Developing Soft Skills through Project-Based Learning in Technical and Vocational Institutions (original) (raw)
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IEEE Access
In most professions, the value of soft skills has been recognized and many companies make decisions on employment and performance assessment based in part on the soft skills of workers. Project-Based Learning (PjBL), in its nature as a pedagogical method, has the capability of harnessing the potential of students in soft skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a PjBL conceptual framework for integrating soft skills among students of technical colleges. The population goal for the study was made up of 372 technical teachers from 22 government technical colleges across the sample area. Considering the heterogeneous complexity of the population from which the survey is extracted, the stratified technique of random sampling was used to choose the 295 participants for the study. Through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) models the chi-square values, modification indices, and standardized estimates were developed using Analysis Moment of Structures (AMOS). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to check the model's causal relationship by the application of AMOS version 20. The study findings revealed PjBL preparation (planning), application, commitment, and assessment techniques each to have a positive significant impact on soft skill improvement among students of technical colleges. On the other hand, the study found that facilitation in project-based learning has a significant yet negative relation to integrating soft skills among students at the technical colleges. Interestingly, the outcome of this research suggests that PjBL in technical colleges will have a substantial positive impact on the integration of soft skills among the students. Based on the finding of the study, the government should provide adequate facilities for appropriate PjBL activities to enhance the integration of soft skills. Technical teachers should employ the PjBL identified elements in the teaching and learning of at technical colleges for effective incorporation of soft skills among the students.
Project-based Learning (PjBL): Inculcating Soft Skills in 21st Century Workplace
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2012
21 st Century employers are looking for graduates who possess soft skills that include responsibility, self-confidence, social and communication skills, flexiblity, team-spiritedness, good work attitude, self-motivation and self-management. Many skills learned through project-based learning are highly sought by today's employers including the ability to work well with others, handle interpersonal conflicts, make thoughtful decisions, as well as practise and solve complex problems. A project based learning (PjBL) approach was undertaken through a project assigned in a Workplace Communication course, to incorporate these soft skills. The project work assigned required students to investigate a workplace problem in a real workplace setting. This present study was conducted to identify the relevant soft skills acquired when undergoing the project work. It also aims to find out how PjBL has equipped students with the related soft skills in the 21 st century workplace environment. In view of this, it is evident that project-based learning facilitates the growth of learners in acquiring the aforementioned skills.
Project-Based Learning Model to Enhance Soft Skills of Vocational High School Students
Journal of World Science
This study aimed to analyze students' interpersonal and intrapersonal skills at Integrated Vocational High School 1 Yaspida, where all students are in boarding schools and SMK Yasti district. Sukabumi, only 15% are boarding houses. The method used is qualitative with case studies. The data analysis technique used is the Miles and Huberman technique (data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion). The results of this study indicate that the soft skills of students at SMK YASTI and SMK Terpadu 1 Yaspida have the same results; students' interpersonal and intrapersonal skills are not affected by the presence of students living, whether they are in boarding school or not. Yasti Vocational School has a very good program, which can shape student characteristics and develop student soft skills, just like students who are in Islamic boarding schools. The soft skills aspect with the highest rating is the Collaboration aspect, and the lowest rating is on the leadership aspect. This...
IEEE Access
The importance of soft skills has been recognized in most fields, hence, various companies make judgments on work and success evaluation based largely on employees' soft skills. Work-Based Learning (WBL), as an educational approach, can harness students' potential in soft skills. This investigation aimed to generate a conceptual framework for WBL to effectively integrate soft skills among students in technical colleges. A sample of 268 technical teachers was drawn from a population of 302 technical teachers from 22 public technical colleges within the study area using a stratified random sampling methodology based on the complex heterogeneity of the population. The study adopted structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine the nexus underlying the model, using analysis of moment of structures (AMOS) version 20. The study results discovered WBL preparation (planning and designing), supervision, and evaluation each have a positive impact on soft skill development among technical college students. By way of recommendation based on the study findings, the government should formulate and implement suitable policies to enhance planning and designing in WBL programmes, particularly, to address the needs of students for adequate incorporation of soft skills at technical colleges. Technical teachers could employ the WBL-recognized elements in integrating workplace experiences to successfully promote students' soft skills at technical colleges. INDEX TERMS Soft skills, structural equation modeling, technical colleges, work-based learning.
Improving Soft Skills of students to make them employable
2013
This paper makes a survey of the importance of soft skills in students’ lives both at college and after college. It discusses how soft skills like leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, negotiation, communication, creativity and presentation skills complement hard skills, which are the technical requirements of a job the student is trained to do to put him in the drivers’ seat during and even after the interview. Everincreasing global competition and the varying nature of most technical professions have made soft skills more than simply a prerequisite. It is of high importance for every student to acquire adequate skills beyond academic or technical knowledge. In this paper an effort has been made to guide students of North Bengal to put strides in the right direction to improve their employability chances in the job market in this LPG era. Remedial approaches to training as well as polishing soft skills have also been the focal point of the paper. The paper also exhorts ...
Leading students towards a new soft-skills perspective: development for employment
Journal of Education Culture and Society, 2021
Aim. Based on similar studies, this research work aims to investigate the perception of students and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of learning about the importance of soft skills for their education and employment since these skills are increasingly sought-after by potential employers. Methods. The Kendall Tau b test and Mann Whitney U test have been applied to show the relationship between soft skills and job preparedness for students. This study investigates a selection of 100 students from a private HEI (UBT College) and 100 students from a public HEI (University “Haxhi Zeka”), both in Kosovo. A total of 200 valid responses were collected from July to September 2020. Goldsmith inventory for 15 soft skills has been distributed as a questionnaire has been distributed to the students of these universities. Results and conclusion. The research results indicate that in soft skills development of the UBT College students is significantly higher than the soft skills developed of ...
Assessing the Development of Soft Skills for Project Management using PBL: A Case Study
2020
This research-to-practice full paper presents an investigation on how to develop soft skills for project management using PBL in the context of undergraduate degree programs of higher education in computing. Projects are a key way to create value and benefits in organizations and the project manager plays a critical role in the leadership of a project team in order to achieve the project’s objectives. In order to fulfill this role, the project manager must have some technical and soft skills. In a related perspective, there are several studies concerned with the comparison between what is covered by Computer Science Education and what are the software industry needs. Such studies point out in which areas graduates most frequently do not meet industry expectations, including technical skills and also soft skills. In this context, among the several approaches that have been proposed and applied to improve Computer Science Education, we highlight Project Based Learning (PBL). Aiming to...
VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “SAFETY PROBLEMS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES” (SPCECI2021)
This study aims to obtain the formulation of the appropriate project-based learning stages to be implemented in complex machining learning. In addition, the achievement of employability skills and student learning achievement were also investigated in this study. The approach used is the Kemmis and Taggart class action research. Data collection techniques using observation, documentation, and interviews. The collected data was then analyzed by quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that the formulation of the appropriate project-based learning stages to be implemented in complex machining learning was group division, determination of themes (jobs/tools), job/tool design, job/tool making process, assembly process, testing & finalization. In addition, the achievement of student employability skills is 95.7% while the average student achievement is 87.14. INTRODUCTION Learning with the right model or strategy will be able to improve the quality of education. The quality of education can be realized if the learning process is carried out effectively, meaning that the teaching and learning process can take place smoothly, directed and in accordance with the learning objectives. Effective teaching and learning process criteria include: (1) the teaching and learning process is able to develop generalization concepts and abstract materials into clear and real things, (2) the teaching and learning process is able to serve the learning development of different students, (3) the teaching and learning process involve students actively in teaching so that PBM is able to achieve the goals according to the program that has been set [1]. The model or strategy that is applied in a learning process really depends on the situation and conditions that are happening. Currently almost all over the world is experiencing a pandemic of the covid 19 virus outbreak. Apart from health problems, the impact is felt in almost every line of life, whether economic, educational, socio-cultural, and political. One of the efforts to reduce this outbreak, the government has taken a policy to implement social/physical distancing, which is related to restrictions on gathering. The existence of this outbreak requires all of us to always obey health protocols in every activity we carry out. This impact is also felt by the world of education. Until now, the policy implemented related to education is Study Form Home, which is implemented online. Online learning certainly has many obstacles. This also happens in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Education, moreover, the superior characteristic is practical competence. Maybe for theoretical learning, the online method is not a problem, but what really becomes a problem is in the practical learning process. Education is very important for the reconstruction or reorganization of experiences that add meaning to experiences and increase the ability to add to subsequent experiences [2]. Education plays an important role in spurring human performance so that it can adapt to the needs of an increasingly advanced and rapidly developing era [3]. Practical learning is a process to improve the skills of students by using various methods in accordance with the skills provided and the equipment used. In addition, practical learning is an educational process that functions to guide students in a systematic and directed manner to be able to perform a skill [4].
A Systematic review on soft skills development among university graduates
EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 2020
In order to be employed, an individual needs to not only have the required knowledge but also a skill set that would allow the individual to perform the task well. Both the required knowledge and the skill set needed can be obtained from tertiary education at universities and higher institutions. However, it seems that graduates are lacking in that skill set, namely, soft skills. This paper is a systemic review on what soft skills employers value and yet are lacking among graduates and what are the roles of universities and the government pertaining to this issue. The findings have shown that the graduates are lacking soft skills that are highly valued by the employers. To overcome this issue,, universities and the government has a part to play in order to build and develop the nation’s human capital.