ROUNDTABLE ON EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT
Paul Brinkhurst
The Centre for Literacy Summer Institute 2012Workplace Literacy & Essential Skills:Shaping a New Learning CultureJune 27-29, 2012Montreal, QC
OutlineThe Skills PyramidBuilding Employability SkillsAssessing Employability SkillsYour Input:
Possible applicationsYour needs ( guides, curriculum etc.)Your limitations (cost, staff, time…)
Participation:Level 1 – informal feedbackLevel 2 – formal feedback
Conclusion
The Skills Pyramid
JOB
ESSENTIAL
EMPLOYABILITY
Employability Skills
AttitudeMotivationPresentation TeamworkTime Management
AdaptabilityStress ManagementAccountabilityConfidence
Based on our 25+ years in the field, our list of KEY employability skills is:
DEVELOPING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS….
The Glenwood Method: Integrated Skill Development
On the job at all times
Contextualized learning
Hands on skill development
The principles….1. Common expectations:
- For both staff and learners – on the job at all times
- Common skill definitions- Detailed guidelines- Assessment rubrics for each skill
TIME MANAGEMENT
RED YELLOW GREEN
VERBAL TIME MANAGEMENT
- excessive hesitation - excessive speed - excessive talking with others
- clarity drops with excitement or shyness
- can communicate an idea verbally both effectively and efficiently - appropriate hesitation - talking for work purposes - clear speech
PHYSICAL TIME MANAGEMENT
- arrives /leaves at the wrong time - makes excuses for lateness - does not meet deadlines -does not set or follow proper priorities - is inattentive to the time -cannot tell time. - cannot read schedules - does not plan ahead
- improving ability to meet/use simple schedules effectively - attempts to meet assigned priorities - attempts to be attentive (uses strategies) with some success - shows signs of planning ahead to improve efficiency
- arrives and leaves on time -meets deadlines -is attentive and efficient - can plan ahead and use foresight - sets/meets own priorities effectively -can use complex schedules -can make schedules
CONSISTENT TIME MANAGEMENT (time)
- usually or always late regardless of time of day - never pays attention to or forgets deadlines
- is late or misses deadlines only at specific times (morning, after break etc) - is occasionally late or misses deadlines
- is rarely or never late - consistently meets deadlines well throughout their workday
CONSISTENT TIME MANAGEMENT (place)
- does not demonstrate appropriate time management in any venue
- exhibits appropriate time management skills in some venues
- exhibits appropriate time management skills in most/all venues
SCALE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Developing Employability Skills1. Create common expectations2. Involve all staff in observing client strengths
and weaknesses in a variety of venues and situations
- always be watchful for opportunities to praise and obligations to adjust behaviours - common observation recording and management system
Observation Record
Developing Employability Skills1. Create common expectations2. Involve all staff3. Provide honest, consistent, timely and
respectful feedback- honest: do not mask the truth. Tell it like it is.- consistent: all staff respond the same way.- timely: respond when the behaviour occurs.- respectful: establish a relationship of trust.
Developing Employability Skills1. Create common expectations2. Involve all staff3. Honest, consistent, timely and respectful4. Involve clients in finding and evaluating
new behavioural strategies- one-on-one counsellor/client partnership- opportunities for testing in the work place
Developing Employability Skills1. Common expectations2. Involve all staff3. Honest, consistent, timely and respectful
feedback4. Involve clients in new strategies5. Use a consistent assessment process to track
change
- Employability Skills Assessment Tool (ESAT)
Assessing Employability SkillsHow do you assess attitude, confidence, etc?
How do you show employability skill program effectiveness?
How do you motivate clients or funders when improvements are hard to demonstrate?
Embracing the subjectivity…
ESAT INVOLVES:
1. Repeated client self assessment surveys2. Repeated staff assessments by rubric3. Staff Consensus4. Perception comparison and analysis5. Client debrief and strategizing6. Distance Travelled Assessment
Self Assessment58 to 100 descriptive statementsClients assign scores 1 to 8 re applicabilityClients score with respect to work, and with
respect to homeESAT generates a score for each skill (8
being optimal)
Staff AssessmentEach staff member assesses a client using
the definitions and rubrics on a 1-8 scaleAssessments are :
IndependentBased on observations over previous 4-6 weeks
Staff ConsensusWeekly client reviews
Individual staff scores are presented and discussed
Staff reach consensus:
Create a deeper shared understanding of the client
Help reveal any bias that may existEnsure staff can substantiate scores
Comparison Output
Debrief learner…Identify strengths
Identify opportunities for growth
Discuss differences in perspective
Brainstorm new behavioural strategies
Reach agreement ( verbal, formal or contract)
Distance Travelled
Key PointsRequires consistent application of common
skill definitions and expectationsRequires strong communication between
staffRequires an investment of time in the client
But….
IT WORKS!
WAY AHEADFunding from Counselling Foundation of
CanadaIncludes software to run on an intranet or
workstationIncludes user guideAvailable January 2013
First 100 copies will be provided to non-profits at no cost – just a promise to provide feedback
Questions?
YOUR INPUTPossible Applications:
addition to employment training programs
YOUR INPUTWhat would you need to implement such a
system:
Guide – ESAT or full method?Training?Curriculum supports?Ability to adjust the tool?
Skills? Questions? Rubrics?
Your Input #3What limitations or problems do you foresee?
Time?Staff commitment?Training?Cost?Ability to do work simulation?
ParticipationLevel 1 – Use the ESAT and provide informal
feedback on the tool and its effectiveness
Level 2 – Use the ESAT for a year and provide formal feedback on its utility, effectiveness including feedback from participants.
Name of Organization: _______________________
Contact Name: ______________________________
Email:_________________Phone: (___)__________ Interested in:
Level 1 2 Other… (please specify):
Comments:
ESAT PARTICIPATION:
