Basic Science {JSS3}: Skill Acquisition

Basic Science

Topic: Skill Acquisition

Content –

1. Meaning of Skill Acquisition
2. Reasons for Skill Acquisition
3. Types of Skills
4. Importance of Skill Acquisition
   

Introduction

We are living in a very competitive age in which the employers of labour want to hire only the best applicants while the applicant wants to sell his or her services to the employer that offers the best returns. The level of skill which an employee has, determines to a large extent the level of his or her pay as well as the value which the organisation places on hi or her. Generally, the skills possessed by individuals make the difference in the level of their achievement in life. In any endeavour, a skilled person always produces a better quality output than any unskilled person. Moreover, a skilled person requires much less exertion in order to produce excellent results. Possession of skills therefore, gives one an edge over one’s competitors. For example, the skills possessed by some young Nigerian footballers have made them to be sought after by big European Football Clubs.

In this study, we may regard skill as a learned superlative performance, which has the ability of being effortlessly reproduced. Acquisition could be seen as to own and exhibit ownership as an inherent character.

Meaning of Skill Acquisition
Skill acquisition maybe viewed as the process of making superlative output a general characteristic of one’s behaviour in a given field. It involves a gradual change from less effective behaviour to extremely proficient one. A skilled worker is one who is adept in his trade or a person who has attained excellence in a particular trade or undertaking. Skill acquisition therefore involves painstaking effort, discipline, practice and drill as well as reviews.

Skill Acquisition is the science that underpins movement learning and execution and is more commonly termed motor learning and control (Williams & Ford, 2009). Each stage embodies unique characteristics relative to an athlete’s level of performance of a skill or activity.

Reasons for Skill Acquisition

Some of the reasons for acquisition of skills may be obvious to you by now. For example, the instances of international footballers and computer programmers who are valued all over the world and receive higher pay than most company executives become pertinent. So higher pay and fame may be the reasons for skill acquisition but more importantly other essential reasons include:

1. Taking Risks – Taking risks have become a way of life for the scientist, such as in performing unusual experiments or working with untested substances. These could lead to poisoning, injury, explosion or even death. Such scientists require special skills and techniques in order to be successful.
2. Decision making – People are faced with decisions making situations on a daily basis, e.g. whether to take the sick to the hospital or to go to a herbal clinic; whether to go to school or to drop out, etc. The problem here is how to make good and effective decision. Good decision making would involve going through mastery of the problem domain, unbiased analysis of available facts and systematic evaluation of possible alternative before selection of the most viable option.
3. Managing emergency situations – Emergency situations generally occur suddenly when people are not prepared for them. Some emergency situations such as aeroplane crash, motor vehicle crash, fire disasters, kerosene explosion and flood have occurred in the past. Effective skilled for managing such situations have to be taught and learned.
4. Survival Strategy – There are a number of things people do consciously or unconsciously which are directed at individual or group survival. Examples include wearing of clothes to protect the body from cold or heat, eating balanced diet for more efficient body functioning, building and living in houses, seeking medical care when sick etc People have learnt and acquired proficient skills for selecting fabric, preparing and preserving food, designing and constructing houses, providing and sustaining medical care, etc. All these are part of survival strategies adopted by Man.
5. Learning to live together – Man by nature lives in communities. It is not usual that a man should live an isolated life because people in a community depend on one another for their various needs. It is therefore important that individuals in a community must understand and respect the customs and traditions and even the laws and other regulations that make for orderliness in the society.

Types of Skills

There are many types of skills that are practised in the society. A few of them will be highlighted here. These include

1. Farming Skills – In farming, there are many people who practise the skill of rearing day old chickens, broilers, cockerels and eggs, sheep, goats, pigs and cows, fish and shrimps. Some others have the skill in producing cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. All these are some of the skills possessed by farmers. 
2. Basic Computer Literacy – Everybody in this age needs to acquire basic computer knowledge. The reason is because the world is a global village and technological innovations has taken over most of the things we do ranging from the use of Laptops to different advanced gadgets.These devices are handy for storing, gathering and finding information. They can also be used for learning and entertainment. Schools, Offices, Banks and Stores all use these technological devices.
   
   
   Practical study of the Computer – Attention should be placed on the following parts
   i.   The Central Processing Unit
   ii.  The Monitor
   iii. The Keyboard
   iv. The Mouse
   v.  The Uninterrupted power supply unit
   vi. The Printer
   Students should be able to discover that
   a. The CPU  is the main computer in which information or data are processed
   b. The monitor contains the screen on which processed data are displayed
   c. The mouse is a device used in navigating through the various computer programmes
   d. The printer is an attached device through which processed information or data is physically seen or printed on paper
3. Photography – Photography is the technique of capturing  and event, a scene or a thing on a picture. This could be printed or viewed on a card or a projected screen. A picture is an image. Photography is now an accepted method of keeping records of events such as Parties, Weddings, Birthdays, Seminars etc. Originally, it involves lenses and photographic films, but with technology, the digital computer generates images which can be stored and reproduced in the computer memory.
   

   [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

   

4. Desktop Publishing and Networking – This has to do with the use of the computer for compiling, producing and disseminating information and reading materials without going through the rigour of passing through a publisher. Computer processing has reduced drastically the vigorous work of publishing, such as script editing, typing, artworks and designs.
   Networking entails linking up of computers through local area connection via cables or servers and joining these servers through the satellite to servers in other parts of the world. Local area networks link computers on the net together so that they can share information or work simultaneously on the same or different aspects of a project.
5. Bead making – Bead making has become a very profitable venture in our society today. If you have taken your time to look around, especially on weddings and different ceremonies, you will discover that so many ladies make use of this. Its simple and easy to learn. Your ability to innovate and be creative will help you stand out in this venture.
   
   
6. Fashion Designing – Fashion design is the art of application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social attitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories such as bracelets and necklace. Because of the time required to bring a garment onto the market, designers must at times anticipate changes to consumer tastes. Some clothes are made specifically for an individual, as in the case of haute couture or bespoke tailoring. Today, most clothing is designed for the mass market, especially casual and every-day wear are called ready to wear. Virtually every  Saturday, people have occasions and ceremonies to attend and people love to dress in the most fashionable way. 

   

7. Graphics Designing – A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures (sometimes) and advertising.
   
   
8. Shoe making – Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or craftsmanship. Shoemakers, also known as cobblers, may produce a range of footwear items, including shoes, boots, sandals, clogs and moccasins. Such items are generally made of leather, wood, rubber, plastic, jute or other plant material, and often consist of multiple parts for better durability of the sole, stitched to a leather upper.
   
   

Importance of Skill Acquisition

The following are some of the importance of skill acquisition.

1. Acquisition of functional literacy by all
2. Self-employment: A skill acquired man is a self-employed man. The piece you are reading right now is written as a result of the skill acquired by the writer. There are so many self-employed writers today who do not bother themselves with the problem of searching for jobs. Their skill is freelance writing and they make great money from it. You can be paid to do the same.
3. Provision of various rewarding means of livelihood
4. Crime rate reduction: Skill acquisition reduces the crime rate in various countries. People with skills often think about how to make money and not how to steal. They are engaged with something rather then being idle. When someone has a skill to trade, he misses the chances of engaging in anti-social behaviors.
   
5. Employment Opportunities: Many governments are still finding it difficult to provide jobs for the citizens because the citizens are lacking important skills they need. Anyone with a skill is able to employ and provide job opportunities for others.
6. It facilitates the process of nation-building and development.
7. Reduction of the level of unemployment in the country
8. Improved quality of life
   a. People become increasingly aware of practices that help to improve life expectancy
   b. People learn how to obtain help and information quickly
   c. Easy and convenient communication through phone calls, e-mails and money transfer.
   d. The feat performed by the computer and related items helps man to appreciate the immense potential of the human capacity.

Acquire a SKILL TODAY!!![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]