Why Life Orientation
According, to the Future of Jobs Report 2020, World Economic Forum
(http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf, page 36),
Top 15 skills for 2025 are:
- Analytical thinking and innovation
- Active learning and learning strategies
- Complex problem-solving
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Creativity, originality and initiative
- Leadership and social influence
- Technological use, monitoring and control
- Technology design and programming
- Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility
- Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation
- Emotional intelligence
- Troubleshooting and user experience
- Service orientation
- Systems analysis and evaluation
- Persuasion and negotiation
The Life Orientation Curriculum requires learners to explore NINE of these top fifteen skills.
Skills are something that can be taught and learnt.
Not teaching the subject well, deprives learners of opportunities to develop themselves and improve their social skills. It also prevents them from acquiring those skills that would differentiate them from other future job candidates.
Furthermore, Life Orientation focusses on emotional intelligence and relationships. The ability to engage and work well with others is crucial to any future success and advancement.
"All things being equal, people will work with people they like. All things not being equal, they still will."
– John C. Maxwell
Apart from future career benefits, Life Orientation also addresses many other important themes such as lifestyle choices, risky behavior (incl Covid-19, underage drinking, substance abuse, teen pregnancy), physical exercise, nutrition, responsible citizenship, human rights, discrimination, gender equality, climate change and various social issues.
Below, is a list of where the above NINE skills are covered within the various Annual Teaching Plans (Grade 8 to 12).
Active learning and learning strategies
Gr8 T2 WOW W1; Gr8 T2 WOW W2-5; Gr9 T1 WOW W8-10; Gr9 T4 WOW T1-2; Gr10 T4 CCC W1-3; Gr11 T2 SS W1-4; Gr12 T1 SS W6-7
Complex problem-solving
Gr8 T3 WOW W1-3; Gr9 T2 WOW W6-8; Gr9 T3 WOW W1-3; Gr9 T4 DSS W5-7; Gr10 T2 SS W1-3
Critical thinking and analysis
Gr9 T2 WOW W6-8; Gr10 T2 SS W1-3; Gr10 T2 SER W4-7; Gr10 T4 DHR W4-6; Gr12 T1 CCC W8-10; Gr12 T2 DHR W1-4
Creativity, originality and initiative
Gr9 T3 PE; Gr11 T3 PE; Gr11 T4 PE
Leadership and social influence
Gr8 T2 WOW W2-5; Gr9 T3 HSER W4-6; Gr9 T3 HSER W7-10; Gr10 T1 DHR W7-10; Gr11 T1 DHR W7-10; Gr11 T2 PE ; Gr11 T2 SER W5-7; Gr11 T3 PE; Gr12 T2 SER W5-7
Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility
Gr9 T4 DSS W5-7; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr10 T4 CCC W1-3; Gr11 T3 CCC W6-10; Gr12 T1 DSS W1-5; Gr12 T3 DSS W1-4
Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation
Gr8 T1 DSS W4-6; Gr8 T1 DSS W7-9; Gr8 T3 HSER W7-8; Gr9 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr9 T1 DSS W4-7; Gr9 T3 HSER W7-10; Gr9 T4 DSS W5-7; Gr10 T1 CCC W4-6; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T3 DSS W1-5
Persuasion and negotiation
Gr9 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T1 DHR W7-10; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T2 SER W5-7; Gr11 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr12 T1 DSS W1-5; Gr12 T2 DHR W1-4; Gr12 T3 DSS W1-4
Emotional intelligence (consists of five key elements)
1. Self-awareness:
Gr8 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr8 T1 DSS W4-6; Gr8 T3 WOW W1-3; Gr9 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr9 T2 CRR W3-5; Gr10 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T1 CCC W4-6; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T3 CCC W6-10; Gr11 T4 DHR W4-6; Gr12 T2 DHR W1-4; Gr12 T2 SER W5-7; Gr12 T3 CCC W5-7
2. Self-regulation:
Gr8 T2 HSER W6-8; Gr9 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr9 T1 DSS W4-7; Gr9 T3 HSER W7-10; Gr9 T4 DSS W5-7; Gr10 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T1 DHR W7-10; Gr11 T2 SER W5-7; Gr11 T3 DSS W1-5
3. Motivation:
Gr8 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr10 T3 CCC W6-10; Gr11 T3 CCC W6-10; Gr12 T2 SER W5-7; Gr12 T3 DSS W1-4
4. Empathy:
Gr8 T1 DSS W7-9; Gr8 T3 HSER W7-8; Gr8 T3 CRR W9-10; Gr8 T4 CRR W1-4; Gr8 T4 CRR W5-7; Gr9 T1 DSS W4-7; Gr9 T2 CRR W1-2; Gr9 T3 HSER W4-6; Gr9 T4 DSS W5-7; Gr11 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T4 DSS W1-3; Gr11 T4 DHR W4-6; Gr12 T1 DSS W1-5
5. Social skills:
Gr8 T1 DSS W7-9; Gr8 T2 HSER W6-8; Gr10 T1 DSS W1-3; Gr10 T3 DSS W1-5; Gr11 T4 DSS W1-3; Gr12 T1 DSS W1-5