New York State Learning Standards
for Career Development and Occupational Studies


Standard 3a: Universal Foundation Skills

Students will demonstrate mastery of the foundation skills and competencies essential for success in the workplace.


Basic Skills:

Key Idea 1

Basic skills include the ability to read, write, listen, and speak as well as perform arithmetical and mathematical functions.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • listen to and read the ideas of others and express themselves both orally and in writing; they use basic mathematical concepts and computations to solve problems.

Middle Level Students:

  • listen to and read the ideas of others and analyze what they hear and read; acquire and use information from a variety of sources; and apply a combination of mathematical operations to solve problems in oral or written form.

Commencement Level Students:

  • use a combination of techniques to read or listen to complex information and analyze what they hear or read; convey information confidently and coherently in written or oral form; and
  • analyze and solve mathematical problems requiring use of multiple computational skills.

Thinking Skills:

Key Idea 2

Thinking skills lead to problem solving, experimenting, and focused observation and allow the application of knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • use ideas and information to make decisions and solve problems related to accomplishing a task.

Middle Level Students:

  • evaluate facts, solve advanced problems, and make decisions by applying logic and reasoning skills.

Commencement Level Students:

  • demonstrate the ability to organize and process information and apply skills in new ways.

Personal Qualities:

Key Idea 3

Personal qualities generally include competence in self-management and the ability to plan, organize, and take independent action.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • demonstrate the personal qualities that lead to responsible behavior.

Middle Level Students:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between individuals and society and interact with others in a positive manner.

Commencement Level Students:

  • demonstrate leadership skills in setting goals, monitoring progress, and improving their performance.

Interpersonal Skills:

Key Idea 4

Positive interpersonal qualities lead to teamwork and cooperation in large and small groups in family, social, and work situations.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • relate to people of different ages and from diverse backgrounds.

Middle Level Students:

  • demonstrate the ability to work with others, present facts that support arguments, listen to dissenting points of view, and reach a shared decision.

Commencement Level Students:

  • communicate effectively and help others to learn a new skill.

Technology:

Key Idea 5

Technology is the process and product of human skill and ingenuity in designing and creating things from available resources to satisfy personal and societal needs and wants.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • demonstrate an awareness of the different types of technology available to them and of how technology affects society.

Middle Level Students:

  • select and use appropriate technology to complete a task.

Commencement Level Students:

  • apply their knowledge of technology to identify and solve problems.

Managing Information:

Key Idea 6

Information management focuses on the ability to access and use information obtained from other people, community resources, and computer networks.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • describe the need for data and obtain data to make decisions.

Middle Level Students:

  • select and communicate information in an appropriate format (e.g., oral, written, graphic, pictorial, multimedia).

Commencement Level Students:

  • use technology to acquire, organize, and communicate information by entering, modifying, retrieving, and storing data.

Managing Resources:

Key Idea 7

Using resources includes the application of financial and human factors, and the elements of time and materials to successfully carry out a planned activity.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • demonstrate an awareness of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and resources needed to complete a task.

Middle Level Students:

  • understand the material, human, and financial resources needed to accomplish tasks and activities.

Commencement Level Students:

  • allocate resources to complete a task.

Systems:

Key Idea 8

Systems skills include the understanding of and ability to work within natural and constructed systems.

Performance Indicators (Benchmarks):

Elementary Level Students:

  • demonstrate understanding of how a system operates and identify where to obtain information and resources within the system.

Middle Level Students:

  • understand the process of evaluating and modifying systems within an organization.

Commencement Level Students:

  • demonstrate an understanding of how systems performance relates to the goals, resources, and functions of an organization.