Hi Mark- Thanks for your post to the forum! So many students seem not to realize the importance of communication skills, but as we all know that is a skill that employers find very important.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career and happy New Year! Susan
I feel it is important to assess general education skills for students because we are sending them out into the “real world”. Students need to know how to do basic math skills to balance their check books, and they need to know how to communicate with the written word. I have found many of my students know how to “text”; but yet they are unable to answer a forum with a complete sentence .
I can deal with the fact that people are at different levels. So can the students. They are really great about it actually. The problem is when it is found out that a student is illiterate and can't multiply 4 times seven without a calculator. It makes the other students feel like their degree won't be worth as much if these people graduate with them. I can't blame them. Any thoughts on what to tell these students or admissions for that matter?
HI Cheryl - Thanks for your post to the forum. You gave us an excellent example of teaching writing skills across the curriculum! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career and Happy New Year! Susan
I teach at an *arts*-focused school, in which the students are preparing for a design-type career. It is vitally important to stress to them the relativity of effective communication skills no matter their eventual career path.
I also start off with a minute paper to give me a baseline for all and assess what the strengths and weaknesses are to plan how to best address those, both for learning styles and best method of delivery.
in the hospitality industry, the use of skills like communication, writing, and math are imperative to the student success in this field. it is imperative that our instructors instill these processes in students even in a career college. if instructors show the relevance of a well rounded education including the general education courses, the student will be better prepared for a successful career. at the school i work at we stress the importance of general education classes across the curriculum. for example, an english class may have an assignment writing a biography of their favorite chef.
Unfortunately I see so many students without the basic skills needed that until I get a feel of their level it is difficult to conduct lectures in which they can understand.
These skills are equally, if not more, important to student success in career-based education as core technique or skill development
It is imperative that the students get good general education classes and can maintain the skills. If they just memprize or get by, in the program I teach, they will struggle once they get to me. This is a science and math-based program. If they can't do the math correctly, they will not succeed. This is why the general education classes/instructors are so important in getting the students prepared for the actual course content.
HI Ramon - Thank you for a great post to the forum! I especially liked your mention that instructors need to assess general skills and then decide whether the student can proceed in the class or should be required to take a pre-req. This is always a bit difficult, students don't want to take extra classes, but we need to be honest with them rather than setting them up to fail. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
you need these skills to succeed
There should be a baseline assessment of students participating in a class with a group of other students so that the instructor shall be guided in the presentation of the planned syllabus to the class, there are different levels of presenting a syllabus and I always take into consideration the general education skills of my students before I begin. This will also help in deciding whether I can help a student remain in a class with additional assistance to be able to peform with the other students or recommend or require that student to take prerequisite courses before beginning a class. Sometimes, if another person tests a student for his/her prerequisites, that person may have a different standard or rating as the instructor. Assessing general education skills is very important in student retention, since most drop outs result from poor prior assessment.
HI Jill - Welcome to Ed 103! I agree, it is important to know upfront where all your students are so that you can adjust your teaching from the beginning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
It helps to give you a general idea of where your class is and how you might have to change your lecture or assignments so that all your students can learn the same material.
Initially, we use assessment testing to determine what level students are at regarding problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills, and communication skills. We need to know where they're at in order to not place them in classes they don't have the skills to succeed in. Throughout their program, students need to develop and learn to maintain a level of these skills that will serve them well in their careers. Long after they've graduated, I think the students that have done well in developing these skills will be better prepared to adjust to different job roles and responsibilities.
HI Craig - I find that many times these students have had what we call in Pennsylvania "IEPs" - Individualized Education Plans in their K-12 education because they have learning disabilities. If so,we can offer special considerations such as reading the test to the student or giving extended time for testing. Does your state have something similar? Best wishes - Susan
Hi Ricardo - I completely agree. Not knowing the general eduaction skill levels of students is like driving at night without our lights on. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
It is important because it helps us determine at what level our students are at, and also we can figure out the best way that our students learn, for example if they are excellant readers then they would learn really well reading the information.
I find it is important because I have experienced many different times that the students who struggle with basic skills understand the subject I am teaching, but they don't understand questions when they read them. They would miss a question on a test, but if you verbally ask them the same question they know the correct answer without hesitation.
Hi James - welcome to ED 103! As you mention, the lack of foundation skills can be a real problem as we try to cover new material. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
