Teaching Skills Update | April 2024

Hello and welcome to Pearson’s Skills Newsletter for April 2024 covering all things Functional Skills, ESOL, EDSQ and much, much more. This month we have some new maths and English resources as well as celebrating the Functional Skills blog reaching 50.? ?

New Functional Skills Blog?

The Functional Skills Blog is now available and looks at Using AI for Teaching and Learning. It also includes an amazing case study on using AI to support Functional Skills learners from Sheila Rai at Capital City College Group.?

• Using AI for Teaching and Learning

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Functional Skills Blog Reaches 50 Chapters

Last month’s Functional Skills blog was the 50th official Pearson Functional Skills blog. It all started back in 2018 when the world was a different place. The topics have been diverse and some have been more popular than others. Here's a run-down of some of the?favourites over the years, in no particular order:?

• Trialling Functional Skills - one of the first functional skills blogs written looked into what we learnt from trialling the reformed Functional Skills before they were released.
• Education in the time of COVID 19 - CAGs were here, so some tips on how to engage learners remotely were needed.
• Checks and Estimation - still valid today and the first one on a specific area of learner focus.
• Supporting Writing -?one of the first English focused ones.
• Exam Techniques - Another really useful one for learners here. Lots of tips and advice.?
• Maths Anxiety - Again this is still so relevant. Using other experts to support what was being written.?
• Functional Skills Maths and ESOL Learners - Valuable insights and first-hand experience into teaching ESOL learners.?
• Functional Skills Pass Rates - The blog that set the standard for all AOs publishing their results. This one is from 2022 - 2023.?
• Supporting Learners With SpLD and ASD - A fascinating and really important read. ?

All of the blogs can be accessed here: Functional Skills Insights Blog

Essential Skills Northern Ireland?

A reminder that the last assessment date for Pearson’s ESNI portfolio is 14th June 2024, so the last date to book assessments will be 30th May 2024. The final certification date is the 31 August 2024.

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Functional Skills ICT?

A reminder that the last assessment date for Pearson’s Functional Skills ICT portfolio is 14th June 2024. This is also the last day of Standards Verifier visits too. The final certification date is the 31 August 2024.?

Pearson’s Digital Functional Skills is live and you can find out all the details about our new qualifications here:

• Digital Functional Skills

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Functional Skills Training?

There is still time to sign up for the last three sessions of our Teaching the Fundamentals for Functional Skills English online CPD. Feedback from the first session on Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar was really positive.?

• That was such a fantastic session. Looking forward to the next one.?
• ?Brilliant session, great tips. Thank you.?
• ?Thanks, great useful tips and reminders.?
• ?Thank you!?I am looking forward to using the running dictation!

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Teaching the Fundamentals Functional Skills English (Level 1 and 2) Language Features and Vocabulary?

This session provides a detailed look at what learners need to know and be able to produce to be successful in their assessments at Level 1 and 2. Covering both reading and writing, this session will allow tutors to:?

• Understand what is being assessed and how?
• Develop teaching techniques that support learner success and build their vocabulary?
• Understand how language features and techniques should be used for different audiences and purpose?

Thursday, 2?May 3:00 - 4:00pm |?Register for free

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Teaching the Fundamentals Functional Skills English (Level 1 and 2) Fact, Opinion, Bias, Formal and Informal Language

This session provides a detailed look at what learners need to know and be able to produce to be successful in their assessments at Level 1 and 2. Covering both reading and writing, this session will allow tutors to:?

• Understand what is being assessed and how?
• Develop teaching techniques that support learner success?
• Develop understanding of how writing style and different types of language can be used to improve reading and writing techniques?

Thursday 9?May 3:00 - 4:00pm |?Register for free

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Teaching the Fundamentals Functional Skills English (Level 1 and 2) Skills for Speaking, Listening and Communicating?

This session provides a detailed look at what learners need to know and be able to produce to be successful in their assessments at Level 1 and 2. Covering discussions, short talks and presentations, this session will allow tutors to:?

• Understand what is being assessed and how?
• Develop teaching techniques that support learner success?

Thursday, 16?May, 3:00 - 4:00pm |?Register for free

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New Functional Skills English Resource?

As part of the CPD session on Organisational Features, there is now a new resource to support learners at Level 1 and 2. You can access it here:

• Functional Skills English | Reading | Organisational Features

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New Functional Skills Maths Multiply Resources?

We have three new maths resources centred around healthy living for Entry 3 and Level 1 learners. They are ideal for adult Multiply learners too. Some of the ideas for these resources came about from the AI activities I carried out as part of research for this month’s blog.?

A guide to delivering ICT through BTEC Entry Level 1 and 2 Pre- Vocational Studies ?

If you have learners at Entry 1 and 2 whose ICT skills you wish to develop, you could try supporting them with Pearson’s BTEC Entry Level 1 and 2 Pre- Vocational Studies. Take a look at the guide.?

• A guide to delivering ICT through BTEC Entry Level 1 and Entry Level 2 Pre-vocational Studies

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ActiveHub GCSE Maths Post-16 Boost Edition ?

Specifically tailored to Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Mathematics specification, with content chosen to cover the key topics judged by FE-specialist teachers to be key for achieving a grade 4.? Coverage aligns with the Edexcel modified 1-year post-16 scheme of work.? Focuses on high-quality Edexcel-specific exam practice, developing problem-solving and reasoning skills and building confidence in Maths.?

Key features?

• Powerful insights dashboard bringing together progress data for summative and formative assessment with next step recommendations.
• Assessment Library: baseline tests and Foundation past papers now in one place.
• Assessment Builder which has a sophisticated design that uses grades rather than Pearson Steps, and holds 1150 questions.?
• Resources: Pairs of matching explanatory videos and interactive practice activities covering the key topics needed to achieve a grade 4.?
• Flexible: Activities and assessments can be assigned in any order and mappings to Edexcel and CfEM post-16 schemes of work are provided.?

Want to learn more??

Talk to one of our Post 16 experts who will answer any questions you may have and give you a quick tour of how ActiveHub can benefit both you and your students.

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Nelly's Corner

Nelly is hoping that the focus on Healthy Living this month means more outdoor playtime.

By Chris Briggs - Product Manager Post 16 English, Maths and Digital Skills