Essential Skills Acquisition

ESA Focused Courses have the following attributes:

• 30 on-task hours committed to one or more assignments or projects associated with an ESA competency area OR the primary focus of the course is on the ESA competency area or the course directly engages the student in the workforce (i.e., internship). Note:  On-task hours may include both “in” and “out” of classroom time.
• Student learning outcomes related to the ESA are defined, assessed.
• Experiences are structured and intentional.
• Experiences require student preparation, orientation, and training.
• Experiences include monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Students reflect on their experiences.
• Students receive appropriate and timely feedback from all facilitators.

Definition:  Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Utilize effective active listening, written, oral, and nonverbal communication.
• Employ persuasion and influencing skills.
•  Make use of appropriate methods and mediums to communicate in the workplace.
• Examine information, ideas, facts, and perspectives critically and respectfully, especially with persons of varying perspectives.

Example Behaviors:

• Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language abilities.
• Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
• Communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively understand.
• Frame communication with respect to diversity of learning styles, varied individual communication abilities, and cultural differences.
• Ask appropriate questions for specific information from supervisors, specialists, and others.
• Promptly inform relevant others when needing guidance with assigned tasks.

Definition:  Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Analyze data and draw conclusions to make evidence-based decisions.
• Identify issues and use information and reasoning to make problem solving decisions.
• Analyze, evaluate, and create arguments and explanations.
• Apply information using appropriate technology.
• Summarize and interpret data with an awareness of personal bias that may impact outcomes.

Example Behaviors:

• Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgment.
• Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem.
• Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps.
• Accurately summarize and interpret data with an awareness of personal biases that may impact outcomes.
• Effectively communicate actions and rationale, recognizing the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of stakeholders.
• Multi-task well in a fast-paced environment.

Definition:  Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Employ openness and empathy for others’ cultural perspectives.
• Acknowledge one’s own cultural biases.
• Interact respectfully with those who are different from one’s self.
• Apply diversity as a source of creativity and innovation.
• Recognize viewpoints that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Example Behaviors:

• Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.
• Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.
• Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice, and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.
• Seek global cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups and that leads to personal growth.
• Keep an open mind to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking.
• Identify resources and eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities, and biases.
• Demonstrate flexibility by adapting to diverse environments.
• Address systems of privilege that limit opportunities for members of historically marginalized communities.

Definition: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Apply skills to guide and assist a group, organization, or community in meeting its goals.
• Demonstrate an ability to inspire, persuade, and motivate self and others within a shared vision.
• Utilize diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction and decisions. 
• Apply skills to plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects.

Example Behaviors:

• Inspire, persuade, and motivate self and others under a shared vision.
• Seek out and leverage diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction.
• Use innovative thinking to go beyond traditional methods.
• Serve as a role model to others by approaching tasks with confidence and a positive attitude.
• Motivate and inspire others by encouraging them and by building mutual trust.
• Plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate projects.

Definition:  Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Demonstrate effective work habits such as working independently, identifying appropriate resources, taking initiative; goal setting; managing deadlines; self-assessing, and seeking help when needed.
• Demonstrate integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
• Demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing work environments and scenarios.

Example Behavior:

• Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
• Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values.
• Be present and prepared.
• Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings).
• Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals.
• Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations.
• Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work.
• Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.

Definition: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Employ collaboration with others to achieve positive outcomes.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities, and meet ambiguity with resilience.
• Demonstrate accountability for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables.
• Develop strong, positive working relationships with supervisor and team members/coworkers.

Example Behavior:

• Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.
• Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities, and meet ambiguity with resilience.
• Be accountable for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables.
• Employ personal strengths, knowledge, and talents to complement those of others.
• Exercise the ability to compromise and be agile.
• Collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
• Build strong, positive working relationships with supervisor and team members/coworkers.

Definition:  Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• Utilize technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their work.
• Identify appropriate technology for completing specific tasks.
• Utilize technology to integrate information in support of relevant, effective, and timely decision-making.
• Utilize appropriate technology to achieve strategic goals.

Example Behavior:

• Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies.
• Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their work.
• Identify appropriate technology for completing specific tasks.
• Manage technology to integrate information to support relevant, effective, and timely decision-making.
• Quickly adapt to new or unfamiliar technologies.
• Manipulate information, construct ideas, and use technology to achieve strategic goals.