What is the baseline knowledge for embedding literacy and numeracy? 7 Essential Knowledge Areas

What is the baseline knowledge for embedding literacy and numeracy? 7 Essential Knowledge Areas

Baseline skills and knowledge for embedding literacy and numeracy

Is it possible to outline a set of baseline skills and knowledge for embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational and other training? I think it is. My context here is New Zealand trades and vocational training, but I think that this applies in other contexts and countries as well.

I’m going to expand on this at a later stage, but for us in New Zealand delivering training at levels 1 to 3 on our curriculum framework implies that literacy and numeracy is embedded… this is just by definition of the fact that it’s low level training.

What kind of tutors are we talking about?

All trades and vocational trainers, tutors, teachers and others need a certain baseline of skills and knowledge to do this. These tutors, are, by and large, defined by the following characteristics.

  • Not academic
  • Suspicious of anything academic
  • Practical
  • Relational
  • Used to working with their hands

Tutors and trainers like this need professional development that is practical and responsive to what they already know. They are, after all, already subject experts in their own fields. They don’t need to be turned into literacy and numeracy rocket scientists.

Seven essential knowledge areas

They do need certain baseline skills and knowledge. Our friends at LiteracyNumeracyPro.com designed the simple info graphic illustrating this post to show what we see as the seven essential knowledge areas for tutors, trainers and others involved in embedding literacy and numeracy

This graphic does a great job of bringing together two different frameworks. One is the Three Knowings framework used by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) in their resources and materials.

The other framework is our interpretation of the one used by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) in the design of unit standards and qualifications for professional development in the field of adult literacy and numeracy education (ALNE).

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What is Learner-Centred Teaching – 12 Concepts from Te Ao Māori You Should Embrace to Create Learning Success

Discover time-honoured approaches to learner-centred teaching

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Three Simple Approaches You Need for Learner-Centred Teaching

Find out more about three of the fundamentals of adult teaching

Have you ever thought about how to improve your teaching? Have you ever wondered what it takes to create learner success in any teaching environment? Well, you need three things. Make that four things… You need to:

  • Understand what people mean when they talk about “learner-centred” teaching.
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Author: Graeme Smith

THIS IS GRAEME I write and teach about practical education, professional growth and cultural insights. I also make music. Available for inspiration, innovation, creation and education consulting and advisory work in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

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