Hi Michelle, Thanks for sharing an important comment. We cannot make up completely for skills that are lacking but we must do whatever we can. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
These are basic skills and althought the student may have the necessary technical skills required to perform his duties, he still needs to interact with other employess and/or communicate or report his results, assessments and findings.
Recently, this has become a huge issue, personnaly. I recently took a position with a startup school that had no admissions placement test. As a result, there seemed to be issues with students understanding fundamental concepts in writing that were detrimental to their overall performance. As an example, on e of the first papers I assigned in a student success course was a 500 word essay about any topic within their respective educational paths. many papers were returned with no obvious understanding of the basic technical research paper format of introduction, body and summary. The paper would have constituted a large portion of their grade. As a result, I have added a couple of days within my course where basic writing is addressed prior to the assignment of the paper. The same can be said of any basic skill needed.
The gernal education skills of a student provide an overview of where a student is strong and weak in terms of their learning ability. Appropirate assessments can then be delivered that are suited to a student's education skill area.
bekuse u mite end up w/ somting lik dis...
Assessing your students' skills means that you know where they stand, what knowledge they bring, and what knowledge they lack. This allows you to quietly adjust your expectations -- NOT lower, just adjust -- and react accordingly. This might mean that you encourage multiple drafts of a reseach paper or that you supplement your course (when possible) with the additional material that they lack. It also means that you will have to better model communication skills as you interact with the students.
Assessing general education skills is essential in determining the knowledge and skill level of each individual student in order to formulate expectations and areas for further development. We continuously instruct students on what to expect at a job interview, how to answer questions clearly and succinctly. Reinforcing basic communication and analytical skills helps to properly prepare students to compete effectively.
I agree totaly, if you dont use it you loose it, so I ask my students to create portfolios for each class they are in that contain important points , facts, processes, etc etc that they can use as a recourse/tool days, weeks or years down the rode when they are long gone from the class & have lost what was retained mentally from the class.....I also will make copies of the best portfollios passed in to hold on to for the same reason
Hi Suzanne, Getting that important information asap is essential- great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Tammy, It is difficult to try to work with students who are lacking basic skills without depriving other students who are working at a higher level. We must do the best that we can. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Tim, As an administrator, I can unfortunately confirm that math skills are also lacking in many HS graduates. Susan
Susan Polick
General education skills like reading, writing, and math are important because these are the essential skills which allow higher-level skills -- even so-called "soft skills" -- to grow. Students learn "literacy," so to speak. One may not use algebra or read a short story tomorrow, but one's familiarity and confidence regarding how to solve a numbers problem or how to read complex sentences will be a skill needed by any graduate working in his or her field.
An opening assessment of communication skills is critical to any class. As part of my initial class in any session, I will ask students to respond to particular questions in writing, and then to other questions verbally. This gives me a sense right away of each student's skill level in these areas.
It is vital to recognize each individuals general education skills. It goes without saying that our students are individuals and while we teach in a group setting, specific skill levels and learning styles must be recognized as individual.
It is vital to recognize each individuals general education skills. It goes without saying that our students are individuals and while we teach in a group setting, specific skill levels and learning styles must be recognized as individual.
It seems that reading and written communication skills for many students are so poorly developed for the modern high school graduate. I fear that math skills are also poor, but I do not see those skills much in the classes I teach. Because of the poor reading and written communications skills, I hesitate in assigning research papers.
HI Renita, Thanks for sharing some great examples of why General Education skills are essential! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Tim I agree with you. I want to make sure I reach all of my students where they are. If the student doesnot have these skills down upon entry of our program we will set them up for failure. I have a lot of reading and some math skills that have to be touched on and to have to stop and get everone up to speed is not a part of our curriculum.
These type of assesments have been added to entry of our students for our program, and it has helped to be able to know that our students are at the level they need to be succesful. I think this does not set them up for failure if these skills are not were they need to be to finish successfully.
Considering that reading, writing, and arithmatic are the basic foundations for education, it is imperative that they are assessed by the instructor. This allows for the instructor to know to what degree and level that material should be taught as well as how the material should be presented. Knowing this "foundation" information can help an instructor be well prepared and will create time proficiency throughout the course.
I am of the opinion that assesment of a students general education skill is very important. Students who lack general education skill in the non-vocational courses tend to have difficulty catching up in class.A knowledge of a students general education skill will guide the instructor to know how best to teach the student.
