The learning components are the main areas of related or associated
content or skills that are best taught/learned together and represent
logical pieces of curricula.
From the IT Technical Support skill standards and other sources, 20
learning components similar in size and scope were identified.
Learning components were organized in two groups:
- Technical learning components in which technical knowledge is high
- Foundation learning components in which foundation skills or basic skills are high
As an example, the learning component: Business Knowledge requires
the students to learn and understand business concepts and
terminology, classifying this component as primarily a technical
learning component. On the other hand, the learning component:
Problem Solving/Troubleshooting requires the students to master
creative thinking, reasoning and communication processes, classifying
this component as primarily a foundation learning component.
Note that no learning component is purely a technical learning
component or a foundation learning component. All learning components
include elements of technical knowledge and elements of foundation or
basic skills. This distinction however helps to give equal emphasis
to technical knowledge and foundation or basic skills. Too often,
technical knowledge is given priority over mastery of foundation
skills. Industry managers caution that mastery of technical knowledge
will get a worker hired, but it is the mastery of foundation skills
in combination with technical knowledge that will make that worker
highly valued in the organization.
Note: The Learning Components may be used in the following ways:
- They can become modules or complete courses.
- Two or more components may be combined into a single module or course.
- Some of the competencies from a component may be infused into an
existing course. For example, the competencies in the component Task
Management are more likely to be combined with competencies from
other learning components rather than taught as a stand alone module.
NOTE:
See the section, Model Curriculum, for the complete list of
Learning Components for Technical Support.