Soft Skills for a Tough Workforce

Holly Baber SmithCurriculum Specialist

Business Management and Administration, Marketing and Finance

University of North Texas

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Soft Skills:• Definition• Location• Why we don’t; why we should• HOW

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Soft Skills v. Hard Skills

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Soft Skills:

1. Interaction with Co-Workers2. Professionalism and Work Ethic3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

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Soft Skills:

Start with the basics of Emotional Intelligence: personal attributes that allow a person to succeed in life, including self-awareness, empathy, self-confidence and self-control.

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Soft Skills:1. Interaction with Co-Workers

Networking

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Soft Skills:1. Interaction with CoWorkers

Communicationhttp://www.moneyinstructor.com/lesson/effectiveoral.asp

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/905633/how_to_improve_nonverbal_communication.html?cat=41

http://www.moneyinstructor.com/lesson/communicationlp.asp

http://www2.ds.psu.edu/AcademicAffairs/Classes/IST260W/topic0B/topic_0117_03.html

Oral

Nonverbal

Written

Written

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Soft Skills:1. Interaction with CoWorkers

Teamwork – Collaboration

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Teamwork – Collaboration

Willing to lead Shares ideas

Inspiring ideasquietcomplains

Common senseDOESN’T DO A LOT

Refuses to contribute

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Soft Skills:1. Interaction with CoWorkers

Empathy

DevotedSupportiveEngaged

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Soft Skills:2. Professionalism and Work EthicDressing appropriatelyArriving on timeSpeaking in a respectful manner

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Soft Skills:2. Professionalism and/or Work

Ethic

Integrity

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Soft Skills:2. Professionalism and Work

EthicOptimism, Enthusiasm and

Motivation

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Soft Skills:

3. Critical Thinking Problem Solving

Understanding what it takes to solve a problem in a timely, logical, and systematic manner.

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Critical Thinking

“Critical Thinking: An Educator’s Reference Desk Lesson Plan”

Fact and Opinion Exercises

Using Aesop’s Fables

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Problem Solving

“Everyday Thinking”

cte.unt.eduProfessional Development

Health SciencesProblem Based Learning

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NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONPEOPLE SKILLSLEADERSHIPREASONING

MANAGING TIME ~ ENERGY

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Why we don’t1) Hard to define, teach and assess2) Technology takeover3) Generational gap4) Different skills for different careers5) Not my job

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Why we SHOULD

1) CTE = leaders and creative thinkers2) Good fit3) Required

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Other Resources:AOL’s “Top 10 Soft Skills for Job Hunters”

Mr. Breitsprecher’s Career Activities

cte.unt.edu

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Speaking of…….

cte.unt.edu

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PSAs

Lesson Plans

Job Aids

Administrator’s Corner

FREE Resources at cte.unt.edu

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Developed Curriculum for Principles or Foundational courses , and are adding Timelines to Principles courses.

Moderated Discussion at http://www.forum.cte.unt.edu

Updated Blog format

“In Production”

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4-MAT System Bernice McCarthy(4-System MAT)

LearningStyles David Kolb

Learning Styles

Multiple Intelligence

Howard GardnerMultiple Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Daniel GolemanEmotional Intelligence

Theoretical Grounding

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• Detailed lesson plan outline/multiple intelligences

•Along with TEKS correlations:• Interdisciplinary TEKS• References• Instructional aids, materials, equipment• Introduction to lesson• Application – guided and independent practice• Summary • Evaluation – written tests and rubrics• Extension

Curriculum Components

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And, don’t forget…..Public Service Announcements

Professional DevelopmentsBlogs

CAREER AWARENESS INFO.Videos

CTE Community

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forum.cte.unt.edu

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Web site and Forum are interrelatedWhat is the difference?

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Lynne Cagle Cox

Contact your Curriculum Specialist

Holly Smith

Renee Tonquest

Amber O’Casey

Pam BraceyGary Juren

Kathy Belcher

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Thank You

holly.smith@unt.edu

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Resourceshttp://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/bus/2011/06/05-15/form_weddings.html

www.money-zine.com/Career-Development/Leadership-Skill/Understanding-Soft-Skills

http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+emotional+intelligence&qpvt=definition+of+emotional+intelligence&FORM=DTPDIAhttp://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/7508.aspx Try these activities after discussing the list of Team Characteristics:

http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2008/374_feb27/thisweek/080227_empathy.shtml

http://www.education.com/reference/article/teaching-integrity/

http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/teaching/optim/

http://blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions/2011/02/danger-on-the-internet-a-lesson-in-critical-thinking.html

Jenn2thomas.wordpress.com/2010