soft skills: we know our students need them, but how do we teach them?

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Soft Skills: We Know Our Students Need Them, But How Do We Teach Them?Trish BobstNational Education [email protected]

OUR FOCUS IS YOU!Course Technology Delmar South-WesternCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills & This GenerationGen Y learners (most of our students):Are busy multi-taskers; media-orientedUsed to working on teamsRemain close to parents who raised them to think they are stars and specialOptimistic & confident; want to be rich and famousAre achievement-oriented; need structure and feedbackWill negotiate anythingLack diplomacyBring an entertainment attitude to schoolGet bored quickly if its not FUNDont think of computers & devices as technologyCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternWhy Generation YI've always wondered about this myself. Now I know........

-The Silent generation,people born before 1946.

-The Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and1959.

-Generation X, people born between 1960 and 1979.

- Generation Y,people born between 1980 and 1995.

Why do we call the last one Generation Y? I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it eloquently ..Learn something new!

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternGeneration Y

CensuredCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternWhat 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, p. 44).Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft skills include dependability, integrity, enthusiasm, and the ability to interact with customers and coworkers- skills that everyone would agree are important, but are hard to quantify and assess.

5What are Soft Skills to you?Oral and written communicationTeamwork/collaborationWork ethic/self-motivation/dependability/honestyCritical-thinking/questioning/problem-solvingRisk-takingFlexibility/adaptabilityLeadership/influencingAbility to work under pressureCreativity/innovation/resourcefulOrganizational/time managementAttention to detailCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft skills include dependability, integrity, enthusiasm, and the ability to interact with customers and coworkers- skills that everyone would agree are important, but are hard to quantify and assess.

6What Industry SaysTechnical skill ALONE does not make someone competitive in the job marketIn fact, computer literacy skills are assumed!Todays workers demonstrate GAPS in:Communication skillsTeam/interpersonal skillsProblem solvingQuantitative reasoningBusiness process knowledgeProject managementCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternSources: Peter Saflund, Saflund Institute (Boeing and other workplace studies)Presented in November 2007 at one of Cengage conferences in Las Vegas

How Should Colleges Prepare Students to Succeed in Todays Global Economy? Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2006. Research by Petere D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.7Skills Employers Want! % of Employers Looking for These Skills99% Work Ethic96% English Language95% Reading & Writing94% Problem Solving & Critical Thinking94% Interpersonal90% Math68% Computer Software68% Leadership58% Manual Labor44% Tools & Machine40% Spanish Language*Oregon Employment Department Employer Survey 04/08Course Technology Delmar South-Westernwww.qualityinfo.orgWork Ethic Employers want honest, dependable, and productive workersEnglish Language Most jobs require oral and written communication in EnglishReading & Writing Most jobs require workers to read and writeProblem Solving & Critical Thinking Employers want workers who can understand and find answers to problemsInterpersonal Businesses and employees thrive when people work well togetherMath Nearly every job requires some math skillsComputer Software Employers need technology-savvy workersLeadership Employers need skilled staff to guide lower-level workersManual Labor Technology will never completely replace the need for hands-on workTools & Machine Many employers need workers who can operate certain equipmentSpanish Language Enployers need for Spanish-speaking workers has risen with the Hispanic population

8What Employers SayAttributes Most Desirable in New EmployeesAbility to work productively on a diverse teamOral & written communication skillAbility to think critically and analyticallyResourcefulness in solving problemsAbility to locate, organize & evaluate information from multiple sourcesCreativity & innovative spiritAbility to understand and communicate quantitativelySense of integrity and ethicsUnderstanding of global cultures and valuesCourse Technology Delmar South-Western9Employers alsoExpect colleges & universities to prepare students in these areas63% say we are not doing our job87% rate this preparedness as critical to the United States remaining competitive in the global economyCourse Technology Delmar South-Western10What Recent Graduates SayProvide balance between general knowledge and major-specific skills (72%)Many end up in fields not closely related to majorThey AGREE with Employers!Critical to success are:Teamwork skillsCritical-thinking skillsOral & written communication skillsYet majority dont think college prepared them well (51%)Course Technology Delmar South-Western112003#1 reason students chose to major in a particular subjectCourse Technology Delmar South-Western2003They were interested in or passionate about that field or subject.Course Technology Delmar South-Western2009#1 reason students choose to major in a particular subjectCourse Technology Delmar South-Western2009Career OpportunitiesJob PotentialCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternMaybe at one time this was true?

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternRecently

Course Technology Delmar South-Western



Course Technology Delmar South-WesternWhich would you hire?

What if she added another certification? Now would you hire her?Course Technology Delmar South-Western

Course Technology Delmar South-Western2009 National Association of colleges and Employers spoke. Are we listening? An A is not as important as communication, ethics, interpersonal skills and motivation.From Binghamton University Career Center22



Course Technology Delmar South-WesternThere are different approachesTeach soft skills as a piece of your core subject (integrated throughout)Teach soft skills as a separate component of your core subjectTeach one unit of soft skillsThen teach a few units of core subjectTeach soft skills as an equal piece of the pieCapstone, Assessment, Senior Project, etc.Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills What % of grade?10% will affect a letter gradeIf you keep it less than 20%, it wont affect a grade in a big way

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternThink about thisYou could have great technical skills, but if you cannot communicate those skills, what good are they?

Arent Soft Skills more likeLife Skills?Course Technology Delmar South-Western


Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills At WorkConcise problem-based video field trips show realistic workplace issues that require students to find a solution.

Accompanying printed casebook provides a conceptual framework for solution developmentstudents choose which tools to use instead of being shown and told what to do.

Broken into five sections: Career Building, Cyber You, Teamwork, Technical and Writing skills, and Presentation Skills. Each section is accompanied by a video which is approximately 10 minutes long.

All videos include closed captioning for students unable to access the audio element.

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills At WorkChapter 1: Career Preparation (Video: The Interview)

Chapter 2: Your Online Persona (Video: Interview Follow-Up)

Chapter 3: Written and Verbal Communication Skills(Video: Useful Software Skills)

Chapter 4: Team Dynamics & Generational Differences (Video: Team Dynamics)

Chapter 5: Effective Presentations (Video: The Big Presentation)

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills At WorkISBN: 1-60334-014-9DEMO CD: 1-60334-016-5

http://www.course.com/softskills/View sample chapter

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternISBN: 1-60334-014-9; $46.26Bundle price $17.25

33Soft Skills At WorkChapter 1: Career Preparation (Video: The Interview)Career Building Effective Resume Writing Skills, Job Interview Preparation Techniques, professional job interview attire, business etiquette that can be enhanced by the use of technology

Chapter 2: Your Online Persona (Video: Interview Follow-Up) Educates students on the role social networks and Google searches play in a working professionals life. It also highlights privacy and information security issues related to their online presences and illustrates how the lines between private and professional life are often crossed on the internet.Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills At WorkChapter 3: Written and Verbal Communication Skills(Video: Useful Software Skills) Students learn how to use their written and verbal skills to their advantage. Email etiquette, cell phone and text messaging, using Microsoft Office work tools and other topics are presented.

Chapter 4: Team Dynamics & Generational Differences (Video: Team Dynamics) Focuses on helping students focus on how generational differences contribute to work ethic and the effectiveness of teams. Students will discover their own personal work styles and personalities and then relate those skills to working with a team.Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoft Skills At WorkChapter 5: Effective Presentations (Video: The Big Presentation)Uses Microsoft Powerpoint skills to teach students the Dos and Donts of effective presentations from drafting outlines, to selecting appropriate graphics and animations and affects.

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternPowerPoint PresentationsWhat do your students powerpoint presentations look like???

Life After Death by Powerpoint

Course Technology Delmar South-Western37

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternThe BIG 3 Top 538Give 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

Soft Skills for a Digital WorkplaceCourse Technology Delmar South-Westerncost approx $7001-sided black & white prints of pages from all 5 texts (Problem Solving, Teamwork, Professionalism, Written Communication, Verbal Communication)Full color PDF pages of all 5 texts (on CD in the front of the binder)IR CD in front of binder39Reproducible BinderWritten Communication

Verbal Communication

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Teamwork

Professionalism

Includes 30-pack student access codes (additional codes can be purchased, as needed)

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternPurchased separately - The books are around 150 pages (including the Preface, Index, etc). They are each 5 units with about 8 2-page lessons per unit.Pricing for each title will be $23.00 standalone or $17.00 in a bundle. The online companion will be key code protected (b/c it will track to a gradebook). Each new text will include a printed keycode. Well also sell replacement key codes for $7 each.40What is the content of these products?Written CommunicationEmail and MemosSecrets of Clear WritingDeveloping Reports and ProposalsWriting For EmploymentWriting Professional Letters

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternWhat is the content of these products?Verbal CommunicationBasics of CommunicationWorking With CustomersDeveloping Professional Telephone SkillsImproving Informal CommunicationMaking Formal Presentations

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternWhat is the content of these products?Problem Solving and Decision MakingIdentifying and Defining the ProblemSolving the ProblemThinking CriticallyGroup Decision Making and Problem SolvingDecision and Support ToolsCourse Technology Delmar South-WesternTeam Work and Team BuildingWorking in Groups and TeamsTeam Roles and ProcessesTeam Building and DevelopmentBeing a Team LeaderHaving Successful MeetingsWhat is the content of these products?Course Technology Delmar South-WesternProfessionalismPresenting Yourself ProfessionallyDeveloping a Professional Work EthicDeveloping Your Interpersonal SkillsUnderstanding Office Protocols and PoliticsPlanning and Managing Your CareerWhat is the content of these products?Course Technology Delmar South-Western


Course Technology Delmar South-WesternLearning

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternOnline companion




Course Technology Delmar South-WesternBe The CriticCorresponding to the end of unit exercises, Be The Critic requires a student to review a report, document, etc. and assess its strengths and weaknesses through objective-based questions.

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternBe the Critic

Be the Critic - GradedCourse Technology Delmar South-Western54Here you will see the activity, (CLICK) followed by a graded example.Critical Thinking QuestionsPulled from the end of unit materials, Critical Thinking Questions contain 5 questions which students will answer an their instructor will grade using a grading rubric.


Critical Thinking Instructor ViewCourse Technology Delmar South-Western56You can see the instructor view of this activity with the associated grading rubric.Putting Your Soft Skills to WorkThe goal of this activity is to have students upload a document (a resume for instance or in this case an email to a manager) for peer review and critique.

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternThe 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 InterfaceCourse Technology Delmar South-Western

Soft Skills Survivor - GradedA 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-Western59The Soft Skills Survivor section of the online companion is based on the cases in the text. 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. ExamView - Test Generator

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternStatus of Career Cluster ImplementationStates are implementing career clusters in their curriculum in order to receive Perkins Funding. The Dept of Educations 16 Career Clusters recommends a sequence of courses for each cluster.Status of Career Clusters Implementation Across the Nationhttp://www.careerclusters.org/resources/institutes/cci2005/ImplementationAcrosstheNation.pdfCourse Technology Delmar South-Westernhttp://www.careerclusters.org/resources/institutes/cci2005/ImplementationAcrosstheNation.pdf

6116 Career ClustersLooking for a workbook where students complete and tear out the forms to hand in? Softcover: 978-0-538-44957-1Looking for a technology solution, where your students use a computer to complete the forms?Hardcover with iMPACT CD 978-0-538-44971-7iMPACT CD Forms -students can complete activities online and print or email to teacher; live internet links; games

iMPACT Demo CD 9780538449977

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternSoftcover $32; Hardcover book with iMPACT CD $49.5062Quick Skills


9780538449243 Site License 9780538449328 Individual License

Quick Skills iMPACT CD is an electronic tool built from 5 of the best-selling Quick Skills titles.

It includes updated versions of Customer Service, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Speaking and Presenting, Teamwork, and What Your Employer Expects.

Quick Skills iMPACT Interactive Text CD Course Technology Delmar South-WesternQuick Skills iMPACT Interactive Text CD (Quick Skills)The Customer Service section provides foundations for effectively working with others. Covering areas such as forming good relationships, soothing unhappy customers and using the telephone as a customer service tool.

The Decision Making and Problem Solving section covers topics such as thinking outside the box, team decision making and creating positive change in the workplace, Decision Making and Problem Solving will build upon the user's basic knowledge allowing them to feel more confident in this area.

The Speaking and Presenting section provides foundations for improving presentations. Covering such topics as knowing your audience, overcoming stage fright and creating visual aids.

The Teamwork section covers such topics as the nature of teamwork, techniques for effective listening and speaking and developing trust among your teammates.

The What Your Employer Expects section provides solid information on what employers are looking for from their employees. Topics covered include accepting responsibility, being a team player and providing service to both the internal and external customer.

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternBuilt from the Quick Skills series65Quick Skills iMPACT Interactive Text CD9780538449359 DEMO CDQuick Skills iMPACT Interactive Text CD Package 9780538449328 (0538449322)The CD package provides a convenient electronic format that is easy to use. It includes forms that can be completed electronically and emailed to the instructor or printed. Students also have access to Powerpoint slides and flash files.

Course Technology Delmar South-Western$3366Career Success Student TheaterInteractive software-based approach engages students with video, games, critical thinking, and assessment

Learners review skills on their own time, complementing classroom learning

Prepares learners for their externships and the workforce

Online companion website provides instructors with ideas for integrating this into a program. Quizzes with automatic scoring and immediate feedback reinforce soft skills and can be printed by students as homework.

Course Technology Delmar South-Western67Career Success Student TheaterModules: 1 Focusing on the Patient

2 Communicating on the Job

3 Thinking Like a Health Care Worker

4 Doing the Right Thing

5 Professionalism for the Health Care Worker 6 Getting a Job in Health Care

Course Technology Delmar South-Western68Career Success Student TheaterReview Copy:ISBN: 1435439945

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternCost: $118

69Did You Knowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Updated video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Course Technology Delmar South-WesternA few resourceshttp://certification.about.com/od/certificationsbytopic/a/softskills.htmhttp://content.monstertrak.monster.com/resources/archive/jobhunt/softskills/http://careerpath.org/myc/management/20030603-gunn.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/grad_schools/main2625088.shtmlhttp://www.collegejournal.com/bschool03/articles/20020909-alsop-softskills.html

Course Technology Delmar South-Westernhttp://www.cengage.com/school/teamup/


http://www.cengage.com/focus/Course Technology Delmar South-Westernhttp://www.cengage.com/focus/

73Trish [email protected]

Author: Jeff ButterfieldSoft Skills for a Digital Workplace

Author: Beverly AmerSoft Skills at Work: Technology for Career SuccessCourse Technology Delmar South-Western

soft skills: we know our students need them, but how do we teach them?

Documents

coworkers skills

skills employers

computer literacy skills

silent generation

generation x

generationgen y learners

peter saflund

computer software68