Connecting student learning outcomes to skills that employers

Connecting student learning outcomes to skills that employers

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  Connecting Student Learning Outcomesto Skills that Employers are Seeking Melissa Cline-Douthitt Courtney Abboud
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  How do youconnect curriculum to workplace competencies?
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  Foundations of Excellence Foundationsinstitutions promote student understanding of the various roles and purposes of higher education, both for the individual and society. These roles and purposes include knowledge acquisition for personal growth, learning to prepare for future employment, learning to become engaged citizens, and learning to serve the public good.
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  Jefferson’s Mission Jefferson Communityand Technical College fulfills its Mission by promoting excellence in programs and services in support of educational opportunity, lifelong learning, and student achievement as expressed in the following goals: • Support the attainment of regional and statewide educational goals through data informed and inquiry driven strategies to increase retention rates and completion of credentials (Associate Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates). • Maximize student achievement through an institutional commitment to effective teaching and support services. • Enhance workforce readiness and economic development of the community by providing seamless educational opportunities through agreements with adult education, secondary school systems, postsecondary institutions, community groups, and business and industry partners. • Provide an inclusive, accessible, and safe learning and working environment. • Exercise responsible stewardship of the College’s human, fiscal, and physical resources.
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  What is employability? Aset of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. Academic Personal/Life Experience Work Experience
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  Information about theknowledge gap about between classroom learning and workplace • “We don’t have a jobs crisis in the world, we have a skills crisis” according to a 2012 Forbes article. • 45% of US employers say lack of skills is the “main reason” for entry-level vacancies. • Only 42% of worldwide employers believe new graduates are adequately prepared for work. • Further, according to NACE, it takes the average graduates at least 6 months to obtain employment after graduation. College graduates struggle to articulate the transferable skills desired by employers.
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  Stats about workingstudents • People often assume that students work approximately 10-15 hours a week. • A 2013 U.S. Census report determined that 71 percent of US college undergraduates were working in 2011. Of that number, one in five undergraduates were working at least 35 hours a week year-round. • Community colleges often work more hours than four-year students, and adult learners usually work additional hours to meet their family’s financial needs.
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  JCTC Adult StudentLearners In Fall 2012, over 8300 ALs at JCTC...58% of total student body! • Downtown – 66% • Southwest – 42% • Technical – 68% KCTCS Systems Office Report
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  How can facultysupport students in their career pursuits? How can faculty find a connection between the classroom and the student’s current work? Employability Skills
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  What are the essentialskills graduates must demonstrate to future employers?
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  What are employabilitylearning outcomes? A statement of what a learner is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate at the end of the course that enhances employability. Employability learning outcomes assist students in recognizing and articulating how transferrable skills are developed within the curriculum.
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  Example Employability LearningOutcome Statements • The student will demonstrate effective verbal communication skills through in-class participation and through completion of capstone presentation. • The student will exhibit the ability to work in a team structure by collaborating on group projects and submitting a written evaluation of his/her teamwork performance. • The student will demonstrate computer competencies through 1) utilizing presentation software when completing semester presentation and 2) utilizing Blackboard 1-2 times a week.
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  What are thebenefits of including employability learning outcomes in your course? • Can act as a benchmark for assuring quality and efficiency in higher education. • Provides a framework for understanding the application of coursework in an unambiguous way to open up education to a wider audience. • Connection to work allows employed students to discover and construct knowledge for themselves • Recognizes student achievement outside of the classroom • Community employers understand not only what students KNOW…but also what they can DO.
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  Additional Method toDemonstrate Link Between Curriculum and Employability • Assignments • Class Activities • Service Learning • Referrals to CREW Center
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  Questions?