Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Got Skills?

 In April 2024, Forbes Magazine published an article titled, "11 Essential Soft Skills in 2024 (With Examples." While our students here in CSD 17 might be many years away from having a job, that doesn't mean we can't see what soft skills are in demand and begin fostering them now!

Here's the list from the article:

  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Creativity
  • Time management
  • Adaptability
  • Problem-solving
  • Work ethic
  • Critical thinking
  • Conflict management
  • Emotional intelligence
The first thing that jumps out at me is the 4 C's -- communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration (teamwork). Looks like those skills are still relevant and desirable! Since the focus of my job is educational technology, I like to look at these lists through that lens and figure out how the tech tools kids have can foster these skills. So here are few ideas off the top of my head:
  • Kids can easily be taught email etiquette and practice communicating via email with their teacher and possible even their classmates.
  • The entire Google Workspace suite of tools can be used for creativity, teamwork, and communication. The simple act of having a small group or class work on a collaborative slide deck is going to hit those three skills. 
  • Using times when the internet is down or technology unexpectedly has glitches as teachable moments are great opportunities for having kids practice adaptability. 
  • Giving kids the chance to be classroom tech support is also a fun way for kids to have the chance to work on communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Leverage those tech-savvy kids and let them be the ones who help their classmates navigate websites or troubleshoot their devices.
  • Use features available in Google Docs or Google Keep to have kids create checklists for projects to help them with time management. Add added bonus is they can share those with you so you can check on their progress at a glance!
  • Leverage GoGuardian Teacher at the start of the school year so kids know what is expected of them when they're working on their Chromebooks, but as the year progresses, try allowing students a little more freedom on their devices. This gives them the chance to hone their work ethic by demonstrating they understand the guidelines and rules for doing online work.
  • Don't forget the power of BreakoutEDU! Practically every one of these soft skills gets used when solving one of these puzzles!
What other ideas do you have? How do you foster the development of these sift skills in your classroom? Share in the comments so we can all keep learning from each other!

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