Oral communication is considered to be a core aspect of employability, and involves informing, persuading, creating understanding, and building consensus.
Examples of oral communication include:
Group and individual presentation
Project defenses
Small group discussions
Role-playing
Debates
Interviews
A proficient oral communicator is able to:
Organize messages
Compose and deliver messages
Acknowledge opinions and differences
Paraphrase information and opposing points
Demonstrate understanding and use of listening behaviors
Phrase questions to obtain information
Use communication skills
All ESM graduates should be able to produce written documents that are organized, coherent, technically free of grammatical errors, varied in sentence structure and vocabulary, and with appropriate citation and use of sources.
Examples of different writing types include:
Academic essays
Annotated bibliography
Comparative analysis
Literature review
Research paper
Rhetorical analysis
A proficient written communicator is able to write in a variety of styles with:
No errors in grammar, spelling, and syntax
Appropriate support of arguments and ideas
Logically organized information
Appropriate writing style
Appropriate use of sentence structure and vocabulary
Analysis that demonstrates superior understanding of topic concepts
Correct use of sources and citations
Professional behavior can be demonstrated when following standards of good practice when serving the needs of others, as well as being accountable for choices made and subsequent consequences. Respect for peers, faculty, and supervisors in a professional setting, including the classroom, is expected from a professional.
Examples of settings in which to demonstrate professional behavior include:
Classroom
Peer meetings
Advising meetings
Meetings with professors
Presentations
Students proficient in demonstrating professional behavior are characterized by the following behaviors:
Completes tasks and responsibilities as assigned
Plans ahead to allow adequate time to complete assigned tasks and responsibilities.
Prioritizes workload
Punctual for scheduled responsibilities
Respectful when addressing others
Assumes personal responsibility for learning
Acknowledges personal strengths and weaknesses
Critical thinking and problem solving are intellectually disciplined processes of actively and skillfully evaluating information and conceptualizing a solution, through tools including observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication.Critical thinking and problem solving skills should be demonstrated in all areas of academics.
Students with proficient critical thinking and problem solving skills demonstrate the following characteristics:
Accurately interprets evidence, statements, graphics, questions, etc.
Identifies relevant arguments (reasons, claims, pros and cons, etc.)
Analyzes and evaluates alternative points of view
Justifies key results or procedures and can fully explain assumptions and reasons
Fair-mindedly follows where evidence and reason lead
Computer literacy does not mean that a person needs to know how to use every piece of software out there, but it does mean having some sort of level of comfort around computers. Further specialization of these skills increases students’ overall value to future employers. The ability to access a wide range of knowledge bases provides unlimited opportunities for learning.Computer and information literacy skills are widely used in all areas of academics.
Students proficient in computer and information literacy are characterized by the following:
Able to do more complicate word processing with no errors
Able to use attachments for emails and online course submissions
Regularly uses email for personal, course and other professional correspondence
Demonstrates awareness of virus protection
