Florist
Literacy and Numeracy Summary
Florist
Literacy and Numeracy Profile Summary
Many adults in New Zealand would benefit from gaining better reading, writing and maths skills to function productively at work and at home. Every industry is striving to help in achieving this goal and as part of this effort the NZHITO, in association with our main funding body the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), have been working on a Literacy and Numeracy (LN) project. Our ultimate aim is to increase individuals’ literacy and numeracy skills in order to make workplaces safer and more productive, as well as to ensure learners have the skills to succeed in their everyday lives. As part of this project we have completed a Literacy and Numeracy profile for the Floristry industry trainees. The profile:
· Gives those working with trainees an understanding of the skill levels required by their goal occupations, which can be compared with TEC Assessment Tool reports of trainees’ levels of ability.
· Gives trainers some guidelines for embedding the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills along with Florist vocational skills and knowledge.
Read with understanding – Step 4
· Because of the need to read complex botanical names and proper nouns with accuracy, the decoding demand is consistently high (averaging step 5).
· However, the need for comprehension and critical reading skills, which was high for documents read at the commencement of employment (step 5), was low for documents read in the course of everyday work (step 2).
Documents at step 4 would include: everyday workplace communication, courier delivery information, maps, etc.
Write to communicate – Step 3
· A florist doesn’t need to write complex documents in the course of everyday work.
· However, there is a need for accuracy in recording important information, such as names and addresses, which raises the spelling and vocabulary demands.
· Notes to delivery staff and general staff communications need to be clear, which increases the need to consider the purpose and audience in the writing.
Tasks at steps 2 and 3 would include: telephone messages and workplace instructions, etc.
Listen with understanding and speak to communicate – Step 5
· Florists need competent communication skills in order to avoid costly and distressing miscommunications.
Listening and speaking tasks at step 5 would include: Communicating with customers on the phone, taking orders and making sales face-to-face, communicating with suppliers and couriers, etc.
Numeracy – Step 6
· Florists need very good number knowledge and number strategies to carry out everyday tasks.
· Proficient chart-reading and measurement skills are important.
Tasks using numeracy at step 6 on the Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions include:.calculating bunch values, ordering products and taking sales etc.
For full details of the learning progressions please refer to: www.literacyandnumeracyforadults.com
