MichaelGowerISBN 0 566 08453 8£65

In the UK "key skills" are now established as an essential aspect of all students' learning – and yet the way in which these can be taught and developed often remains something of a mystery. The six common, or key skill areas, are information technology; application of number; problem solving; communication; working with others; and improving own learning and performance. These materials purport to provide an integrated approach, enabling all six of the key skill areas to be tackled together. The pack is also designed so that, as far as possible, any type of key skills candidate, from sixth form to modern apprentice, can work effectively on his or her own.

The Key Skills Assignment is divided into a series of tasks for students to complete and in doing so successfully they will illustrate, de facto, their attainment of Level 2 or 3. The main tasks deal with research, surveys and reports; analysis, interpretation and calculation; and learning, presentation and evaluation. The theme of health and safety is chosen as the "vehicle" through which to integrate all six key skill areas. So, for example, one of the assignment scenarios is a small snack bar where a number of incidents over recent months may have health and safety implications. The student's task is to analyse a set of data and provide a report to the cafe's owners. Whilst the health and safety theme is a useful integrative device it nevertheless may have become somewhat "flogged to death" by the time all assignments are completed.

In the main, the pack provides clear guidance and instructions for both tutors and students. One aspect which I felt was somewhat sparsely addressed was the distinction between levels 2 and 3 and I would be surprised if this were not an issue which warranted greater clarity and support when the materials are put into practice. Instructions for tutors incorporate templates of sample forms (achievement grids, activity logs, witness statements, etc.) and the scenarios for the students to work upon. These scenarios are also presented on a disk which is included in the materials. Importantly, the disk contains a range of data sets to support the assignment tasks. Essentially this is spreadsheet information (in both MS Excel and Lotus formats) which enables the tutor to produce an unlimited number of different data sets for students. In this way it is hoped to enhance validity and discourage collusion and copying.

Overall, the materials are well designed. The scenarios provide a thoughtful and realistic view of the importance of key skills in the real world. Whilst I suspect rather more support may be required than is anticipated by the author the materials nevertheless offer a potentially very valuable tool to the overworked tutor.