Skill Acquisition – JSS3 Basic Science Lesson Note (Second Term)

Skill acquisition is the process of gaining a special ability through training so that one can do something well.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define skill acquisition;
2. state reasons why people acquire skills;
3. describe different types of skill, including photography, farming and computer skills;
4. explain what the internet, internet browsing, e-mail and fax are;
5. state the importance of skill acquisition.

What is a skill?

A skill is a special ability that a person gains or develops through training and practice.

• Photography: taking pictures of events, scenes and things.
• Farming: growing crops and rearing animals.
• Computer skills: internet browsing, e-mail operation and fax.
• Other examples: carpentry, tailoring, catering, hairdressing, painting and welding.

What are the reasons for skill acquisition?

People acquire skills to earn a living, to depend on themselves and to be ready for risk, emergencies and survival.

1. Employment: a skilled person is easier to employ.
2. Self-employment: one can work for oneself and does not have to work under anybody.
3. Decision making: a trained person can make better choices.
4. Risk-taking: skills give confidence to start new ventures.
5. Managing an emergency: skills such as first aid help in times of danger.
6. Living together: training teaches people to cooperate with others.
7. Survival strategy: a skill gives a way to survive when jobs are scarce.

How can a person acquire a skill?

A skill is acquired through training and regular practice.

• Apprenticeship: learning a trade from an experienced person, such as a tailor or a mechanic.
• Vocational or technical school: formal training in a trade or craft.
• Workshops and short courses: training in one skill over a short time.
• Self-learning: learning from books, teachers and the internet.
• Practice: repeating the work until it is done well.

What are the types of skill?

This note covers seven skills: photography, farming skills, computer literacy, the internet, internet browsing, e-mail operation and fax.

What is photography?

Photography is the art of capturing an event, scene or thing in a picture.

• The picture may be printed, viewed on a card or projected on a screen.
• A picture is an image.
• Examples of use: passport photographs, wedding pictures and newspaper pictures.

What are farming skills?

Farming skills are the skills connected to growing crops and rearing animals.

• Poultry keeping: rearing birds such as chickens for eggs and meat.
• Snailery: rearing snails for food.
• Fishery: rearing or catching fish.
• Crop farming: growing crops such as maize, yam and cassava.

What is computer literacy?

Computer literacy is the ability to use a computer for basic tasks.

• Everybody in this generation needs basic computer skills.
• They are used for sending and finding information.
• They are also used for keeping records.

What is the internet?

The internet is a worldwide network of computers that are linked through servers.

• The internet host servers form linked organisations worldwide.
• Web pages can be reached from these servers.
• The pages link users to various types of essential information and data.

What is internet browsing?

Internet browsing is searching the internet for required information and data.

1. Connect the computer or phone to the internet.
2. Open a web browser.
3. Open a search engine such as Google.
4. Type the topic you want, or a website address such as www.yahoo.com.
5. Click the result you need and read, copy or study the information.

What is e-mail operation?

E-mail operation is the skill of sending and receiving mail and other data through the internet.

• One needs an e-mail service such as Yahoo Mail.
• E-mail sends brief notes to someone who may be on another continent.
• An e-mail address may look like Elias2016@yahoo.com.

Steps to send an e-mail:

1. Connect to the internet and open your e-mail service.
2. Sign in with your e-mail address and password.
3. Click the button to write a new message.
4. Type the receiver’s address, the subject and the message.
5. Click send.

What is a fax?

Fax is short for facsimile, which means an exact copy of writing, a picture or a print.

• A fax machine captures a document and sends an exact copy to a designated place.
• The receiving machine prints the copy.

Steps to send a fax:

1. Place the document in the fax machine.
2. Dial the fax number of the receiver.
3. Press the send button.
4. The receiver’s machine prints an exact copy.

How do the computer skills compare?

Why is skill acquisition important?

Skill acquisition is important because it improves the quality of life and provides services to others.

1. Quality of life: it improves the way a person lives.
2. Leisure: it provides enjoyable games, leisure and entertainment.
3. Services: it provides services to other people.
4. Saving lives: skills such as first aid and medical care save lives.
5. Fame: it widens opportunities of attaining fame.
6. Functional literacy: it helps everyone to acquire the ability to use knowledge in daily life.

Evaluation

1. Define skill acquisition.
2. Mention any five types of skill one can acquire.
3. State four reasons why people acquire skills.
4. Mention five reasons why skill acquisition is important.
5. All these are importances of skill acquisition except: A. create employment B. improve quality of life C. enslave an apprentice D. make oneself self-reliant.

Assignment

Explain any three types of skill and state three reasons why people acquire skills.