INTEGRATING SOFT SKILLS INTO A TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/j2b2bq91Keywords:
soft skills, teacher education, pre-service teachers, partial least square structural equation modelling, Nigeria., Mixed methodAbstract
Recent developments suggest that soon, soft skillsare likely to become moreimportant in
sustaining teachers duringteaching. This study looks at pre-service teachers’ soft skills
gained from participation insoft skillscourses that are compulsory second- and third-year
undergraduate teacher education course designed to equip preservice teachers with
sustainablesoft skills.We grounded our study on acceptance and commitment training, and
social change modelto examine the extent soft skills can be effectively fostered in teachereducation.We used paper questionnaires and performed data analysis usingSPSS and
SmartPLS software in aquasi-experimental procedure with a population of 722 pre-service
teachers.In all semesters scores on the soft skills scales showed significant improvement over
the course of the semester, with moderate to large positive effect. Experienced and novice
pre-service teachers were compared. Importantly, it was found that the effect of the course
fostering was successful across participants as analysis did not show any significant
difference between the participants in the soft skills self-rated scales. Partial least square
structural equation modelling analysis revealed interestinglythat all the pre-service teachers
gained soft skills in levels that were both moderate and significant.Implying the strength of
the soft skills curriculum and the credit-hours allocated must be examined.
Downloads
References
Aloi, S. L., Gardner, W. S., & Lusher, A. L. (2003). A framework for assessing general
education outcomes within the majors. Journal of General Education, (4), 237–52.
doi:10.1353/jge.2004.0009.
Ausubel, D. P. (1968). Educational psychology: A cognitive view. New York; Holts Reinhart
and Winston.
Aworanti, O. A., Taiwo, M. B. & Iluobe, O. I. (2015). Validation of modified soft skills
assessment instrument for use in Nigeria. Universal journal of educational research,
3(11), 847-861.
Ball, A., Joyce, H. D., & Anderson-Butcher, D. (2016). Exploring 21st Century Skills and
Learning Environments for Middle School Youth. International Journal of School
Social Work, 1(1), 1-20.
Barnes, A. E., Boyle, H., Zuilkowski, S. S. &Bello, Z. N. (2019). Reforming teacher
education in Nigeria: Laying a foundation for the future. Teaching and teacher
education, 79(1), 153-163.
Brungardt, C. J. (2009). College graduates’ perceptions of their use of teamwork skills: soft
skill development in Fort Hays State University Leadership Education (Doctoral
dissertation, Kansas State University).
Chamorro‐Premuzic, T., Arteche, A., Bremner, A. J., Greven, C., & Furnham, A. (2010). Soft
skills in higher education: Importance and improvement ratings as a function of
individual differences and academic performance. Educational Psychology, 30(2),
221-241.
Chan, H. Y., Lo, C. Y., Ng, A. K. L., Cheung, D. H. C., & Kiang, K. M. (2019). Relation
Between Interactive Learning and Prior Knowledge: Insights from a General
Education Program of Science and Humanities. The Journal of General
Education, 66(3-4), 136-165.Cimatti, B. (2016). Definition, development, assessment of soft skills and their role for the
quality of organisations and enterprises. International journal of quality research,
10(1), 97-130.
Cinque, M. (2016). Lost in translation. Soft skills development in European countries.
TuningJournal for Higher Education. University of Deusto, 3(2), 389-427.
Conley, C. S., Kirsch, A. C., Dickson, D. A., & Bryant, F. B. (2014). Negotiating the
transition tocollege:Developmental trajectories and gender differences in
psychological functioning,cognitive-affective strategies, and social well-being.
Emerging Adulthood,(3), 1–16.doi:10.1177/2167696814521808.
Dimitrova, K. (2018). Formation of soft skills in preschool and primary school age - an
important factor for success in a globalizing world. Knowledge International
Journal, 28(3), 909 - 914.
Fayowski, V., Hyndman, J., & MacMillan, P. D. (2009). Assessment on previous course
work in calculus and subsequent achievement in calculus at the post-secondary
level. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 9(1),
49-57.
Federal Republic of Nigeria FGN (2013). National policy on Education. Lagos: Nigerian
Educational Research and Development Council.
Fernando, V. M. (2016). Infusion of soft skills in the higher education curriculum: Key to the
development of advanced human capital. Retrieved on 12 September, 2019 from:
Available at http://revistas.ugm.cl/index.php/rakad/article/view/137.
Grisi, C.G.A. (2014). Soft Skills: a close link between enterprises and ethics. Speech at “Soft
Skills and their role in employability – New perspectives in teaching, assessment and
certification”, workshop in Bertinoro, FC, Italy. Retrieved on 29 March, 2019
Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M. & Gudergan, S. P. (2018). Advanced issues in partial
least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Thousand Oaks, C: SageHattie, J. A. C. (2015). The applicability of Visible Learning to higher education. Scholarship
of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, 1(1), 79-91.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:
The processand practice of mindful change. New York: Guilford Press.
Higher Education Research Institute. (1996). A Social Change Model of leadership
development: Guidebook version III. College Park: National Clearinghouse for
Leadership Programs.
Ihtiyaroglu, N. (2018). Can I Grow Up as an Effective Teacher? A Mixed Method
Study. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 18(3), 627-660.
Kautz, T., Heckman, J. J., Diris, R., Ter Weel, B. & Borghans, L. (2014). Fostering and
Measuring Skills: Improving Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills to Promote Lifetime
Success. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Kechagias, K. (2011). Teaching and assessing soft skills. Neapolis, Greece: 1st second chance
school of Thessalonica.
Macqual, S.M., Umi K.M.S. & Hutkemri, Z. (2020). Measurement Model of Soft Skills:
Work Environment as a Mediator of Teaching Success. International Journal of
Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 26(4), 5332-5346.doi: 10.37200/IJPR/V24I6/PR260532
Madigan, T. (1997). Science Proficiency and Course Taking in High School: The
Relationship of Science Course-Taking Patterns to Increases in Science Proficiency
between 8th and 12th Grades: National Center for Education Statistics (ED),
Washington, DC.[EDD00004], Bureau of the Census (DOC), Suitland,
MD.[LYR08403].
Manninen, J., Sgier, I., Fleige, M., Thöne-Geyer, B., Kil, M., Možina, E. et al (2014).
Benefits of Lifelong Learning in Europe: Main Results of the BeLL- Project Research
Report. Project number – 519319-LLP-1-2011-1-DE-KA1-KA1SCR
Matteson, M. L., Anderson, L., & Boyden, C. (2016). " Soft Skills": A Phrase in Search of
Meaning. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 16(1), 71-88.Melser, N. A. (2019). Teaching soft skills in a hard world: A guide for beginning teachers.
Lanham Maryland, London: Rowman & Littlefield.
Peterson, C. & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and
classification. New York: Oxford university press.
Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s
workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 453-465.
Roos, S.J., Lennox, A., & Botha-Ravyse, C. (2016). Student’s soft skill acquisition in an
outdoor adventure education event over two years of participation. International
journal of social sciences and humanity studies, 8(2), 1309-8063.
States, J., Detrich, R. & Keyworth, R. (2018). Overview of Teacher Soft Skills. Oakland, CA:
The Wing Institute.
Sugiharto, B., Corebima, A. D., Susilo, H., & Ibrohim. (2019). The Pre-Service Biology
Teacher Readiness in Blended Collaborative Problem Based Learning (BCPBL).
International Journal of Instruction, 12(4), 113-130.
https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.1248a
Tackman, A. M., Srivastava, S., Pfeifer, J. H. & Dapretto, M. (2017). Development of
conscientiousness in childhood and adolescence: Typical trajectories and associations
with academic, health, and relationship changes. Journal of Research in Personality,
67(1), 85-96.
Tang, K. N. (2018). The importance of soft skills acquisition by teachers in higher education
institutions. Retrieved on 21 April, 2019 from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452315117304939?via%3Dihub
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2014).
Education for All Global Monitoring Report. UNESCO: Paris, France. Retrieved on 6
September, 2019 from:
http://unescodoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002256/225654e.pdf.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mindset in society. Superum Branca, MA: Harvard university press.Washor, K. S. (2015). Bridging the soft-skill gap from education to employment through
internships. PhD Dissertation, Rhode Island. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved on
3 May 2019 from: http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/318.
Whitehall, A. P., Hill, L. G., Yost, D. M., & Kidwell, K. K. (2018). Being smart is not
enough to ensure success: Integrating personal development into a general education
course. The Journal of General Education, 65(3-4), 241-263.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Author
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
