THE ONTARIO SKILLS PASSPORT!

Every young person needs to have a skills passport which details the skills they are developing. The Ontario Skills Passport is a great model, which identifies the essential skills and work habits needed for work, learning and life.

The skills included in the Ontario Skills Passport are broken down into three core areas: 

LITERACY

• Reading Text: The comprehension of text consisting of sentences and paragraphs. 
• Writing: The preparation of written materials for a variety of purposes. 
• Document Use: The use of labels, lists, signs, graphs, charts, tables, forms, and other similar materials. 
• Computer Use: The use of any type of computerized technology. 
• Oral Communication: The use of speech for a variety of purposes. 

NUMERACY 

• Money Math: The use of mathematical skills in making financial transactions, such as handling cash, preparing bills, and making payments. 
• Scheduling or Budgeting and Accounting: Planning for the best use of time and money, as well as monitoring of the use of time and money. 
• Measurement and Calculation: The measurement and calculation of quantities, areas, volumes, and/or distances. 
• Data Analysis: The collection and analysis of data in numerical form. 
• Numerical Estimation: The production of estimates in numerical terms. 

THINKING SKILLS 

• Job Task Planning and Organizing: The planning and organization of one’s own work. 
• Decision Making: The making of any type of decision, using appropriate information. 
• Problem Solving: The identification and solving of problems. 
• Finding Information: The use of a variety of sources, including written text, people, computerized databases, and information systems.

The Ontario Skills Passport also includes a section on work habits, since it is important for everyone in the work force to have good work habits as well as the appropriate skills. 

The work habits included in the Ontario Skills Passport are:
WORKING SAFELY

• Working in a manner that prevents injury to self and others 
• Reporting unsafe conditions 
• Participating in health and safety training, as required 
• Using and wearing all required protective equipment and devices 

TEAMWORK

• Working willingly with others 
• Showing respect for the ideas and opinions of others 
• Taking responsibility for his or her share of the work 
• Contributing to the team effort by sharing information, resources, and expertise 

RELIABILITY

• Being punctual 
• Following directions 
• Giving attention to detail 
• Using time effectively and producing work on time 
• Acting in accordance with health and safety practices 

ORGANISATION

• Organising work priorities when faced with a number of tasks 
• Devising and following a coherent plan to complete a task 
• Revising the plan when necessary to complete a task or to make improvements 

WORKING INDEPENDENTLY

• Accomplishing tasks independently 
• Independently selecting, evaluating, and using appropriate materials, tools, resources, and activities 
• Using prior knowledge and experience to solve problems and make decisions 

INITIATIVE

• Beginning and completing tasks with little prompting 
• Approaching new tasks with confidence and a positive attitude 
• Seeking assistance when necessary 

SELF-ADVOCACY

• Asking questions and seeking clarification, where appropriate 
• Identifying and making use of appropriate resources and support when needed 
• Being proactive regarding individual rights and responsibilities, where appropriate 

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Listening effectively to determine and meet clients’ needs 
• Interacting positively with both co-workers and clients/customers 
• Endeavouring to meet and exceed expectations 
• Creating a positive impression of the company or organization 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Recognizing and acting on opportunities 
• Showing perseverance 
• Being innovative and creative 
• Being versatile and resourceful

There is an extensive web-site with case studies, tool kits and resources linked to occupations and tasks. The passport is structured to support workplace learning, learning in school and college and lifelong learning with a database that contains sample workplace tasks for 390 occupations, grouped by essential skill and skill level.