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45-4011.00 · Learning planner

Forest and Conservation Workers: a task-based learning plan

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.

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Understand the profile before choosing priorities

The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 33 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.

SkillImportance / 5Level / 7Rating date
Critical Thinking3.123.0008/2023 · Analyst
Monitoring3.122.8808/2023 · Analyst
Coordination3.003.2508/2023 · Analyst
Speaking3.003.0008/2023 · Analyst
Reading Comprehension3.002.8808/2023 · Analyst
Active Listening3.002.8808/2023 · Analyst
Judgment and Decision Making3.002.8808/2023 · Analyst
Active Learning3.002.7508/2023 · Analyst
Time Management2.882.7508/2023 · Analyst
Complex Problem Solving2.882.5008/2023 · Analyst

Anchor the plan in an actual task

Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late

Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses

What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Proofread and correct a letter

Level 4: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed

What result or exception would you inspect during the task, and when would you revisit it?

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 4: Work with others to put a new roof on a house

Level 2: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic

Who would need what information, and at which handoff would timing matter?

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions

Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history

How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form

Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies

Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Take a customer's order

Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references

What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow

Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk

Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities

Level 4: Determine the impact of new menu changes on a restaurant's purchasing requirements

What new information would change your approach, and how would you record the change?

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments

Level 4: Allocate the time of subordinates to projects for the coming week

What needs to happen first, where is the deadline, and what would you do if time runs short?

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for forest and conservation workers.

Level 2: Lay out tools to complete a job

Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques

How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?

Review the result

Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.

Keep your worksheet

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.