We all use them every day — the transferable skills that help us be effective in work and in life. But what are these skills? In what areas do students need to be able to apply them? How can we incorporate teaching these skills into our adult education classrooms? These tools provide answers to these important questions.
- TSTM Toolkit Content
- Introduction to the Teaching Skills That Matter Toolkit
- Defining the Skills That Matter
- Defining the Topic Focus Areas
- Defining the Approaches That Work
- Overview of the Approaches That Work
- Introduction to The Skills That Matter Lesson Plan
TSTM Instructional Videos
The TSTM Project is developing a series of instructional videos focused on improving teacher practice in the adult education classroom. The first three of these videos, found below, focus on the three approaches that work. The other videos focus on the topic areas and will be found with their specific topic section.
- Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work – Integrated and Contextualized Instruction Video
This video shows the components for integrating and contextualizing instruction in the context of a financial literacy lesson titled "Household Cash Flow." You'll see Stephanie Sommers guide her intermediate and intermediate-high (NRS levels) students through each component of integrated and contextualized instruction as the students decide how to save and manage money. Ms. Sommers has served as a TSTM Coach and TSTM Trainer, in addition to being an Adult Diploma Coordinator & Writing Curriculum Lead for Minneapolis Public Schools. In the video, you'll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about integrating and contextualizing instruction check out documents on the approaches above. You can find the lesson taught in the video in the Financial Literacy section of the Toolkit. - Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work—Problem-Based Learning Video
This video provides the steps and structure of a problem-based learning lesson in the context of a workforce preparation lesson titled "Unmet Workplace Performance". You'll see Lia Olson guide her multilevel ESL class through each step of the process as the students decide how to respond to an angry boss. Dr. Olson, a former TSTM Coach, is an ABE and ELL teacher at The Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning. In the video, you’ll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about problem-based learning, check out documents on the approaches above. You can find the lesson taught in the video in the Workforce Preparation section of the toolkit. - Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work—Project-Based Learning Video
This video shows the steps and structure of a project-based learning lesson in the context of a financial literacy lesson called "Eating Healthy on a Budget." You’ll see Lia Olson guide her multilevel ESL class through each step of the process as they plan a meal that is both low cost and healthy. Dr. Olson, a former TSTM Coach, is an ABE and ELL teacher at The Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning. In the video, you'll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about project-based learning, check out documents on the approaches above. You can find the lesson taught in the video in the Financial Literacy section of the toolkit.