Understanding Essential Skills

Document Use refers to tasks that involve a variety of information displays in which words, numbers, icons and other visual characteristics (i.e., line, colour, shape) are given meaning by their spatial arrangement. For example, graphs, lists, tables, blueprints, schematics, drawings, signs and labels are documents used in the world of work.

If a document includes a paragraph of text such as on a label or a completed form, it is also included in A. Reading Text. Documents requiring the entry of words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs are also included in C. Writing.

Document Use includes:

• print and non-print media (for example, computer screen or microfiche documents, equipment gauges, clocks and flags)

• reading/interpreting and writing/completing/producing of documents - these two uses of documents often occur simultaneously as part of the same task, e.g., completing a form, checking off items on a list of tasks, plotting information on a graph, and entering information on an activity schedule.

Source: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/essential_skills/general/help_section_du.shtml