Soft skills
Students seem to learn soft skills at much different rates.
Lissette,
In career training, out of necessity, we often have to provide lessons and preparation for things students should have learned growing up or taught by their parents. Today, that is not the case, so of the many hats we wear, reinforcing the importance of good attendance and punctuality, courtesy, professional language and behavior, good personal hygiene and grooming, and other such soft skills will assist students in their quest for better employment when they graduate.
Barry Westling
Wow! Those are great points. I will definatly apply your suggestions if I should ever need it. I have experience that soft skills should be mentioned the first day of class and students should be aware of the consequences adhere if not followed. We as instructors should be their role models by demonstrating punctuality, being positive, looking professional, communicating effectively with inner and outer circles.
Thanks,
Lissette
Carol,
Good. A lot of programs, it's more than a reminder, it's like a boot camp, as the requirements and adherance to professional expectations is quite a foreign experience. A lot of medical programs run into this, as health and medical programs often have very (seemingly) rigid reqiurements for attendance, dress, appearence, language, etc.). Definitely, as early on, expectations need to be given, then kindly and courteously reinforced regualarly.
Barry Westling
Soft skills have to be introduced the first day of class. Many students have never had a job in a positive workplace. The students have to learn and be reminded of the soft skills needed in their new career.
John,
There's nothing wrong with stating in your syllabus the consequences for unprofessional acts, including swearing. In most work settings, this would not be tolerated, so the same goes for the classroom. One way to get your point across might be to have a good guest speaker come to class and speak about "professionalism in the workplace". If they hear it from an outsider, an potential employer, it'll carry more weight. Another example is to search for news articles or professional news that illustrate how bad behavior led to loss of employment. As class facilitator, you have every right to conduct class how you want, and to state "that's not acceptable".
Barry Westling
As I read thru this thread it makes me want to ask what you think are two-three good examples of how an instructor can teach this "skill set?" When you mentioned role model, I think I have to walk a fine line between letting my "faith" be expressed. I allowed discussion to continue when some cussing was going on, it got progressively worse. When a pause came, I interjected that we need to refrain from cussing and I blamed this on the fact I did not want to start that bad habit again...it was sort of an excuse, I didn't want to come out and give my personal thoughts on cussing...had I been pressed, I would have stated something along the lines of how it does not edify one another (I'll stop, I just realized I was "pontificating")...so, my original question, what are some good examples of teaching this skill set that I can use?
Hi Marlena,
Good role models are remembered for a lifetime. Poor role models are merely tolerated, then forgotten.
Barry Westling
We definitely can't remake the mold but we sure can help to sand some of the rough edges with leading by example.
Hi Marlena,
Too many students are missing out on receiving many of the traits we label as soft skills. But for whatever reason they lack them, anything we can do to instruct and reinforce these necessary skills be improve their abilty to have successful working careers.
Barry Westling
I believe that we should exhibit these skills daily as instructors. They should be a vital part of the classroom community of learning. Many softskills are common courtesy skills that many students do not have any experience with because they have only seen an example at home that was contraditory of good work habits and life skills. We have a big job as instructors to be a light to those in our classrooms.
Hi Craig,
I have always felt that common courtesey among classmates, teachers, and others that students come into contact with ought to be required etiquette. Sadly, it's not. But in the work world, simple gestures of kindness do often determine the successfulness of workers. So stressing the importance of soft skills cannot be emphasized enough.
Barry Westling
Soft skills will make you or braek you in the world of Criminal Justice.
Charlotte,
Soft skill are as important as the technical or career-oriented skills. I think more people are successful or lose their jobs based on soft skills than on technical performance in the job site. Their importance cannot be minimized.
Regards, Barry
