Non/Working Lives: Implications of 'Non-Standard Work Practices' for Literacy and Numeracy.

Through a set of five detailed case studies of individuals representing the new conditions of un/employment, a research project generated new information and knowledge about effective communication skills, often referred to as generic and transferable, for people engaged in so-called new ways of working. These three research questions were addressed: What communicative skills did respondents report? Is there evidence the identified skills are generic and transfer? and What is the explanation for generic and transferable skills? A literature review produced a general profile of views about literacy and numeracy; an overview of research on generic skills to set the scene for one on the research of transfer of training; and a review of what it might mean to talk about non-standard work. The case studies were selected according to the criteria of non-standard workers, including casualization and out-sourcing, telecommuting, multiple jobs in which the employee is engaged, nature and frequency of non-work, and the phenomenon of portfolio work. Findings were that basic skills are not transferred but re-contextualized by new forms of situated learning; the terms "generic" and "transfer" are wrong and misleading; speaking and personal presentation skills are the leading communicative practices; successful communication is driven by the need and purpose of the learning; practice (in context) makes perfect; and the main game is good practice in learning. (Appendixes include 106 references and an interview schedule.) (YLB)