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SOFT SKILLS The Missing Link in Contemporary Education I
SOFT SKILLS
The Missing Link in Contemporary Education I
Employment in Decline
Cornell University:http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=2
Employment in Decline
Bureau of Labor Statistics:http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdfhttp://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.a.htm
The Reach of DoR
BFS for CA “factsheet” http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/Public/DOR-Fact-Sheets.htmlDisability Statistics from Cornell University http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=1
What Do Employers Want?Option Rank Score1
Social Skills (e.g. Coordination, Instruction, Negotiation, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness)
1 530
Workplace Behavior and Values 2 503
Basic Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
3 423
Technical Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Equipment Selection, Installation, Operation and Control; Operation Monitoring; Programming; Quality Control Analysis, Technology Design, Troubleshooting)
4 410
Complex Problem-Solving Skills 5 380
Systems Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation)
6 376
Management or Leadership 7 278
What are the Skill Gaps?Option Rank Score
Basic Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
1 1291
Social Skills (e.g. Coordination, Instruction, Negotiation, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness)
2 1200
Technical Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Equipment Selection, Installation, Operation and Control; Operation Monitoring; Programming; Quality Control Analysis, Technology Design, Troubleshooting)
3 1123
Complex Problem-Solving Skills 4 1045
Workplace Behavior and Values 5 1013
Systems Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation)
6 1013
Management or Leadership 7 750
Do you think society expects people with disabilities to work?
“I have a disability”
SUCCESS IS:1. Achieving happiness and life satisfaction2. Giving back to others3. Living a dignified, well-rounded life4. Achieving goals and expectations5. Having meaningful employment6. Establishing economic self-sufficiency7. Mastery of skills (blindness-specific and
general life skills)
SUCCESS IS:1. Achieving happiness and life satisfaction2. Giving back to others3. Living a dignified, well-rounded life4. Achieving goals and expectations5. Having meaningful employment6. Establishing economic self-sufficiency7. Mastery of skills (blindness-specific and
general life skills)
FACTORS that contribute to success
1. Role models and mentors2. Positive blind identity3. Membership and participation in a
national consumer organization for the blind4. Blindness-specific skills training
FACTORS that contribute to success
5. Strong work ethic6. Problem-solving and critical thinking skills7. Internal traits and characteristics8. Active learning9. Goal setting
FACTORS that contribute to success
10. Early expectations and encouragement from family and friends11. Experience of success12. Social skills13. Fear of failure
What Do Employers Want?Option Rank Score1
Social Skills (e.g. Coordination, Instruction, Negotiation, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness)
1 530
Workplace Behavior and Values 2 503
Basic Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
3 423
Technical Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Equipment Selection, Installation, Operation and Control; Operation Monitoring; Programming; Quality Control Analysis, Technology Design, Troubleshooting)
4 410
Complex Problem-Solving Skills 5 380
Systems Skills and Knowledge (e.g. Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation)
6 376
Management or Leadership 7 278
And Soft Skills Means…
Zone of Control
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic
Social Rapport
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic
Social Rapport
Collaboration
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic•Presence•Trustworthiness•Commitment to Work• Unsupervised Behavior• Commitment to Growth• Professional Boundaries
Social Rapport•Emotional Projection•Physical Projection•Reception & Interpretation• Differentiated Communication
Collaboration•Teamwork•Communication
• Common Sense• Time Management• Problem Solving
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic•Presence•Trustworthiness•Commitment to Work• Unsupervised Behavior• Commitment to Growth• Professional Boundaries
Social Rapport•Emotional Projection•Physical Projection•Reception & Interpretation• Differentiated Communication
Collaboration•Teamwork•Communication
• Common Sense• Time Management• Problem Solving
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic•Presence•Trustworthiness•Commitment to Work• Unsupervised Behavior• Commitment to Growth• Professional Boundaries
Social Rapport•Emotional Projection•Physical Projection•Reception & Interpretation• Differentiated Communication
Collaboration•Teamwork•Communication
• Common Sense• Time Management• Problem Solving
Zone of Control
Critical Thinking
Work Ethic•Presence•Trustworthiness•Commitment to Work• Unsupervised Behavior• Commitment to Growth• Professional Boundaries
Social Rapport•Emotional Projection•Physical Projection•Reception & Interpretation• Differentiated Communication
Collaboration•Teamwork•Communication
• Common Sense• Time Management• Problem Solving
Hard Skills -A skill used to perform a singular task.
Soft Skills-An interrelated set of learnable skills that allow people to work together effectively.
Implications
• Soft Skills Can be defined (and should be)• The conceptual model is an attempt to
bring common language to the discussion• The skills are learnable, not inherent
characteristics• We can map and influence educational
curricula…
