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Social and emotional skills. A better life.
Communication, teamwork, responsibility and other social-emotional skills are vital for children and adults to thrive in school, at work and every stage of life. SkillSense supports the development and documentation of these skills.
Sometimes called “soft skills” or “employability skills,” social-emotional skills have become increasingly valued in the 21st century workplace. Research shows they are as important as academic learning to lifelong success and wellbeing.
But until now, there has been little agreement on how to teach, assess and document these skills.SkillSense bridges that gap and supports this lifelong journey by establishing common definitions, language and tools to be used by individuals, educators and employers.
What We Do
Drawing from input by K-12 districts, educational agencies, higher-education institutions, and employers in West Michigan, SkillSense has identified an array of skills that are essential to success in school and career.
The collaborative process of SkillSense addresses the longstanding problem of defining and measuring skills such as responsibility, decisiveness and teamwork.
This work is showing promising alignment with ongoing international research by OECD – the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
How We Do It
The OECD research is based on the “big five” domains of Task Performance, Emotional Regulation, Collaboration, Open-Mindedness and Engaging with Others. The OECD research adds credibility to and will continue to inform the SkillSense model.
The “big five” domains have multiple parallels to the 12 skills identified by collaborators in West Michigan:
Communication
Effective written and oral communication skills, including listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Participation
Demonstrating appropriate levels of participation in group settings.
Good Choices
Thinking about one’s actions and showing empathy for others.
Teamwork
Being pleasant, cooperative, sensitive to others and easy to get along with. Having the skill to associate with others.
Achievement
Setting goals, trying to succeed at those goals, and striving to be competent in their own work.
Responsibility
Being dependable, committed to doing the job correctly and carefully. Being trustworthy, accountable and attentive to details.
Reasoning
Critical thinking, problem solving, judgment and decision making.
Time Management
Attendance and punctuality, being attentive to project milestones and deadlines, and scheduling with others.
Tech Management
Effective use of technology and the maturity and self-control to limit technology distractions.
Decisiveness
Showing leadership and independence, developing one’s own way of doing things, and guiding and depending on oneself.
Adaptability
Maturity, poise and flexibility. Restraint to cope with pressure, stress, criticism, setbacks, etc.
Innovation
Ability to generate new ideas, processes, products, etc., that have value both to the innovator and a wider audience.
These skills were identified by working with educators and employers to collect information on:• key skills needed by job applicants• how they are described• how these skills are taught• how competency is assessed
As the framework is refined, guidelines will be developed to help students and adults, from kindergarten to career, to reflect on their skills, sharpen them and document their progress. Age-specific goals and teaching supports are being developed, along with mobile technology for individuals to track their progress.
With a common framework established, work can begin to identify the gaps in the current system of education and training.
Documentation – including descriptions, proficiency scales, performance indicators and assessment strategies – will be shared with TalNet, Talent 2025, West Michigan Works!, local districts and educational agencies, and regional businesses and employers.
To learn more about SkillSense visit www.talnetskillsense.org.
Who We Are
SkillSense involves all sectors of the workforce system, but it is being led by Ottawa Area Intermediate School District with the support of the Talent Triangle (the three regional Intermediate School Districts – Ottawa, Muskegon and Kent).
These groups previously collaborated with West Michigan Works! to develop a series of WorkReady workshops to help job-seekers develop similar skills.
Drawing on this experience, K-12 teachers from across the region have formed Network Improvement Communities to develop practices to improve social-emotional skills. These efforts will include post-secondary institutions.
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Jason Pasatta
Director of Instructional Services, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
Why You Should Be Involved
SkillSense helps employers because it defines, improves and documents the skills they seek in employees. These are lifelong skills – meaning evaluations and trainings can be incorporated into the workplace. Employers can work with West Michigan Works and Ottawa Area Intermediate School District to provide skill development opportunities for their workers.
Educators at all levels can find support to guide their students to success in the classroom and beyond by embedding SkillSense curriculum in their classrooms. They also can participate in the Network Improvement Communities to help refine the process for widespread adoption. To learn more and engage with SkillSense visit www.talnetskillsense.org.
Educators at all levels can find support to guide their students to success in the classroom and beyond by embedding SkillSense curriculum in their classrooms. They also can participate in the Network Improvement Communities to help refine the process for widespread adoption. To learn more and engage with SkillSense visit www.talnetskillsense.org.