Course Syllabus and Program Overview
Today's employers are seeking more than just technical knowledge of the job, they are looking for employees who are willing to work as team players, have strong communication skills, work ethics, problem solving skills, leadership and a positive attitude. Soft S kills Pro is specifically designed to help participants prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce by preparing participants with the essential employability traits and soft skills needed for the 21st century workplace. Soft Skills PRO has three distinct learning components that can be used together or independently giving instructors greater flexibility to integrate the course into existing curriculum.
Get Ready. Get Set. Go!
Get Ready. Workforce and Life Essentials Course Curriculum
The Soft Skills Pro journey begins with our Workforce and Life Essentials (WLE) Course – an interactive online soft skills curriculum designed to prepare participants for work and life success. The Workforce and Life Essentials (WLE) course is aligned with the employability traits that all industries look for when hiring new employees. There are 10 WLE modules (module descriptions and learning outcomes are found in Appendix 1.) Each learning module contains the following six distinct instructional and interactive features that keep participants continuously engaged as they navigate through the course: (Approximately 1- 2 hours per module)
Module Overview
At the beginning of each module, participants start with the Overview tab. Each module overview gives participants a brief outline of what they will need to complete and a description of each module seminar.
Seminar
Each seminar is voiced –over, interactive and fun. Participants can click Pause at any time and replay a previous slide by using the course navigation system. We encourage all participants to take notes and use these as study material for the final exam,
Quiz
Once participants feel confident with the knowledge presented in the seminar, they are now ready to take the corresponding quiz consisting of 10 questions. Participants have two attempts to pass each quiz with a passing grade of 70%. After they have successfully completed the quiz, they can return to the course materials to begin the next module.
Skill Builder Activity
The skill builder is another activity allowing participants to demonstrate what they have learned from the seminar. There will be a corresponding Skill Builder for each Module. The Skill Builder is worth 5 points. Participants receive 5 points for completing them and 0 points for an incomplete activity.
Online Discussion
The discussion forum allows participants to reflect on their experiences and share these experiences with their peers and Soft Skill’s High course monitors. There will be a corresponding discussion for each module and they are worth 5 points each. Participants are required to post a reply in order to earn the 5 points.
Pre and Post Assessment
A pre assessment will be given prior to the start of the course. A post assessment will be given once participants have completed all 10 modules. Before taking the post assessment, participants will be asked to complete a course evaluation.
Grading and Special Designation
A student must have a minimum grade of 70% to earn the CLE certificate from Soft Skills High. After student’s have completed the final exam, their score will be computed automatically, and their final score will be generated. If they receive a passing score, they will earn their online course certificate. (A sample course certificate is found in Appendix 2.) A student’s final grade will be computed based on the following criteria and weight distribution, for a total of 100%.
Grading Scale
Quizzes: 25%
Activities 25%
Post Assessment 50%
Get Prepped. Career PREP- A virtual Career Guidance Center
Career PREP gives Soft Skills Pro participants the opportunity to put their new soft skills knowledge into practice through the creation of a practical Career PREP Portfolio filled with professional development badges and information they can carry with them when it’s time to head out into the workplace. (Approximately 5-10 hours) Career PREP Badges include:
Self-Assessment
Through this workshop participants will learn how to identify and maximize their individual personality traits to find their passion and launch their career prep journey. In the Self-Assessment badge activity, participants will reflect on their attitude, character, and experiences to highlight their career and life strengths.
Smart Goals
The SMART Goals badge is all about learning how to create goals for participants career and life that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. In this badge activity participants will be asked to create an achievable SMART Goal Set that will provide the guidance, motivation and direction needed for career and life.
Resume & Cover Letter
Resumes and cover letters showcase participants personal and professional strengths and skill sets. In this workshop, participants begin to paint a picture of themselves in words through their career objectives, acquired skills, education, and life experiences. The Resume & Cover Letter badge activity gives participants the opportunity to practice creating their own unique resume and cover letter.
Interview Skills
The Interview badge will help strengthen the interview skills necessary for making that all important successful first impression. In the workshop, participants will learn successful interviewing tips and what kinds of questions they can expect during a personal interview. The Activity will allow participants to put the tips to practical use as they get ready to become a Soft Skills PRO!
GO! Soft Skills PRO – Industry Certification
Now it’s time for Soft Skills Pro participants to take their newly acquired soft skills to work! Upon successful completion of the Workforce and Life Essentials course, participants will earn their WLE course credential. Additionally, participants also have the opportunity to earn their Soft Skills Pro industry certificate based on successful demonstration of the 10 soft skills in the workplace.
The Soft Skills Pro credential and the WLE course work certificate are proof positive to current or prospective employers that the participant possesses the soft skills and employability traits deemed necessary to succeed in today's workplace. (A sample Soft Skills Pro certificate is found in Appendix 2.)
Appendix 1 Module Descriptions and Learning Outcomes
Module 1 Attitude
It is not your aptitude but your attitude that will determine your success in and after high school. A positive attitude is the essence of life and career achievement, which is why the most successful companies hire for attitude and train for aptitude. Life produces extraordinary rewards for those who give in extraordinary ways. This seminar will show you how to soar to new heights with an attitude of gratitude that sees life challenges as opportunities. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 2 Character
Good character does not just happen. We develop this, each and every day, by the choices we make in all we do. After completing this seminar, you will appreciate the importance of developing positive character traits and be able to explain their benefit in the workplace. You will also be able to recognize personality and behavior flaws that causes difficulties in all areas of our life. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 3 Diversity and Cultural Awareness
The process of cultural understanding challenges us to stop jumping to conclusions and stop making judgments about other people from our own set of cultural values. Instead this seminar encourages you to learn about cultural differences so that you can understand why other people behave the way they do. Once you understand and appreciate differences you can begin to more effectively socialize and work with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and bridge the cultural gap rather than make it even greater. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 4 Communication and Listening
To effectively communicate, it is important to make certain that the people you are talking to clearly understand both your words and your actions. This seminar will focus on both verbal and nonverbal skills and present the essential elements of communication to help you become confident when communicating with others during school, work and life. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 5 Appearance and Etiquette
Studies have shown that thirty seconds is all it takes for someone meeting you to form an entire list of impressions about your character and your abilities. In this seminar we will discuss the importance of appearance, grooming, hygiene and etiquette in your everyday life. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 6 Time Management
In this seminar, you will learn about the essence of time. Those who manage their time wisely lead well-rounded lives, accomplish more personally, as well as professionally, experience less stress and feel better about themselves. This seminar helps you develop strategies for delegating tasks, prioritizing, and increasing your efficiency. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 7 Teamwork
The ultimate goal of any school, organization, or workplace is to achieve overall effectiveness. In other words, the sum should be greater than its parts! Of course, we all want to succeed as individuals, but our primary focus should always be on the success of the organization as a whole. This requires teamwork. This seminar will discuss how you and the teams you are part of work together to display the “a ha!” - Amazing Highschool Attitudes. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 8 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
The ability to think critically is one of the most important Career and Life Essentials tools you can have on your belt, because good thinking leads to a better understanding of the world around you and your place in it. In this module you will learn how to better think critically by asking questions and cultivating a genuinely curious attitude. You will learn that having your own point of view will help you make decisions, solve problems and communicate effectively. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 9 Service Excellence
We have all been customers. And when we are customers, we expect to experience excellent customer service. In today’s world, we all need to understand what it means to be a customer and also how to deliver service. No matter what your future career choice may be, all businesses strive on fantastic customer service. Use this seminar, to help you begin understanding what it takes to have commitment, imagination, creativity and customer magic skills. After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Module 10 Personal Leadership
A leader is effective because of who he or she is on the inside, and how those qualities are reflected on the outside. In this last module, you will learn that you don’t have to have a special set of talents to take a leadership role in your life. Leadership is shown through your everyday action and interactions with others. You will see how this is achieved by leading with the little “l.” After completing this module, participants should be able to:
Appendix 2 Course and Industry Certificate
