All forms of general education skills are crucial because they encourage strong critical thinking skills--I always explain to my students, as a general education instructor myself, that employers don't just say they want good communication skills; they really do want them. Further, I also try to encourage students that a good set of soft skills will not only improve their professional lives but their personal lives as well.
I think the assessment of general education skills is important in my classroom because not all adult students come to college well equipped in these areas and may require additional help and encouragement in these areas. This helps me to format how I will teach to the class as a whole and to prepare materials to help students that have difficulties in certain areas.
Hi Henry - Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, unfortunately this is an ongoing problem that we must deal with. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Paul - Thanks for mentioning a habit that we must instill in our students!Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Proofreading is also a valuable skill that we all can benefit from mastering.
Regardless of what we are teaching, if the student does not understand because of poor 'reading, writing and arithmetic then they will have a difficult time comprehending what you are trying to teach. There are many adult students hoping for their shot in life while they do not have basic reading skills. These are the skills are very important for the success of our students.
HI Ariana - Thanks for your post to the foum. It is troubling to see how so many students have poor reading and writing skills. Being aware of these problems from the onset is essential!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Karne - Congratulations on getting those writing skills embedded across the curriculum for all Depts.!! That is truly excellent! Susan
I find that srudents that perform well in these assessments tend to have less difficulty with the class altogether. Student that have low written and reading skills also have trouble with understanding course content as well as study skills. In our school students take an entry assessment test which let's instructors know which students might need additional help and attention.
Susan,
All of the general education courses (English, math, psychology, sociology, science, speech etc.) have both content and general education skills that need to be assessed. The core skills of critical thinking, writing skills, oral communication skills, problem-solving, ethical reasoning and values and attitudes apply not only to general education courses but to every field of study. These assessments will show students how successful they will be in their life and in their careers.
I was one of three English instructors that had the opportunity to write a rubric for writing across the curriculum that all departments now use with special program adaptations.
Hi Missy - Thanks for your post to the forum. that's the point exactly - these are skills that our students need to have in all their classes as well as their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
As well as the students if they can't communicate well then they will have a hard time adjusting in the field.
It is important to access general education skills because they provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning. For example, the skills my students use in their English composition class lets them know how to write a paper in my class and every other class that proceeds it. In my Written communication class, students learn job and communication skills that follow them throughot their lives.
Absolutely Mindy! The employers who hire our grads absolutely confirm what you say! Susan
Hi Kay - Thanks for your post to the forum. I think it's terrific that you incorporate writing skills into your Math classes! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I teach prep math and business courses. It is so important the students have a strong foundation before moving on….. it just makes the next course easier and reduces the dropout and frustration rate. Noteworthy, my students do a research paper with three plus references as part of their math course. The focus of the paper is the math skills required for the new career they are seeking. The benefits are not only a realization of ‘yes, I will use math’ but also it reinforces interviewing, writing and computer/research skills. Of course there is the networking factor.
I believe that before you can learn new things basic concepts must be used i.e. math, reading and writing. I have found not being able to spell correctly makes a person look incompetent. This making a perfectly capable individual with a lot of experience frowned on, because he or she may lack writing skills. Further adding, that a person who is not able read well has hard time interpreting information, like I tell my students, what is reading? KNOWLEDGE and what is knowledge? POWER! And what is power? A GOOD JOB!
Asessing the basic soft skills helps the instructor. If you are able to gage the student skills you will know if tutoring needs to be introduced. Unfortunetly many student go into the higher learning barely being able to read or write. Knowing if the student will need extra help early on can greatly increase the students chances for success.
Hi Natassia- The employers who hire our graduates emphasize that the general education skills are very important in their hiring choices. Susan
The assessment of general education skills are important to instructors because they focus on student's learning outcomes as well as progress.They can be used to demostrate and improve learning. They will also direct and alter student's learning outcomes.
