Soft skills make the world go ‘round, but are often neglected in higher education. Simulated “real world” activities help students learn and practice soft skills that can prove to be invaluable in their careers. Learn how to identify soft skills associated with the professions your students may have after graduation.
In every profession, soft skills (also known as common or core skills such as: attitude, creative thinking, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem-solving, time management, etc.) have relevant applications, but they can be difficult to teach or train in meaningful ways within the traditional classroom setting. The art of reading and adapting to the emotions and attitudes of others is an invaluable skill that, like many other soft skills, many university classrooms neglect primarily because it does not fit cleanly or clearly within the course or program level outcomes. We all know someone who is gifted with their soft skills, and likewise, we all know of someone who could use significant help in developing their soft skills. Regardless of our profession, interpersonal activity is a part of our daily work and social life, and so the skills required for it should be a major priority in our educational development.
In an effort to improve a Professional Sales course in our Marketing Department, we reimagined the course to be a simulation of what a graduate might face in their post-graduate profession. What happens to a marketing or business student when they land their first job in sales? How can they use what they learned in their undergraduate courses to help them in their new career path? A major part of being good in sales is learning how to read and interact with potential clients which makes these soft skills absolutely invaluable. To that end, we enlisted the help of an alumnus who was currently working in the sales industry in a start-up company. He assisted us by creating video content designed to simulate the tasks and scenarios our graduates might face as they begin a career in professional sales. As students progress through the semester, their focus begins with heavy study of human interaction and development of important soft skills, then gradually shifts focus to implementing those soft skills through simulated sales opportunities.
Level of Participation:
Following a brief explanation of how we identified the soft skills and created the course-long simulation, the session will become more interactive, and structured similarly to “Whose Line is it Anyway.” Attendees will be given the opportunity at the beginning of the session to identify a course, lesson, and soft skill they want to focus on from their own teaching experience. We will collect their suggestions, then draw one at random and walk through the brainstorming and development process with the attendees to create a simulation experience for them to use with their students.If time permits we will draw additional courses from the hat. Special prizes will be given to those whose courses are chosen.
Session Goals:
Attendees of this session will be able to identify soft skills associated with the courses they teach. Once the associated soft skills are identified, they will be able to brainstorm a variety of simulation activities in which their students can engage to develop those soft skills. They will be able to identify necessary resources, collaborations, and opportunities for their students to learn, practice, and perfect identified skills in new, engaging, and innovative ways.