Skills for Life!Skills for Life!Skills for Life!Skills for Life!

� A ministry approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace.

� Enables students to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in the context of engaging, career-related learning environments and helps them focus on graduation and on pursuing their postsecondary goals.

1. a bundle of 8-10 Grade 11 and 12 credits focused on sector-specific knowledge and skills that are:� Valued by the sector and postsecondary educational institutions

� Designed to help prepare students for a postsecondary destination of their choice in a particular economic

sector

� Designed with the flexibility to allow students to shift between pathways

2. sector-recognized certifications and training courses

3. experiential learning activities within the sector

4. “reach ahead” experiences

5. development of key Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector, and the use of the Ontario Skills Passport for the purpose of documentation

1. Four major credits that enable students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills

2. 2 Coop credits which provides authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting and enable students to practice the sector-specific knowledge and skills acquired practice the sector-specific knowledge and skills acquired in the bundle of credits

3. Other required credits in Math, English, Science, Business (depending on the sector) which involve the use of contextualized learning activities, that enable students to connect their learning in these courses to their SHSM sector

� Allow students to acquire the knowledge and skills related

to safe work habits and sector-specific training

� Having the sector-recognized certifications and training � Having the sector-recognized certifications and training

gives students an advantage when entering the workforce

� Some of the required certifications are applicable to all

sectors, (e.g., First Aid, CPR and WHMIS) others are

specific to the requirements of the sector (e.g., fall

protection for the Construction SHSM)

� Planned learning activities that take place outside the traditional classroom setting, giving students opportunities to explore, observe, participate in and reflect on a variety of sector-specific experiences and careerscareers

� It can include job shadowing, job twinning, work experience, virtual work experience and cooperative education

� It enables students to find out about the opportunities available to them in connection with the careers that interest them

1. “Reach Ahead” experiences allow students to gain confidence

in their ability to be successful, refine skills and work habits and

make informed choices about future careers and next steps

It can include 2. It can include

� attending a college or university class in the student’s area of interest

� Participating in a science, business or technological competition

� Attending a workshop held by the economic sector for their SHSM

� Job shadowing for a day or more

� allows a student to experience a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities

� gives students the opportunity to explore, identify, and refine career � gives students the opportunity to explore, identify, and refine career goals and make informed decisions related to postsecondary education, training, and next steps towards a career

� experiential learning opportunities

� improved prospects after secondary school because of the recognition and support for the SHSM framework

Construction

Hospitality and Tourism

Arts and Culture

Skills for Life!Skills for Life!Skills for Life!Skills for Life!