Employability Skills

Applied Academic Skills
Applied academic skills are evident daily in homework assignments, classwork, and Q&A exchanges during lessons.

• Reading skills
  Students apply/demonstrate reading skills by interpreting written instructions/project directions and constructing responses, using print and online materials as resources, completing worksheets, and seeking clarification about what they have read.
• Writing skills
  Students rely on writing skills to construct lab reports, posters, and presentation materials, take notes, and compose responses to essay questions.
• Math strategies/procedures
  Students use computational skills appropriately and make logical choices when analyzing and differentiating among available procedures. Outside of math class, this includes creating/interpreting tables and graphs and organizing/displaying data.
• Scientific principles/procedures
  Students follow procedures, experiment, infer, hypothesize (even as simple as "what if we do it this way"), and construct processes to complete a task (can occur outside of math/science classes).

Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking skills are evident in homework, group work, project-based tasks, and presentations.

• Thinks creatively
  Students create innovative and novel ideas/solutions and display divergent thinking. This can be seen in oral presentations and creative writing assignments, open-ended tasks, and project design.
• Thinks critically
  Students display analytical and strategic thinking. This can be seen in debating an issue, converging on an understanding, assessing a problem, and questioning (playing devil's advocate).
• Makes sound decisions
  Students differentiate between multiple approaches and assess options (could be linked to thinking critically).
• Solves problems
  Students assess problems involving the use of available resources (personnel and materials) and review multiple strategies for resolving problems (could be linked to thinking creatively).
• Reasons
  Students negotiate pros/cons of ideas, approaches, and solutions and analyze options using "if-then" rationale.
• Plans/organizes
  Students plan steps, procedures, and/or approaches for addressing tasks. This occurs naturally in most assignments, ranging from solving one problem to completing a long-term project.

Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are almost always displayed when students work in pairs or teams to complete short-term or long-term tasks.

• Understands teamwork and works with others
  Students participate in cooperative groups or with a partner, contribute fairly to the task, and show respect to others.
• Responds to customer needs
  Students help fellow students understand tasks, find resources, and fulfill assigned roles (think of fellow students as customers).
• Exercises leadership
  Students participate as team leaders or effective team members in project assignments and organize work to meet project goals and team roles.
• Negotiates to resolve conflict
  Students keep team members on track, suggest alternatives, and discuss options (can be as much about agreement as conflict).
• Respects individual differences
  Students listen to and consider all team members' ideas, respond supportively to ideas given in class or in teams, and work well with all teammates.

Personal Qualities
Personal qualities are routinely displayed in students' everyday actions in the classroom — how they participate in lessons, communicate, contribute to the learning environment, treat their fellow students, and govern themselves.

• Demonstrates responsibility and self-discipline
  Students actively participate in class, asking questions, volunteering answers, completing/submitting assignments, and working well in groups.
• Adapts and shows flexibility
  Students adapt easily to different modes of instruction and different types of assignments.
• Works independently
  Students commit to time-on-task during class and begin work without fanfare.
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn
  Students are cooperative and noticeably engaged.
• Demonstrates integrity
  Students treat work assignments with respect in that work is either original or credited correctly.
• Demonstrates professionalism
  Students treat others and work assignments with respect. All ideas are considered and work is either original or credited correctly.
• Takes initiative
  Students commit to time-on-task during class and begin work without fanfare. This is also evident during teamwork.
• Displays a positive attitude and sense of self-worth
  Students contribute positively to the class.
• Takes responsibility for professional growth
  Students are active listeners, seeking clarification and understanding when needed.

Resource Management
Resource management is often a component of project-based learning and collaborative group work but can also apply to how an individual student manages class time.

• Manages time
  Students demonstrate time management when organizing and planning project activities with a team or when organizing and managing themselves and individual class assignments and homework. Time management is inherent in almost all assignments.
• Manages money
  Students manage money in group projects requiring allocation of limited finances and resources (i.e. designing/marketing a toy, flipping a house, or planning a trip).
• Manages resources
  Students manage resources in projects requiring allocation of limited finances, resources (materials), and personnel.
• Manages personnel
  Students gain experience managing personnel (i.e. each other) in group projects requiring allocation of limited finances, resources (materials), and role assignments. They also manage their own behavior and participation.

Information Use
Information use can include retrieving information from any medium (e.g., print, TV, Internet, or in person) and can be as simple as looking up one piece of information to writing a term paper or preparing an oral presentation.

• Locates
  Students use analytical strategies to determine the best medium for finding necessary information.
• Organizes
  Students use any graphic organizer—outline, concept map, organization chart, tables, etc. to sort information/data.
• Uses
  Students use classification and analytic skills to determine the necessary information (i.e., stay on target) to complete task.
• Analyzes
  Students assess information to determine which is relevant (does not have to be a mathematical analysis).
• Communicates
  Students summarize information to compose written or oral presentations, posters, reports, slides, etc. This can also be as simple as a student explaining a problem in front of the class.

Communication Skills
Routinely displayed in students' everyday actions in the classroom — how they participate in lessons, contribute to the learning environment, treat their fellow students, and govern themselves.

• Communicates verbally
  Students provide oral responses. Evidence ranges from impromptu short answers during a lesson to completing a formal oral presentation.
• Listens actively
  Students are noticeably engaged through notetaking, questioning, and responding.
• Comprehends written material
  Students use/demonstrate reading skills by following written instructions/project directions, reviewing print and digital resources, completing worksheets, and asking questions about what they have read.
• Conveys information in writing
  Students rely on writing skills to organize lab reports, posters, presentation materials and to take notes and reply to essay questions.
• Observes carefully
  Students interpret verbal and nonverbal communication efforts of others.

Systems Thinking
A team working in sync to accomplish an assignment can be thought of as a system.

• Understands and uses systems
  Students understand their roles and assignments when collaborating as a team (system) and contribute to the organizational structure and function of the team.
• Monitors systems
  Students devise methods to assess team (system) progress.
• Improves systems
  Students negotiate mid-course corrections, adaptations to team (system) tasks if necessary.

Technology Use
In the classroom and workplace, technology skills typically refer to the use of digital electronics.

• Understands and uses technology
  Students often rely on various digital technologies for calculating, collecting and displaying data, conducting research, creating presentations, and writing reports.