On-line Courses vs. Softskills
During my traditional educational experience, soft skills were taught that I do not see being a value added experience on-line. I am afraid by isolating our students more, we are taking away the ability to network, socialize, and overcome the fear of communicating either one to one or one to many.
How do you add the value of learning soft skills to your online students?
Alan,
Having labs is a very hands on technique. Most everyone does like the hands on approach. Excellent job.
Shelly Crider
We use several approaches:
1. Daily checkpoints where soft skill specific examples (such as YouTube) may be used to identify and coach students to know what is appropriate soft skills
2. Remodeling two Gen Ed courses that are specifically focused to soft skill development
3. We are currently testing a program of teaching (or training) students, then having their courses (almost lab in nature) focus on working and using the skills necessary to work in the workplace. Groupwork is something we're still working to integrate so it works well.
Victoria,
I hope that all of the instructors here are content experts!! I like how you use your discussion for on-the-job experience.
Shelly Crider
Hmm... I think this may come down to the role of the instructor. I know that I always look at myself as the content expert but also a mentor and coach that teaches outside of the content as far as interpersonal professional communication skills are concerned. Many of the students I deal with also have life skills issues and so oftentimes I find myself coaching my students through time management. I also like to reframe some of my discussion topics so that they are in a on-the-job context or concerning their personal lives. This invites students to explore not only their knowledge but their ability to communicate, listen and collaborate with peers.
Depending on the available resources at your school, you may also have options to engage students in collaborative group work which is always a great way for students to also learn soft skills through experience. There is nothing more effective than conditionalized learning!
Bob ,
What do you think about elementary schools that are going toward online courses?
Shelly Crider
On-line class steal alot of what teaching is about. A computer cant look into the eyes of student and see there is a issue. We take away people we are on a slippery slop. I see a wall comeing to education.Computer training has its place , just not first!
