Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, students learn hard skills in the classroom.
Researchers and practitioners agree that STEM classes often teach hard skills and provide the technical expertise needed to excel in a particular field; however, STEM classes often lack opportunities for students to learn and develop soft skills.
A report by Bloomberg reveals that while academic institutions focus on equipping students with the knowledge and hard skills for their future careers, businesses report that new hires are not prepared for success. The reason? Recent graduates lack the “soft” skills necessary for individuals to perform at a high level in the workplace.
Soft skills are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify. Also known as "people skills" or "interpersonal skills," soft skills relate to the way you relate to and interact with other people. These “softer” skills enable an individual to adapt and succeed in the workplace.
Why teach soft skills?
- The modern world relies heavily on interpersonal skills, both in the workplace and in educational institutions.
- Soft skills complement hard skills and help students stand out in the classroom, increasing their chances of getting employed.
- They also promote work-life balance and equip students with better coping strategies for stressful situations.
- Soft skills aid in adapting to the organization and adjusting to the ever-changing workplace and strategies.
- They also enhance the capacity for listening, promoting mindfulness, empathy, and a better understanding of both people and their environment.
How can we provide opportunities that incorporate soft skills training in our STEM courses?
Encouraging Group Projects, Experiential Learning, and Teamwork
One of the best ways to teach and develop a variety of soft skills in students is through group projects. Interpersonal communication, conversations, problem-solving, goal-setting, and other activities are typically part of group projects. Each student has unique learning potential, and with project-based learning techniques, they can blend hard and soft skills.
Teaching Critical Thinking with Innovations and Experiments
Critical thinking is one of the most important soft skills to emphasize while teaching soft skills to students. Teaching students critical thinking skills like assessing evidence, interpreting data, making cohesive arguments, peer review, and peer-to-peer feedback can be an effective way to help them develop those skills. It also increases student engagement and helps them see the relevancy of what they’re doing.
Boosting Students’ Confidence and Communication
Many students find it challenging to speak in front of a crowd due to stage fright, particularly in college. Establishing friendships and learning more about classmates are some of the most exciting experiences in a student’s life, which presents an opportunity to work on acquiring this skill.
Plan of Action
Create opportunities for students to collaborate to find solutions to various math problems throughout the semester
Create opportunities for students to present their work on various math problems throughout the semester
Include oral presentation as a component of What’s a Fair Living Wage Project
Oral presentation includes rubric to model effective oral presentation skills