Instilling Soft Skills
Hello all,
I work at a college like many of you, with a diverse student body and what sometimes seems like an insurmountable divide between our new students and employable ones. I would like to share something the faculty has instituted that has really helped us guide our students in the area of soft skills:
Most all of us include 'participation' in our grading; activity in groups, question asking, and general subject engagement. My school has formalized participation to consist of 5 or so soft skills. The only way for the students to earn these points is if they demonstrate Professionalism, Management, Initiative, etc. If a student shows exemplary work in one of these areas, they are nominated for an award. The awards are presented to them infront of their peers. These acknowledgement has been a huge motivator for other students to develop their soft skills as well.
Students who consistently show model professional behavior also recieve special acknowledgement at their graduation. It's been an amazing turn around here.
Sharon,
This is such a great point and one that needs to be brought up over and over. Your experience has been mine as well. Employers are having such a difficult time getting employees that will work well and cooperate with others. In addition if the work involves customers or patients they don't seem to want to display the human factor while interacting with them. It is something we must work with our students on throughout their college careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I work closely with our Graduate Service Department to obtain jobs for students after graduation. If there is one thing that employers say is missing from our graduates, it is the soft skills that we try to instill along the way.
Sometimes we are successful at being able to show the students the importance of soft skill and professionalism. I find that when we are not successful, those are the students that are harder to employ and that will likely lose a position, even if they get hired.
Sally,
Thanks for sharing this student motivation strategy with us. I know it will be of value to other schools and instructors looking for ways to help develop the soft skills of students. I have seen a big drop off in soft skills over the past few years. The students tell me that the employers have to take them like they are. I respond that is true and as a result of that attitude the employers will not take them. When after a period of months with not call backs or job offers the students start to realize that maybe just maybe they need to get their act together and start conducting themselves as the professionals they want to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
