Context/Overview

This overview is divided into the following sections:

Context: Product

The following activities integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes from Business Education, Home Economics, Technology Education, and Physical Education. The focus is on the design and production of a product. A product may be an object, environment, program, or plan designed and created as a result of individual and group work. This context overview chart provides a summary of the activity focus, objectives, and suggested learning strategies.

Activity Focus Objectives Strategies

Design and Production:
A Functional Device
to design and create a device that has utility
to apply problem-solving skills
to evaluate the utility of the divice for a particular audience

students work independently and/or with others, to research and design a prototype of a device
students build, test, and modify a protype
students present and evaluate their device

Design and Production:
A Textile Product

to explore the relationship between form and function while creating a textile product that addresses a specific need
to apply problem-solving skills
to apply the principles of art, design, and drawing

students research characteristics of various textiles
students create original designs or modify existing designs
students practise construction techniques

Design and Production:
A Healthy Living Program for Young Children
to explore the relationship of nutrition and physical activity to health and well being
to understand the physical, emotional, and social characteristics of young children

to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity in young children

students design and implement a plan of physical activity and nutritious snacks for young children
students create an advertisement or commercial aimed at young children to promote nutritious snacks and/or physical activity

Design and Production:
An Individual Investment Portfolio
to develop a personal investment portfolio as part of financial planning
to apply the concepts of economics, finance, and entrepreneurship

students create a portfolio for an investment plan
students identify, research, and evaluate investment options such as GICs, bonds, and mutual funds
students use the "Rule of 72" to develop investment strategies

Design and Production:
A Nutrition and Exercise Program

to identify how nutrition affects physical, mental, and emotional well being
to plan a nutrition and exercise program to meet personal needs and/or the needs of specific groups of people

students research food habits and physical activity
students formulate activity and nutrition plans for self and others, e.g., diabetics, athletes, senior citizens
students research careers in fitness and nutrition areas

Activity Focus	Objectives	Strategies
Design and Production: A Functional Device	to design and create a device that has utility to apply problem-solving skills to evaluate the utility of the divice for a particular audience	students work independently and/or with others, to research and design a prototype of a device students build, test, and modify a protype students present and evaluate their device
Design and Production: A Textile Product	to explore the relationship between form and function while creating a textile product that addresses a specific need to apply problem-solving skills to apply the principles of art, design, and drawing	students research characteristics of various textiles students create original designs or modify existing designs students practise construction techniques
Design and Production: A Healthy Living Program for Young Children	to explore the relationship of nutrition and physical activity to health and well being to understand the physical, emotional, and social characteristics of young children to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity in young children	students design and implement a plan of physical activity and nutritious snacks for young children students create an advertisement or commercial aimed at young children to promote nutritious snacks and/or physical activity
Design and Production: An Individual Investment Portfolio	to develop a personal investment portfolio as part of financial planning to apply the concepts of economics, finance, and entrepreneurship	students create a portfolio for an investment plan students identify, research, and evaluate investment options such as GICs, bonds, and mutual funds students use the "Rule of 72" to develop investment strategies
Design and Production: A Nutrition and Exercise Program	to identify how nutrition affects physical, mental, and emotional well being to plan a nutrition and exercise program to meet personal needs and/or the needs of specific groups of people	students research food habits and physical activity students formulate activity and nutrition plans for self and others, e.g., diabetics, athletes, senior citizens students research careers in fitness and nutrition areas

Context: Service

The following activities integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes from Business Education, Home Economics, Technology Education, and Physical Education. The focus is on providing a service. A service involves an individual or group providing something useful or necessary to others. Providing a service is an ideal way for students to apply their learning. Some service applications suggested in this section include SuperHost, FoodSafe, first aid, coaching, and leadership. This context overview chart provides a summary of the activity focus, objectives, and suggested learning strategies.

Activity Focus Objectives Strategies

Provision of Services:
Using Certification or Equivalent
to deliver a service using appropriate marketing strategies to a school or community group
to apply problem-solving and communication skills
to explore available communication technology
to develop methods to evaluate the delivery of the service

students create a portfolio which includes a business plan for delivering a service
students practise presentation skills and self and peer evaluate the quality of the service
students research and develop methods to gather information from their clients about the quality of the service and record their reflections in the portfolio

Provision of Services:
Training Others

to develop the ability to communicate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to train others in a particular service
to develop assessment tools to evaluate training sessions
to use available communication technology for presentations

students train others in an area of competence or prior certification
students select an instructional design, assessment methods, and appropriate communication tools to use in presentations
students summarize and analyse results and feedback and prepare a written reflection with strengths and recommendations

Activity Focus	Objectives	Strategies
Provision of Services: Using Certification or Equivalent	to deliver a service using appropriate marketing strategies to a school or community group to apply problem-solving and communication skills to explore available communication technology to develop methods to evaluate the delivery of the service	students create a portfolio which includes a business plan for delivering a service students practise presentation skills and self and peer evaluate the quality of the service students research and develop methods to gather information from their clients about the quality of the service and record their reflections in the portfolio
Provision of Services: Training Others	to develop the ability to communicate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to train others in a particular service to develop assessment tools to evaluate training sessions to use available communication technology for presentations	students train others in an area of competence or prior certification students select an instructional design, assessment methods, and appropriate communication tools to use in presentations students summarize and analyse results and feedback and prepare a written reflection with strengths and recommendations

Context: System

The following activities integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes from Business Education, Home Economics, Technology Education, and Physical Education. The focus is on exploration and development of a system. A system is considered to be a set of objects, processes, activities, principles, or rules that perform a function or show a plan. This context overview chart provides a summary of the activity focus, objectives, and suggested learning strategies.

Activity Focus Objectives Strategies

Exploration of a System:
The Internet

to access information through electronic media
to apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a high-tech information environment
to identify and evaluate the impact of technology on the way information is gathered, and problems are solved

students review or are introduced to basic computer skills and methods of connecting to remote access or commercial service provider (i.e., CLN, Schoolnet)
students develop a problem, access a service provider, conduct an electronic information search, download and print information

Exploration of a System: Management

to analyse and evaluate different management systems
to practise business communication, organization of the workplace, coping skills, and protocol in managerial situations

students research different management systems and list the responsiblities and qualities of a good manager
students practise skills using simulations
students outline and defend a management system for a selected work environment

Exploration of a System: Marketing
to use creative thinking and problem solving to market a product, program, or idea
to develop a marketing plan
to present and evaluate a marketing plan
to implement a marketing plan where appropriate

students select a product, program, or idea to market
students conduct market research, and develop a marketing plan
students present the plan and evaluate its success

Exploration of a System: Stress Management

to recognize stress and its impact on one's life
to develop personal stress management strategies

students conduct lifestyle inventories to determine the nature of the stress in their environment
students examine case studies and use role-play to identify stress causers and practise stress management strategies
students develop a personal stress management plan

Activity Focus	Objectives	Strategies
Exploration of a System: The Internet	to access information through electronic media to apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a high-tech information environment to identify and evaluate the impact of technology on the way information is gathered, and problems are solved	students review or are introduced to basic computer skills and methods of connecting to remote access or commercial service provider (i.e., CLN, Schoolnet) students develop a problem, access a service provider, conduct an electronic information search, download and print information
Exploration of a System: Management	to analyse and evaluate different management systems to practise business communication, organization of the workplace, coping skills, and protocol in managerial situations	students research different management systems and list the responsiblities and qualities of a good manager students practise skills using simulations students outline and defend a management system for a selected work environment
Exploration of a System: Marketing	to use creative thinking and problem solving to market a product, program, or idea to develop a marketing plan to present and evaluate a marketing plan to implement a marketing plan where appropriate	students select a product, program, or idea to market students conduct market research, and develop a marketing plan students present the plan and evaluate its success
Exploration of a System: Stress Management	to recognize stress and its impact on one's life to develop personal stress management strategies	students conduct lifestyle inventories to determine the nature of the stress in their environment students examine case studies and use role-play to identify stress causers and practise stress management strategies students develop a personal stress management plan

Context: Idea

The following activities integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes from Business Education, Home Economics, Technology Education, and Physical Education. The focus is on exploration and development of ideas. An idea is a concept or opinion that is formed as a result of intellectual actions such as understanding, thinking, reasoning, and imagining. Students can demonstrate their understanding of ideas through their actions when they apply concepts/ideas in a practical setting. This context overview chart provides a summary of the activity focus, objectives, and suggested learning strategies.

Activity Focus Objectives Strategies

Exploration of an Idea: Gender Equity

to examine interactions in their environments for gender bias
to analyse the effects of gender bias on self-esteem, achievement, economics, and other opportunties

students analyse their environments and activities at home, work, and school for gender bias
students identify discriminating behaviors, attitudes, policies, and procedures related to gender equity
students in work teams create plans for making environments more gender equitable

Exploration of an Idea: Safety in Environmental Pursuits

to identify safety/survival skills needed to participate safely in environmental pursuits
to create a survival/safety plan for a selected activity

students identify risk factors associated with a variety of environmental pursuits
students create a safety/survival plan for a selected activity in the environment
students work in groups to evaluate their safety and survival plans

Exploration of an Idea: Entrepreneurship

to identify the qualities of a successful entrepreneur
to evaluate one's potential as an entrepreneur
to understand what is meant by entrepreneurial activity

students create a list of skills and qualities of successful entrepreneurs
students conduct a self- evaluation with reference to characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
students organize a group entrepreneurial venture

Activity Focus	Objectives	Strategies
Exploration of an Idea: Gender Equity	to examine interactions in their environments for gender bias to analyse the effects of gender bias on self-esteem, achievement, economics, and other opportunties	students analyse their environments and activities at home, work, and school for gender bias students identify discriminating behaviors, attitudes, policies, and procedures related to gender equity students in work teams create plans for making environments more gender equitable
Exploration of an Idea: Safety in Environmental Pursuits	to identify safety/survival skills needed to participate safely in environmental pursuits to create a survival/safety plan for a selected activity	students identify risk factors associated with a variety of environmental pursuits students create a safety/survival plan for a selected activity in the environment students work in groups to evaluate their safety and survival plans
Exploration of an Idea: Entrepreneurship	to identify the qualities of a successful entrepreneur to evaluate one's potential as an entrepreneur to understand what is meant by entrepreneurial activity	students create a list of skills and qualities of successful entrepreneurs students conduct a self- evaluation with reference to characteristics of successful entrepreneurs students organize a group entrepreneurial venture

Maintained by: Applied Skills Coordinator

Revised: January 28, 1999

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