I think assessing general skills can give you an idea as to how you need to prepare your lessons.
it helps us, when we are teaching to understand what our students limits are. I usually have each student read a paragraph from a reading assignment that i have previously assigned and nothing is worse when the student looks at you with fear... when i teach pharmacology- they students need to have basic math and some do not remember what to do, so i give them measurements with answers for them to review and then i quiz them on the measurements.. written is the hardest i seem to find with the students. i give them written assignements and ask them to check for spelling errors... i also review resumes and ask students to double check those before i fax them.. i never want a student to feel bad in the class, or made fun of.. and i do not allow comments to be made about any persons educational skills..
With all the new technology, students feel they do not have to know these basic soft skills, however, when out in the 'real world' they will not be taken seriously. Basic reading, writing and math are a must in getting from point A to point B, much less in the business world.
Yeah I agree with you. The more you practice, the more you get perfect. And when you don't practice for a long time it goes away from your mind. It comes back though once you revise it.
It is a prepartion for the work field and life. If you don't have these skill there is not growth.
students need to understand the basics prior to building on them. if they are having problems in an area, extra effort will be required to help that student. this can be done thru tutoring in the area needed, or assignments that are directed to the needed area
The assignments and reading materials that the students have to complete are very important and if the student can not read then there is a issue and it needs to be addressed.
Hi Cynthia, Often students complain when they have to take the communication and math classes as they don't know why they will need those skills. You stated it very well! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Rebecca, Thanks for your post to the forum. It is very distressing to see how many students finish their secondary education with minimal general education skills and of course it makes our jobs much more difficult. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
As a culinary arts teacher it's not enough for a student to learn how to cook. Having good solid math skills, the ability to write recipes and read them is a must. Communication skills are a must in a kitchen both written and verbal. Assesing the student skills give me a heads up on what drills I need my class to work on.I believe this helps them prepare for their careers ahead.
I am a new culinary arts instructor. Recipe costing is a part of my curriculum as well. My eyes were opened wide when I realized that I needed to teach division and how to change decimals into percentages, before I could continue costing. I simply assumed everyone knew basic math. If I had done an assessment test in the beginning, I would have been better prepared.
It is important because it provides that base at which our students our working at. To have students read aloud is one way in which I access some of their skills.
A student with a better reading, writing and math skills is more likely to suceed in any new course he or she steps into. The interconnection of these skills provide the foundations for learning any new subject.
Hi Dennis, Thanks for your post to the forum. I teach in a technical college and many of our students dread the writing classes. We have the employers who hire our grads come in to speak to our students and emphasize that they are looking for employees who are good at speaking and writing. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Steven , Yes, the more we know about our students, the more we can accomodate their needs. Of course it also helps immensely to have tutoring and other remediation to try to bring these students to a higher level. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
As a writing instructor, I have access to student learning and skills every day, because every day we write. Writing is a way of active learning. When students write, they cannot be passive, they have to engage at some level. Getting students used to writing every day, sometimes many times in one long session, allows them the practice they need to improve. I do not grade the in-class writing but use these writings as a way to engage students in discussion about the topic at hand. Practice, practice, practice: the key to improved communication.
The general education skills of students determines the content of your presentations. You need to address the comprehension level of your students in your presentations. If a student has reading difficulties, for example, the presentation needs to be more visually represented.
Hi Timur, Thanks for sharing a powerful way to get students to understand the importance of general education skills! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
As a general education instructor at a career focused college, I deal often with students who are preparing to enter the medical and criminal justice fields.
They are often confused at the beginning of class, as to why things like "good written and verbal communication skills" will be important for them to expand.
At the start of my teaching career, I would try to "explain" to my students as to how these basic skills will factor into their future lives by speaking about resumes, professional communications, and the overwhelming demand for these skills in careers of almost any field.
This did not work. The students would get bored, roll their eyes, and walk away from that lecture in disbelief of what i had stated.
What I have started doing later is, rather than simply dropping my opinions of when and where these skills will come in handy, I've turned the question around on the first day of class, and ask each of the students to contribute one situation where these skills will play a major factor.
While the discussion often starts out slow, it picks up quickly, and each students seems to be able to come up with one professional situation where poor communication skills are deal-breakers. I put each of the responses on the board. With a class of 20-30 students, the activity becomes overwhelmingly powerful, as they begin to see not just the number of situations that call for these "general" skills, but also the students see that they THEMSELVES know just how important a role this will play in their life.
The result is that not only do they get more in-tune with self-assessing and expanding their general skills, but it brings the objectives of my classes more in line with their own professional goals, making the students more energetic and active participants in the classroom.
The instructor should know the general education skills of his students to determine teaching methods and styles that will allow the students to best absorb the material.
