Assessing general education skills
Why is the assessment of general education skills such as reading, written communication, and math important to instructors?
I have this issue in my class currently where some words used in the text can intimidate or otherwise discourage the students. It is important for them to have a strong grasp of general education because it acts as a foundation for their learning.
I have had the opportunity and pleasure of teaching students between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four and at the career college level. I have learned through observation that general education skills are important because some students can read but can't comprehend the material that was read. Which mean, if they can't comprehend the material then the student will also have difficult writing. This deficiency will hinder their growth potential when they enter the work force. Math, on the other hand, is another paragraph. If you don't use it you lose it.
Hi Mary, Thanks for your post to the forum. The employers who hire our graduates tell us that they are looking for employees who have those basic skills. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I tell my students that no matter what their career field, they need to be able to communicate effectively. Many students have weak writing skills, so I tend to focus on that in my classes.
Hi John, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, it really is essential that we get the information on the level of basic skills of our students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hello Susan,
Industrial education is populated by a very broad group of students with unique needs and styles of learning. A baseline of the students general education skills provides an assessment of the full range of essential learning skills.
The results of this assessment become an anchor point of an effective and efficient instructional plan. Thanks, John Y.
Hi Tiffany, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, unfortunately too many students are lacking basic skills. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
understanding your students aptitude will guide you into their cognition. Spelling, calculations, and formal written structure also give you a guide to their starting point so when you lecture or provide written assignments you will know who requires what type of assistance.
If a student can't read, write, or perform simple math as a member of our society the student is not going to get very far, and is going to really struggle moving through the education system. Students must be able to read, write, and perform simple math problems. If you don't properly assess your students and pass them to the next class, and the students haven't learned anything how can the students further their education. I think an education is much like a building, it must have a strong foundation to build upon. If a student can't read, write, or do simple arithmetic how are they supposed to build their education on a foundation of rubble?
It's important to understand what your students' level of communication is when planning lessons, quizzes, tests and assignments. Though I don't want to "dumb down" my teaching, I still want to accomodate those students that might have issues with math or communication.
If a student is struggling with basic general education skills, it is difficult for that student to focus on the subject being studied, and much gets lost in translation.
It allows you to determine what level your students are on and how best to reach them in a learning atmosphere.
It is important so that they can set bench marks and goals. It also helps the instructor set up groups so that stronger students can helps weaker students in certain subject matter. It also lets instructors know if a studnet needs to be in a foundations class or go ahead and move them straight into course content.
Hi Kathleen, Thanks for your post to the forum. By exposing students to different styles of learning, we also prepare them for what they will encounter in the workplace. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
As instructors we need to have a variety of methods of assessment because we have a variety of student learning styles. Having various methods also allows students to be learn more effetively because the variances can aid in their critical thinking process by sparking a different thought or avenue on a topic
This is a very important skill to have. Most students have poor skills when it comes to homework, studys, exams and quizzes. They will procrastinate untill the last minute to complete all of these assignments.
Hi Eric, I agree - we know we cannot completely make up for missing basic skills, but as you state, we need to do whatever we can to remediate.
Susan Polick
These assessments assist instructors in knowing who to develop their lesson plans. For example, if I know that the majority of the class has poor reading comprehension, I know that I should tailor my instruction to both use other techniques that students will learn more easily from, and assign homework that will help improve their reading comprehension.
Being an instructor should be more than just improving the students knowledge in a particular subject, it should also include improving the students ability areas that they are not as strong. I wouldn't want to avoid reading assignments all together, just ensure that this is not a primary way the students are expected to get the course information.
These assessment could help instructors to structure their classes better to fit students skills. A well designed class structure would lead to a better learning environment.
I feel that it helps me identify areas that students are weak in and allows me to apply the extra help when needed. Helping the student with a simple equation or definition makes them feel as though they are getting the material, allowing them to do more on their own. Sometimes it does not. It also helps me get other students involved that would like to help out. Sometimes it becomes a "pay it forward" situation with the student being helped.
