Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
OUR FOCUS IS YOU!
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills: We Know They Need Them How Do We Teach Them?
Trish BobstNational Curriculum Specialist
Tuesday, February 14 Session 2
1:15 – 2:30 pm Room 101/102
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills & This Generation… Gen Y learners (most of our students):
Are busy multi-taskers; media-oriented Used to working on teams Remain close to parents who raised them to think they are
“stars” and “special” Optimistic & confident; want to be rich and famous
Are achievement-oriented; need structure and feedback Will negotiate anything Lack diplomacy
Bring an “entertainment attitude” to school Get bored quickly if it’s not FUN
Don’t think of computers & devices as “technology”
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Before 1946Silent Generation
1946-1959Baby Boomers
1960-1979Generation “X”
1980-1995Generation “Y”
Through the Ages…..
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Generation Y
Censured
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What are “Soft Skills” to you?
Oral and written communication Teamwork/collaboration Work ethic/self-motivation/dependability/honesty Critical-thinking/questioning/problem-solving Risk-taking Flexibility/adaptability Leadership/influencing Ability to work under pressure Creativity/innovation/resourceful Organizational/time management Attention to detail
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What are Soft Skills?
• Moss and Tilly termed these subjective requisites as “soft skills, which are defined as skills, abilities, and traits that pertain to personality, attitude, and behavior rather than to formal or technical knowledge.” (Moss and Tilly 2001)
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What are Soft Skills?
• Soft skills are the qualities or social skills we all possess. They are the interpersonal skills we have and use when working with others—how we interact with our peers; how we network and communicate; how we empathize with others; our integrity, optimism, and enthusiasm; how we formulate important problems and find solutions for them.(Amstatnews, 2010)
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills, sometimes known as "people skills," are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance and career prospects. Unlike hard skills, which tend to be specific to a certain type of task or activity, soft skills are broadly applicable.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What Industry Says…
• Technical skills ALONE do not make someone competitive in the job market
– In fact, computer literacy skills are assumed!• Today’s workers demonstrate GAPS in:
– Communication skills– Team/interpersonal skills– Problem solving– Quantitative reasoning– Business process knowledge– Project management
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What Employers Say…
Attributes Most Desirable in New Employees… Ability to work productively on a diverse team Oral & written communication skill Ability to think critically and analytically Resourcefulness in solving problems Ability to locate, organize & evaluate information from
multiple sources Creativity & innovative spirit Ability to understand and communicate quantitatively Sense of integrity and ethics Understanding of global cultures and values
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Employers also…
Expect colleges & universities to prepare students in these areas
63% say we are not doing our job 87% rate this preparedness as critical to the United
States remaining competitive in the global economy
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What Recent Graduates Say…
Provide balance between general knowledge and major-specific skills (72%)
Many end up in fields not closely related to major They AGREE with Employers!
Critical to success are: Teamwork skills Critical-thinking skills Oral & written communication skills
Yet majority don’t think college prepared them well (51%)
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
2003
#1 reason students chose to major in a particular subject
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
2003
They were interested in or passionate about that field
or subject.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
2009
#1 reason students choose to major in a particular subject
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
2009
Career OpportunitiesJob Potential
$$$
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Maybe at one time this was true?
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Recently…
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Which would you hire?
What if she added another certification? Now would you hire her?
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
There are different approaches
• Teach soft skills as a piece of your core subject (integrated throughout)
• Teach soft skills as a separate component of your core subject
– Teach one unit of “soft skills”– Then teach a few units of core subject
• Teach soft skills as an equal “piece of the pie”– Capstone, Assessment, Senior Project, etc.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills – What % of grade?
• 10% will affect a letter grade• If you keep it less than 20%, it won’t affect a
grade in a big way
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Think about this…
• You could have great technical skills, but if you cannot communicate those skills, what good are they?
• Aren’t Soft Skills more like…
Life Skills?
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What are Soft Skills?
• Abilities for understanding communication
• Interpersonal Skills that complement technical skills
• Emotional intelligence• The capacity to behave appropriately
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Scenario Email Memo Other
1. Many people need to receive the same short message 2. You want quick answers to one or more questions 3. You are responding to a colleague’s e-mail 4. Your manager asks you to confirm a decision 5. You are inviting others to a meeting 6. You are updating a simple procedure 7. Meeting participants need to review the details of a plan 8. You are circulating a new set of formal company policies 9. You want to express enthusiasm to a colleague 10. You need to resolve a conflict 11. Your message is confidential
Appropriate Uses for Email and Memos Check One Box
The digital workplace is where work is what you do, not a place
where you go to.
Soft skills are what you learn after you know everything
else.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills in Action
• Participating as member of a team• Teaching others new skills• Exercising leadership• Communicating competently
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills for a Digital Workplace
• Give your students a 360 degree education and a career advantage
• Students become more marketable to employers
• Signature two-page spread format
• Robust Online companion siteHands-on activities, scenarios, projects, problems, games, read, listen and quizzes
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What is the content of these products?
Written CommunicationEmail and MemosSecrets of Clear WritingDeveloping Reports and ProposalsWriting For EmploymentWriting Professional Letters
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What is the content of these products?
Verbal Communication Basics of Communication Working With Customers Developing Professional Telephone Skills Improving Informal Communication Making Formal Presentations
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What is the content of these products?
Problem Solving and Decision Making? Identifying and Defining the Problem? Solving the Problem? Thinking Critically? Group Decision Making and Problem Solving? Decision and Support Tools
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What is the content of these products?
Professionalism Presenting Yourself Professionally Developing a Professional Work Ethic Developing Your Interpersonal Skills Winning at Office Politics Planning and Managing Your Career
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
What is the content of these products?
Teamwork and Team Building Working in Groups and Teams Team Roles and Processes Team Building and Development Being a Team Leader Having Successful Meetings
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Learning
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Online companion
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Be The Critic Graded
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Critical Thinking Questions
From the end of unit materials 5 critical thinking questions Graded by instructor with a rubric.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Critical Thinking – Instructor View
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Putting Your Soft Skills to Work
Peer review and critique activity
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
The student will read the assignment, build the document/assignment and upload it where it will be visible (on the right side of this image) for all students and instructors to critique via ratings and rubrics.
“Putting Your Soft Skills To Work” Interface
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills Survivor - Graded
A movie will play in the left panel, pausing at set points in a scenario. Students will be prompted with a question based on the presented scenario. If they get the question wrong, they are prompted to watch the video clip again and they cannot move onto the next video segment until the get the question correct.
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
ExamView - Test Generator
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Reproducible Binder
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Teamwork
• Professionalism
Includes 30-pack student access codes (additional codes can be purchased, as needed)
Preview Guide 0538477806
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
21st Century Skills
21st Century Skills
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
•Core Subjects – 3Rsand 21st Century Themes Global awareness Financial, Economic, Business
and Entrepreneurial literacy Civic literacy Health literacy Environmental literacy
•Learning and Innovative Skills,•including the 4Cs: Critical thinking and problem
solving Communication Collaboration Creativity and Innovation
•Information, Media andTechnology Skills Information literacy Media literacy ICT (Information,
Communications and Technology) literacy•Life and Career Skills Flexibility and adaptability Initiative and self-direction Social and cross-cultural skills Productivity and accountability Leadership and responsibility
21st Century Study Outcomes
21st Century Skills
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Common Core State Standards
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
STANDARDS FORENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
&LITERACY IN HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES,SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
JUNE 2010
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Design and Organization
Four strands Reading (including Reading Foundational Skills)• Writing• Speaking and Listening• Language
An integrated model of literacy
Media requirements blended throughout
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Key Advances
Reading• Balance of literature and informational texts• Text complexityWriting• Emphasis on argument and informative/explanatory writing• Writing about sourcesSpeaking and Listening• Inclusion of formal and informal talkLanguage• Stress on general academic and domain-specific vocabulary
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
http://www.cengage.com/school/coursecare/
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
http://www.cengage.com/focus/
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
OUR FOCUS IS YOU!
Course Technology ▪ Delmar ▪ South-Western
Soft Skills: We Know Our Students Need Them,
But How Do We Teach Them?
Thank you!
Trish BobstNational Curriculum Specialist