Life Skills


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Life Skills

Developing Skills for Life

By its very nature, Real World Learning requires participants to acquire and to demonstrate life skills. They must work with others to state their goals and to identify their roles in accomplishing the project. They will depend on others and provide support for others during their work on cooperative projects; on individual projects they will communicate with professionals outside the school; they will have to set and meet deadlines as well as manage their time so that they complete tasks in a timely and competent manner.

Our experience is that learners engaged in RWL activities are more apt to demonstrate high self-esteem and self-reliance than those who are not; hands-on involvement in the creation of meaningful products of learning seems to be motivational; that learners must defend their work in presentations to their peers, to their instructors and to professionals in the larger community also serves the purpose of focusing students on the skills necessary to perform well in each of these environments.

Because RWL requires students to participate in the activities that follow, they rapidly become better able to demonstrate the behaviors known as life skills:

Interviewing (by phone and in person)
Establishing a professional presence (dressing appropriately, interacting properly with adults, writing thank you notes, and the like)
Speaking publicly
Setting goals, scheduling activities, planning for events
Managing budgets and allocating resources
Focusing on client needs

Internet and Computing Core Certification

Students not only need personal computer skills, but require recognized certification of those skills to enhance their competitiveness in the job market. The Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³) is the world's first validated, standards-based training and certification program for basic computing and Internet knowledge and skills. Successful completion of IC³ ensures that students have the knowledge and skills required for basic use of computer hardware, software, networks, and the Internet.

Online training includes complete coverage for Computing Fundamentals, Living Online, and Key Applications--the three exams individuals are required to pass in order to complete the Internet and Computing Core Certification and earn the IC³ certificate. How to Master uses interactive exercises, audio narration, simulations, video clips, graphics, and animated tips to present an easy-to-use, engaging curriculum for IC³ study. The course is self-paced, allowing learners to progress at their own speed and to review lessons as often as desired to become more comfortable and proficient with the concepts and tasks presented. The learners will be able to complete their training and certification examinations at the Academy.

Almena Keyboarding Method

computer keyboard Because Personal Computer fluency is considered an essential skill, students need the ability to quickly acquire keyboarding speeds that are necessary for the personal computers productive use.

The Almena Method uses basic memory mnemonics to teach the keyboard in one lesson. Lesson Two has simple sentences and encourages accuracy development. Students learn to type numbers, characters and letters on the keyboard and develop accuracy. Lesson Three has One- and Two-Minute Speed Tests. Within 5 to 10 hours of learning and practice, students can reach speeds of 20-30 wpm. The speed of this approach contrasts with taking traditional, semester-long typing classes.

Financial Literacy

MoneySKILL® is a highly interactive personal finance course that teaches students the real-world skill of managing their income and savings.

Its purpose is to educate students to make informed financial decisions. The course consists of concise modules covering topics such as income, expenses, saving, credit and insurance. The curriculum includes two real-life simulations which prepare student to create a personal financial plan that spans the period from the time a student is financially independent of parents to the intended age of retirement.