USAID Opportunity 2.

0
Program: Second-Chance Opportunities for Out-of-
school Youth

LIFE SKILLS FOR SELF-

DIRECTED LEARNING

MODULE 1: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

LEARNER’S HANDBOOK
Introductio Learner’s
n Handbook

Acknowledgements
Education Development Center (EDC) would like to thank the staff of the USAID Opportunity 2.0
Program, Philippines local team, and the DepEd Alternative Learning System Task Force, whose
invaluable insights guided the adaptation of this curriculum.

As part of the Journey to Self-Reliance, the education system of DepED ALS will be strengthened to
reach vulnerable out-of-school youth through providing them with second chance education so that
learners are better equipped with the soft and leadership skills they need to excel in the labor market
today and into the future.

The Life Skills Curriculum is an adaptation of EDC’s globally recognized Work Ready Now.

© 2020 Education Development Center, Inc.

This content may not be produced without the permission of Education Development Center or the United
States Agency for International Development.

This curriculum is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Education Development
Center, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

EDC 43 Foundry Avenue Waltham, MA 02453 Education Development Center (EDC) is a global
nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to
Contact: [email protected] improve education, promote health, and expand
economic opportunity.

Phone: 617-969-7100 Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing,

implementing, and evaluating powerful and
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Introduction

Goals of the Life Skills Self-Directed Learning Modules

Welcome to the Life Skills Self-Directed Learning Modules! These modules will help prepare
you to transition to further education and training as well as equip you with the knowledge
and skills necessary to successfully find work or start your own business. Upon completion of
the modules, you will be able to:

 Develop personal development plans

 Communicate and get along well with others, in a variety of settings and for a range of
purposes
 Demonstrate behavior and attitudes that are appropriate for the workplace and follow
workplace policies and procedures
 Lead a team in accomplishing their goals
 Demonstrate standard health and safety practices, identify unsafe situations, and
respond to emergencies and accidents
 Advocate for rights and responsibilities of workers and employers at the workplace
 Organize and manage personal and household finances
 Plan for income-generating activities and expenses that typically happen during the
business cycle
 Participate in the planning and implementation of community service projects

Organization and Learning Approach of the Modules

There are nine Life Skills modules, all aligned with selected learning strands, content
standards, performance standards and learning competencies of the DepEd ALS K-12 Basic
Education Curriculum.

The main modules and topics of the curriculum include:

1. Personal Development: identifying values & interests; assessing attributes & skills;
identifying learning styles & learning strategies; goal setting, planning & tracking
progress; professional development plan; mapping workplaces in the community;
workplace observations

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2. Communication Skills: listening and speaking; following and giving instructions and
feedback; presentation skills; choosing forms of communication in the workplace;
cooperating/working as a team member; providing good customer service;
observing communication in the workplace

3. Leadership and Teamwork: identifying characteristics of an effective leader; recognizing

leadership styles; organizing and motivating others; team building; leading others in
problem solving and conflict resolution; interviewing managers about leadership in the
workplace

4. Work Habits and Conduct: identifying and applying for jobs (writing applications,
CV’s, application letters); interviewing; informational interviewing; workplace
behaviors and attitudes; time management; balancing work and home life

5. Safety and Health at Work: practicing healthy habits; identifying and avoiding hazards in
the workplace; responding to emergencies and accidents; health and safety practices in
the workplace; observing safety in the workplace

6. Rights and Responsibilities of Workers and Employers: Philippine labor laws; identifying
rights and responsibilities of employees and employers using Philippine labor law;
interviewing employers and employees about rights and responsibilities in the
workplace

7. Financial Fitness: saving; budgeting; managing money; making financial decisions

8. Exploring Entrepreneurship: business cycle: starting a business, purchasing raw materials,

manufacturing, selling, earning; separating personal and business finances; identifying
business opportunities in the community; prioritizing and choosing a business idea; six
“Ps” of entrepreneurship: product, people, place, price, promotion, and production

9. Civic Engagement: identifying and prioritizing community needs; interacting with

government; mobilizing resources; conducting a community service project

Work Exposure Activities

In each module, you will do an activity that will get you out into your community, into real
workplaces. You will learn by looking and talking to people. (These can be modified if there
are active health and movement restrictions in place.) You will observe and learn about how
businesses work and take notes about what you see. You will talk to employees and business
owners or managers. This helps you to make more informed career choices and have realistic
expectations about the working environment. You will be prepared for future work
immersion, jobs or running your own small business.

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Module Details
Module 1: Personal Development  What is work exposure?
 Mapping workplaces in your community
Module 2: Interpersonal Communications  Observing Communication in the
Workplace
Module 3: Leadership and Teamwork  Leadership in Real Workplaces
Module 4: Work Habits and Conduct  Informational Interview
Module 5: Health and Safety  Observing Health and Safety
Module 6: Rights and Responsibilities  Interviewing employers and employees
about rights in the workplace

Life Skills Self-Directed Learning Approach

The Life Skills modules are meant to be engaging and interactive. Even though it is a self-
directed learning approach, there are many opportunities to be learning through interacting
with others, including other learners, the mobile teacher, your family and friends and people
in the community such as business owners, employers, managers and employees. Sometimes
you will be reading, writing and reflecting about new topics. You will also be given
opportunities to practice, apply, analyze or synthesize the content and skills you are
introduced to.

As you move through the modules, you will notice that they are organized in the same way.
Each module starts out with objectives and an overview of activities and time required, and a
list of written assignments. A module begins and ends with a learner reflection (self-
assessment).
There is also an End-of-Module Assessment at the end of each module.

Modules are divided into sessions which each contain 2 – 5 activities. At the beginning of each
session, you will find a table that links the session to DepEd’s learning strands, content
Learning Strand 5:
standards and learning competencies.
Content Standard:

Learning Competencies:

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This is followed by a textbox containing the key topic and learning points of the
session.

 Key Topics and Learning Points 

1.
2.
3.

Then there are the main activities, including that activity name, objectives, time required
and a variety of tasks for you to do.

Activity x:

Objectives:





 Recommended Time: 90 minutes

The tasks are represented by icons. Some of the icons you will see
include:

Read and

write Read

 Write

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Think or reflect

 x.x: Information to read or a worksheet to

compelet

Dialogue/talk with

others Other times you will

see:

Let’s Exercise! – This section is for comprehension check questions to ensure

you have understood introduced concepts before moving to application.

Let’s Apply! – This section is for application of concepts learned. You

are putting the information learned into action!

Think about it!

This section encourages you to express your opinions to family and friends about a topic. Start
a discussion with them face to face, via text, chat, or whatever means available and
comfortable to you. It’s always great to share your ideas and hear more points of view  .

Sharing is caring

This section encourages you to share your output to family and friends. You worked hard
on this so now it is time to tell others about the task you have just completed. Do it face
to face, via text, chat, or whatever means available and comfortable to you. It’s always
great to share your thoughts and hear feedback from people who care 

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Requirements

There are a number of requirements that you will need to fulfill to pass the course and that
will form part of your portfolio.

1. Learner Reflection at the beginning and end of each module

2. Written Assignments: These are a range of assignments that need to be completed as

you move through a module. A list of written assignments is found at the beginning of
each module.

3. End-of-Module Assessment

Support from ALS Teachers

An ALS teacher will be there to support you throughout the modules. The teacher will check in
with you several times a week by phone, email, FB, FB messenger or in person to answer any
questions you have and to monitor the progress you are making with assignments and
activities. They are a great resource and will be able to help you when you do not understand
something or want to know more about the session.

Good luck on your journey and have fun! By the time you finish with the modules, you will be
well prepared to continue with your education, find a job or start your own business. Thank
you!

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Module 1: Personal Learner’s
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Module 1: Personal Development

“Mas mabuting pinag‐iisipan ang kinabukasan
habang ikaw ay nasa kasalukuyan.”

One better thinks of the future while in the

present.
Personal Development Objectives
By the end of the module, you will:
 Identify your values, skills and personal strengths and weaknesses
 Link personal values to your daily lives
 Identify goals
 Make a plan to reach your goals
 Appreciate different learning styles and identify different learning strategies

Module Overview

 Activity  Time
Session 1: Values and Skills
1: Introductory Activity & Learner’s Reflection 30-60 minutes
2. Values, Beliefs & Qualities 40-60 minutes
3: We Are All Unique 30-60 minutes
4: My Skills and Qualities 30-60 minutes
Session 2: Setting & Achieving Goals
5: Introduction & Process for Setting and Achieving Goals 90-120 minutes
6. Community Mapping 60 – 80 minutes
7. Session 1 & 2 Review & Application – Values, Skills, Goals 25-60 minutes
Session 3: Learning New Skills
8: Learning Style Assessment 25-60 minutes
9: Learning Strategies 40-60 minutes
10: Session 3 Review & Application – Learning New Skills 60-120 minutes
Total Time: 7-12 hours

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Written Assignments

This is a checklist of all the written documents for learners to accomplish. The facilitator will
put a tick mark on the submitted outputs and follow-up on those that have not been
submitted yet.

 1.1: Examples of Values, Beliefs and Desirable Qualities

 1.2: My Skills and Qualities
 Session 1 Writing Space: Values, Qualities, Skills
 Session 2 Writing Space: Tree Drawing
 Session 2 Writing Space Continued: Community Map
 1.3 Setting and Achieving Goals
 1.4: Steps to Achieving My Goals
 1.5 How do you learn best?
 1.6 Learning My Way
 Session 3 Writing Space: Relating Skills and Other Learnings to daily life

SESSION 1: VALUES AND SKILLS

Learning Strand 5: Understanding the Self and Society

Content Standard: Intrapersonal Relationship (Positive Sense of Self)
and Development of One’s Potential
Performance Standard: Develop a positive sense of self and discovering
one’s potential
Learning Competencies:

A Self-awareness: Learning to Know Oneself

1.2 Demonstrate greater understanding of oneself – LS5DS-ID-PSA-BL/LE/AE/LS/AS-1.2
2 Describe oneself according to:
• interests, hobbies, talents, skills (singing, dancing, etc.)
• personal preferences (likes and dislikes
• character traits and emotions (helpful, courteous, obedient, diligent,
sincere, determined, sensitive, etc.) – LS5US-ID-PSA-LE-A.2
B Self-worth: Knowledge of One’s Strengths and Weaknesses
2.1 Evaluate one’s worth in terms of values/character – LS5DS-ID-PSA-
BL/LE/AE/LS/AS- 2.1
1 Identify one’s strengths and weaknesses – LS5US-ID-PSA-LE-B.1

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2 Identify observable values or character traits that are passed on from elders – LS5US-
ID-PSA-LE-B.2

Activity 1: Introductory Activity & Learner’s Reflection

Objectives:

 Describe the topics that are important for planning one’s future

 Recommended Time: 30 - 60 minutes

Read the proverb at the beginning of the module. What does it

mean?

Read the objectives of the module. How does the proverb relate to the
objectives?

During this module, you are going to identify what is important to you and how you can
grow and move ahead. The first session will focus on identifying your own values,
beliefs, interests, and strengths and weaknesses.

 Key Topics and Learning Points 

1. Values, beliefs and qualities

2. Skills and qualities assessment

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