Return to the Forest Discovery Guide Menu
Digging into the
Discovery Box
Forest Discovery Guide Online /
Skills for the Future
Main Ideas
- There are numerous career opportunities available in modern forestry
- A variety of skills are essential to succeed in today's world
- There is a need to become life-long learners
Synopsis
Today's changing world requires individuals who are energetic, adaptable
and willing to work hard.
Employers are looking for people who are able to make decisions independently as well as in a team environment. The co-operative learning activities taking place in today's classrooms will prepare students well for the world of work.
A productive, fulfilling future, both personally and professionally, requires strong academic, personal and teamwork skills.
Skills for the Future highlights these concepts while examining the many
career opportunities available in the forest industry.
Video Brief
Scene 1
Skills for the Future: an introduction
Scene 2
The business world: a global perspective
Scene 3
Training for the future: co-operative and personal skills
Scene 4
Getting and keeping a job
Scene 5
Decision-making and problem solving: at work and school
Scene 6
Forestry careers: training & education required
Scene 7
Small business in the forests: entrepreneurship
Scene 8
It's a wrap!
Ready. . .
Before viewing. . .
Using the Employability Skills Profile (blackline master and overhead included)
discuss academic, personal and teamwork skills.
- Compare classroom activities to workplace.
- How do these skills relate to you?
Set. . .
While viewing Skills for the Future, ask students to note what employers
say about the skills people need to be hired, and be prepared to discuss
them.
Go!
The following activities and resources are designed to complement this video.
They are not intended as an exhaustive list of things to do, merely as a
starting point. Please add your own activities - others will be grateful
you did!
Digging into the Discovery Box
1.Using the pamphlets provided, brainstorm to identify the many career opportunities
available in forestry, the forest industry and in the production of value-added
goods.
2. Think about the number of people who would have been involved in planning, creating and assembling the Forest Discovery Box and its contents. How would teamwork have played a role in its production?
- Teacher's note:
- The following were actually involved in the production of these resources: educators, foresters, students, biologists, artists, writers, technicians, editors, translators, naturalists, printers, secretaries, managers, company owners, communications officers, public relations experts, graphic artists, mill workers, mill managers, box manufacturers, videographers, audio mixers, actors, photographers, script writers, genetic scientists . . .
- The following were actually involved in the production of these resources: educators, foresters, students, biologists, artists, writers, technicians, editors, translators, naturalists, printers, secretaries, managers, company owners, communications officers, public relations experts, graphic artists, mill workers, mill managers, box manufacturers, videographers, audio mixers, actors, photographers, script writers, genetic scientists . . .
Across the Curriculum
1. Follow-along activity sheets (2 versions & answer key)
2. Problem-Solving Activity (Problem-solving/Guidance)
3. Career Capers (Language Arts)
4. Personally Speaking! (Language Arts/Health)
5. Collage yourself! (Language Arts/Health)
6. Find-a-word (2 versions & answer key)
7. Crossword puzzle (& answer key) Skills for the Future follow-along
#1
Skills for the Future - follow-along #1
Name: __________________________
Follow along carefully as you watch Skills for the Future. Fill in the blanks with key vocabulary words found in the video.
- The world is changing so much, how can we possibly know what career to prepare for? Companies today are looking for a number of skills in the people they hire. _______________ and other high-tech equipment keep getting better so companies can get more finished product for less effort or with fewer people. Most companies don't have any choice about this if they are going to stay _______________.
- While we can't always identify the careers which will be available in ten years, we do know what types of _______________ will be important.
- There are _______________ and technical skills. As well, there are other skills which we call cooperative and _______________ skills.
- Business and industry require people with a positive _______________ about themselves and others they work with. Employers also want people who have _______________ and enthusiasm. Also, employees need to be_______________.
- To get and keep a job in the forest industry (or in any kind of work environment!) people need to be _______________, adapt to changes and be willing to _______________ new things.
- People are discovering that they must always be learning and adapting to constant change.
- Two important skills identified by one manager are the ability to make good _______________ and the ability to solve _______________.
- Students interested in a career in forestry can go to university to take a degree in _______________, engineering, or a basic _______________ degree. There are also lots of _______________ opportunities in the forest industry. Students can receive training at community colleges.
- The changes happening in the forest industry with respect to jobs and
the skills required are also happening in other industries, too. School
is just the first stage of the learning we're going to be doing throughout
our lives. The _______________ holds all sorts of possibilities if we're
prepared to stretch our minds a bit!
Skills for the Future - follow-along #2
Name: ______________________________
Fill in the blanks while you watch the video Skills for the Future. You may choose from the vocabulary provided below.
- attitude
future
skills
learn
problem
decisions
computers
- _________________ and other "high-tech" equipment are used to help companies compete better.
- We need to have a lot of ___________________ in order to get jobs.
- Businesses want people to have a positive __________________ if they
- are to go to work for them.
- To get and keep a job in the forest industry, workers need to
- adapt to changes and be willing to __________________ new things.
- Managers want people with the ability to make good __________________ and the the ability to solve___________________.
- The ____________ holds all sorts of possibilities if we are willing
to keep on learning and "stretch" our minds!
Suggestions for Classroom Activities
Employability Skills Profile
Use the "Employability Skills Profile" and overhead transparencies
(included in this resource guide) as a framework for discussion with your
students. As you discuss the three categories of skills compare the skills
required by employers with those used every day in the classroom. For example,
when students are involved in a group project, how many of these skills
would be required?
Problem Solving Activity
This activity may be done either individually or in groups. Provide each
student or group with the blackline master of the activity included on problem-solving.
Discuss the steps outlined for solving a problem. The studentsmay then go
to work on one of the problems outlined in the activity, or, as an alternative,
your class may come up with some possible problems which might exist in
the classroom or in an imaginary work setting.
Take time to hear the solutions your students have developed.
Employability Skills Profile:
The Critical Skills Required of Today's Workforce
Academic Skills
Those skills which provide the basic foundation to get, keep and progress
on a job and to achieve the best results
Employers need a person who can:
- Communicate
- Understand and speak the languages in which business is conducted
- Listen to understand and learn
- Read, comprehend and use written materials, including graphs, charts and displays
- Think
- Think critically and act logically to evaluate situations, solve problems and make decisions
- Understand and solve problems involving mathematics and use the results
- Use technology, instruments, tools and information systems effectively
- Access and apply specialized knowledge from various fields (e.g., skilled trades, technology, physical sciences, arts and social sciences)
- Learn
- Continue to learn for life
Personal Management Skills
The combination of skills, attitudes and behaviours required to get, keep
and progress on a job and to achieve the best results.
Employers need a person who can demonstrate:
- Positive Attitudes and Behaviours
- Self-esteem and confidence
- Honesty, integrity and personal ethics
- A positive attitude toward learning, growth and personal health
- Initiative, energy and persistence to get the job done
- Responsibility
- The ability to set goals and priorities in work and personal life
- The ability to plan and manage time, money and other resources to achieve goals
- Accountability for actions taken
- Adaptability
- A positive attitude toward change
- Recognition of and respect for people's diversity and individual differences
- The ability to identify and suggest new ideas to get the job done - creativity
Teamwork Skills
Those skills needed to work with others on the job to achieve the best results
Employers need a person who can:
- Work with Others
- Understand and contribute to the organization's goals
- Understand and work within the culture of the group
- Plan and make decisions with others and support the outcomes
- Respect the thoughts and opinions of others in the group
- Exercise "give and take" to achieve group results
- Seek a team approach as appropriate
- Lead when appropriate, mobilizing the group for high performance
Source: The Conference Board of Canada
Activity Downloads
Download Crossword Puzzles and Word-Finds with answer keys in Adobe
Acrobat format. You can then print off as many copies as you need. Acrobat
Reader is available from Adobe's Website
for free, and is available for all operating systems.
Activities (PDF format 430k)