CREST Programme modules 1-7.

MODULE 1: LEARNING TO LEARN (2 days)

Independently learn and use new knowledge and skills to meet changing needs

This module helps workers in your organisation add to their understanding of themselves as learners for life, of the nature of knowledge, and help them to acquire some appropriate organising skills so that they can extend and refine their knowledge. It will help a worker become a better learner, to think faster and be able to select and use information with confidence.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Learning to Learn enables the trainee to:

• Understand the nature of knowledge
• Organise learning activities
• Develop the critical skills of evaluation
• Understand how to apply appropriate thinking (convergent, divergent, critical and intuitive)
• Understand the importance of and be able to do self-assessment and needs assessment
  

CONTENTS OF MODULE

Learning & knowledge in general- What knowledge is; learning skills; critical evaluation skills; recalling, relating & organising information; problem-solving; learning strategies; active listening & viewing

• Recognising different learning styles and using that information to help workers learn
• Taking responsibility for own learning, setting goals, with an "I-can" attitude
• Applying proven strategies & techniques such as reflection, focusing attention & memory frameworks to enhance their learning
• Distinguishing between the declarative (background) knowledge & procedural knowledge and using this information to learn more effectively
• Learning from others: the "openness" in giving & receiving feedback; the nature of inquiry; using resources

MODULE 2: LITERACY (2 days)

Raise proficiency in reading, writing & computation, to interpret, analyze and effectively use complex information

Literacy skills in reading, writing and computation form the cornerstones of effective learning. This module is divided into submodules of reading, writing and computation and makes full use of computer-assisted learning to help workers acquire their level of competency in the reading, writing and computational skills. Computer-assisted learning allows for individualised, self-paced training based on each worker's learning style. Trainers are present as coaches and systems facilitators, ready to help workers with procedures like logging on and getting started.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Literacy enables the trainee to:

• Improve job-related reading/writing/computation skills as they relate to their immediate job requirements
• Improve overall job performance
• Enhance chance of job stability & upward job mobility through improved reading/ writing/ computation skills
• Increase company productivity through improving individual reading/ writing/ computation capabilities

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Reading Skills-Training:

• Developing literal comprehension skills
• Locating information within a text
• Comparing & contrasting information
• Recognising cause & effect and predicting outcomes
• Using charts, diagrams & schematics
• Developing inferential comprehension skills
• Improving vocabulary

Writing Skills-Training:

• Developing production competencies
• Entering and performing single-step activities
• Entering and performing multiple-step activities and sourcing
• Translating actions/transactions to paper
• Developing Interpretation skills

Computation Skills-Training:

• Using whole numbers in the workplace
• Using fractions in the workplace
• Using decimals in the workplace
• Using percents in the workplace
• Using mixed operations in the workplace
• Using measurements and calculations in the workplace
• Using estimation in the workplace

MODULE 3: LISTENING & ORAL COMMUNICATION (2-days)

Learning from coworkers & customers, understand their needs & develop focused business relationships

Listening & speaking are the fundamentals of day-to-day communication at work. Success on the job is often linked to one's good communication skills. Studies have shown that only job knowledge ranks above communication skills as a factor of workplace success. This module consists of two submodules, one focusing on Listening, and the other, Oral communication.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Listening & Oral Communication enables trainees to:

• Be aware of the importance of listening & oral communication at work
• Improve listening & oral communication skills that relate to work
• Learn self-improvement techniques for better listening & oral communication
• Increase their value to the organisation by improving job performance

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Listening Skills-Training:

• Describing facts about listening skill
• Describing and explaining communication profiles Identifying and overcoming barriers to effective listening
• Understanding strategies for better listening and improving listening skills
• Recognising how listening improves or weakens health

Oral Communication Skills-Training:

• Understanding oral communication
• Describe the different channels (means) of communication
• Describing communication styles and assessing one's style of communication
• Understanding other styles of communication Adjusting personal style to styles of others

At the end of the course, a trainee will be able to:

• Be aware of one's own listening & oral communication styles, and how they differ from others
• Adapt newly-acquired skills to become better listeners and communicators at work

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MODULE 4: PROBLEM-SOLVING & CREATIVITY (2 days)

Go beyond conventional approaches, see creative solutions and make that leap to innovation

The knowledge worker of the future will be entrusted with more decision-making as organisations become "flatter" as a result of fewer layers of reporting. This module will help workers arrive at solutions more efficiently, tapping on techniques in individual and group problem-solving,and creativity.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Problem-solving enables the trainee to:

• Increase skills in problem solving
• Clarify techniques for individual problem solving
• Learn new techniques for group problem solving and
• Improve on-the-job success and productivity.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Creativity enables the trainee to:

• Recognise why creative thinking is essential for success in the workplace
• Master the techniques of creative thinking to help workers respond creatively
• Develop skills in applying creative thinking to group and individual problem-solving situations through instruction, practice, and reinforcement exercises.

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Problem Solving Skills-Training:

• Identify work-related problems
• Explaining two approaches to group problem-solving
• Describing group skills in problem-identification, problem-solving & decision-making
• Develop proficiency in problem analysis and resolution

Creativity Skills Training:

• Recognising and defining a problem in creative problem-solving
• Describing and applying the process of generating ideas
• Describing a procedure for creative problem solving
• Explain role of interpersonal skills awareness
• Using the basic problem-solving procedure

At the end of the course, a trainee will be able to

• Focus on mastering problem-solving skills for quicker and more efficient solutions
• Apply creativity skills to real-life situations and problem-solving.

MODULE 5: PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS (2 days)

Take responsibility for self-development, personal performance, and goals within the organisation

Workers need to have personal management skills to maintain good morale, a focused worklife, and organisational productivity. A good worker is usually a happy well-adjusted worker as well. As workers become more aware of skills of self-esteem, motivation, goal-setting, personal and career development, they are also more likely to manage their work competently.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Personal Effectiveness enables the trainee to:

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Self-Esteem Skills-Training:

• Determining personal self-esteem quotient
• Combating self-motivation
• Avoiding the tyranny of the "shoulds"
• Handling mistakes
• Handling criticisms
• Describing personal wants inventory

Motivation & Goal-Setting Skills-Training:

• Describing intangible needs that motivate internal goal setting
• Setting internal work goals
• Setting internal personal goals
• Tracking development and success of self-motivation through goal setting
• Recognising tangible job needs that motivate external goal-setting
• Explain how people are extrinsically motivated

Personal & Career Development

• Improving life skills in getting and staying in a job
• Learning stress-relieving techniques for daily living
• Understanding benefits relating to employment
• Learning to evaluate their job and career development

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MODULE 6: GROUP EFFECTIVENESS (2 days)

Use the team’s skills & talents to achieve common goals and build relationships

Teams are a commonplace at work and they will become increasingly more so in the future. For a team to work effectively together, team members need to acquire skills in interpersonal relationships, teamwork, and managing conflicts.

OBJECTIVES: Skills-training in Group Effectiveness enables trainees to:

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Interpersonal Skills-Training:

• Building relationship skills
• Developing the skills of challenge
• Establishing group-specific relationship skills

Teamwork Skills-Training:

• Describing teamwork
• Identifying issues around team leadership
• Preparing an action plan for teamwork improvement
• Identifying relevant skills of an effective team member

Negotiation Skills-Training:

• Explaining the concept of conflict
• Managing conflict
• Understanding when negotiation is appropriate
• Identifying benefits of effective negotiation
• Understanding the negotiation process
• Analysing an opponent
• Successful traits of a negotiator
• Assessing effective negotiation approaches to resolving conflict
• Developing negotiation skills

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MODULE 7: ORGANISATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS & LEADERSHIP (2 days)

Understand values & systems, take the lead and make decisions which support the organisation’s goals

Organisational effectiveness skills are the building blocks for leadership. These skills help workers to elicit behaviours, attitudes and knowledge in various situations so as to align themselves to the organisation culture. Workers who share leadership responsibilities in particular need to see themselves as part of the organisation in order to function more effectively, and through a mastering of cognitive and interpersonal skills, be able to influence others in the direction of organisational goals and objectives.

OBJECTIVES:

Skills-training in Organisational Effectiveness & Leadership enables trainees to:

CONTENTS OF SUBMODULES

Organisational Effectiveness Skills-Training:

• Identifying organisational effectiveness skills
• Recognising that self-awareness can contribute to organisational effectiveness skills
• Improving understanding of how professional development impacts one's organisational effectiveness skills
• Understanding the value of professional development and organisational effectiveness

Leadership Skills-Training:

• Understanding the modern organisation
• Understanding leadership
• Understanding shared leadership and team empowerment
• Building a shared leadership style.