Kevin Beardmore | Owensboro Community & Technical College (original) (raw)

Papers by Kevin Beardmore

This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft ... more This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft skill assessment can be predicted by overall GPA, general education course success, test scores, course completion rate, age, socio-economic status, participation in work-based learning opportunities, or some combination of these factors and therefore either replace the need for such a strategy or support its use. By exploring if there is an effect, as measured by the Am I Job Ready? assessment, of these factors on soft skill attainment, this study hopes to contribute to an understanding how such assessments might be used (or not) by higher education institutions to best prepare graduates for workplace success

This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft ... more This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft skill assessment can be predicted by overall GPA, general education course success, test scores, course completion rate, age, socio-economic status, participation in work-based learning opportunities, or some combination of these factors and therefore either replace the need for such a strategy or support its use. By exploring if there is an effect, as measured by the Am I Job Ready? assessment, of these factors on soft skill attainment, this study hopes to contribute to an understanding how such assessments might be used (or not) by higher education institutions to best prepare graduates for workplace success

OF DISSERTATION SOFT SKILLS: OLD & NEW The problem of a prepared workforce is perennial. Part of ... more OF DISSERTATION SOFT SKILLS: OLD & NEW The problem of a prepared workforce is perennial. Part of the challenge is one of supply and demand, as education systems attempt to produce graduates with the technical competencies required for the current jobs available. In the new serviceand knowledgebased economy, however, soft skills are cited as a greater need by today’s employers. Increasingly sought across all industry sectors, these skills allow employees to work independently and interdependently, respond rapidly to customer needs, and adjust to changing market conditions. As a result, institutions of higher education are being called upon to infuse soft skills into their curricula. In this three-manuscript dissertation, first the implications for higher education, with Kentucky serving as a prime example, are assessed. Second, potential higher education predictors of success on a soft skills assessment—college admissions tests, grades, coursework, socioeconomic measures, and work-ba...

This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft ... more This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft skill assessment can be predicted by overall GPA, general education course success, test scores, course completion rate, age, socio-economic status, participation in work-based learning opportunities, or some combination of these factors and therefore either replace the need for such a strategy or support its use. By exploring if there is an effect, as measured by the Am I Job Ready? assessment, of these factors on soft skill attainment, this study hopes to contribute to an understanding how such assessments might be used (or not) by higher education institutions to best prepare graduates for workplace success

This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft ... more This quantitative study investigates whether the performance of postsecondary students on a soft skill assessment can be predicted by overall GPA, general education course success, test scores, course completion rate, age, socio-economic status, participation in work-based learning opportunities, or some combination of these factors and therefore either replace the need for such a strategy or support its use. By exploring if there is an effect, as measured by the Am I Job Ready? assessment, of these factors on soft skill attainment, this study hopes to contribute to an understanding how such assessments might be used (or not) by higher education institutions to best prepare graduates for workplace success

OF DISSERTATION SOFT SKILLS: OLD & NEW The problem of a prepared workforce is perennial. Part of ... more OF DISSERTATION SOFT SKILLS: OLD & NEW The problem of a prepared workforce is perennial. Part of the challenge is one of supply and demand, as education systems attempt to produce graduates with the technical competencies required for the current jobs available. In the new serviceand knowledgebased economy, however, soft skills are cited as a greater need by today’s employers. Increasingly sought across all industry sectors, these skills allow employees to work independently and interdependently, respond rapidly to customer needs, and adjust to changing market conditions. As a result, institutions of higher education are being called upon to infuse soft skills into their curricula. In this three-manuscript dissertation, first the implications for higher education, with Kentucky serving as a prime example, are assessed. Second, potential higher education predictors of success on a soft skills assessment—college admissions tests, grades, coursework, socioeconomic measures, and work-ba...