Key skills and basic skills

• BBC Further Education - materials on key skills, communication, application of number, study skills online exercises and links to other key skills sites.
  
  
• BECTa - news & resources on ICT & key skills.
  
  
• Glossary of educational terms & approaches - very useful & understandable selection of educational terms and theories used in learning approaches & methodologies, including learning cycles & skills, accelerated learning, multiple intelligence, experiential learning, mind mapping, thinking hats, transferable skills & more, from Bradford College.
  
  
• Improving literacy & numeracy - a fresh start - report of the working group on post-school basic skills, chaired by Sir Claus Moser.
  
  
• Key Skills - from DfES, Key skills qualifications (levels 1-4) in communication, application of number & information technology (IT) plus wider key skills units: working with others, improving own learning & performance, problem solving. Site includes FAQS for schools, colleges, work-based route, developments and links.
  
  
• Key to Key project - key skills project for higher education students, based at Sheffield Hallam University.
  
  
• Key Skills in Context - sets out to place the development of key skills at level three, into contexts which are meaningful & realistic & provide opportunities bo evidence Level 3 Key Skills. It is a thematically based, multi-media resource for students divided into four themes: Europe and the World of Work, a Healthy Lifestyle, Planning for the Future and Media.
  
  
• Key Skills Support Programme - news & discussion topics, key skills definitions, management & stratey, key skills & work related programmes, teaching & learning resources & research for schools, colleges & work based training, student guidance & support, leaflets for students, action planning, assessment issues, verification, moderation & inspection findings, progression issues.
  
  
• Key Skills Support Programme (Cymru) - Welsh language key skills sites.
  
  
• Key Skills website (DfES) - news, policies, resources, case studies & publications.
  
  
• QCA - key skills in the national curriculum - includes updates, specifications, relationship with Adult literacy and numeracy, tests & awarding bodies.
  
  
• Adult basic skills and key skills - definitions and the relationship between basic skills & key skills.
  
  
• Learning Technologies site - Ezine, learning materials, reports, events, college projects, linked sites, European links, ILT standards (from Learning & Skills Development Agency).
  
  
  
  

• Adult Basic Skills Resource Workshop - online resources from Abingdon & Witney College (UK), includes free worksheets & interactive exercises & quizzes, also recommended sites with further worksheets & handouts from the UK & the US.
  
  
• Adult Literacies in Scotland        - project papers & resources.
  
  
• Basic Skills Agency - resources online, research, information for all education sectors (primary, secondary, FE, adult), family literacy & numeracy, Basic Skills News online, also National Telephone Referral Service for people who need help with improving basic skills on 0800 700 987.
  
  
• Basic Skills Agency Resource Centre - catalogue, news & useful links.
  
  
• Basic Skills & IT skills - sections on UK & world news, message boards, chat rooms & email, links to computer skills, resources for learners of English, games & exercises, good links from tutor at Southampton City College.
  
  
• Better Basic Skills - UK government's response to " A Fresh Start".
  
  
• Digital Education Network - includes English language support online, als EFL, TEFL, education forums, courses worldwide (UK site).
  
  
• BASIL (Basic Skills for Inclusive Learning) - second stage of national training project - for literacy, numeracy & ESOL teachers & teachers & trainers working with adults with learning difficulties or disabilities (learning disabled adults or people with learning impairments).
  
  
• European Basic Skills Network - news, research, resources & links.
  
  
• National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) - US organisation, providing background to US issues, mailing list & links.
  
  
• National Literacy Trust - includes initiatives, resources, statistics, research, organisations, discussion boards, links & jobs.
  
  
• NIACE and Basic Skills - news, projects, documents, events, email discussions & links.
  
  
• QCA - basic skills - guidance material for national standards, qualifications, relationship between basic skills & key skills, adult literacy and numeracy example tests (PDF files) from Qualifications & Curriculum Authority.
  
  
• Read, Write, Plus - key resources & links from the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit of the DfES, including key documents, policies & research, including research on the issues for people with learning difficulties & impairments and on English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), also national standards, the national core curriculum, practice tests, planning & funding, regional pathfinder projects and events.
  
  
• Workplace Basic Skills Network - network, training & project information.
  
  
• YouthBOOX - reading project with young people, section for readers, project reports & tools, online discussion forums.