Product reviews for The Competency Curriculum Toolkit

As an educator in personal development, I read the title and had no idea what PLTS stands for, and after first paging through the book, I was still not sure what it stands for although it seemed to have an objective. So my immediate reaction is I cant review this book.

However, what caught my eye was"In the past knowledge was like gold: it gave you power, influence and wealth. Now knowledge is like milk: if you keep it too long, it becomes out of date and stagnant., And that really rung true for me. Plus the statement of Abu Yusuf Al-Kindi"We should not shy away from welcoming and acquiring the truth regardless of where it comes from, even if it comes from distant races and nations that are different from us. Nothing is more important than seeking the truth except truth itself., Now that is very much my attitude and philosophy to life.

So what has this book got to offer people like myself who are not part of the formal educational system, yet dedicated to learning and expanding ourselves through consistent learning of knowledge and applying it in every day life?

I think Roy Leightons comments about attitudes within the UK are particularly relevant and although the book is focused on students within formal education, the value of the exercises in business or personal development groups, is to my mind, excellent for team building or as ice breakers and allowing a group of people to appreciate the vast array of perceptions to one concept and yet developing global affinity, co-operation and understanding.

The PLTS system of learning is to my mind, valuable in that it again focuses more on practical skills that are needed within business once a student has left formal education. Learning how to work within a team, how to self manage oneself and ones time for productivity are vitally important skills that affect the bottom line of any business. The only way one can successfully work in a team and be a self manager that creates results is to develop the abilities of independent thinking, reflective learning and creative thinking around a particular task or challenge within the work place. And the only way to effectively develop these skills is to observe and participate in each circumstance.

So the idea behind this book and what it is seeking toteach students in terms of practical approaches to working effectively with different traditions, cultures as well as equipping them with skills that can be used in business, really does reflect a radical change in the way we as human beings can learn and bring peace to the world and live in harmony with our environment.

Whilst this book is primarily written for the student in formal education, I can definitely appreciate the exercises as being of extreme value for people within business. Their formal education may be over, however, innovative bosses and companies understand their ability to maintain a profitable company will depend on how much they implement the PLTS concept into their working ethics. So what started off for me asI am not able to review has turned around intoI am going to apply some of these exercises with various seminars and trainings I lead as ice breakers and to demonstrate perceptual concepts around productivity, creativity, innovation and co-operation with others from other traditions.

The content of the book using global issues that we all need to take responsibility for ... excellent idea and great metaphor for how each human being is a microcosm within the macrocosm and vice versa" and that unless we become responsible citizens regardless of our race, religion and traditions .. we wont have a world to live in.

I look forward to applying this information within my own life.