Teaching career and technological skills means that you’re often changing your curriculum and assignments from year to year, perhaps more often, to meet the demands of the workforce. However, there’s one workforce skill that’s consistently among the top requests from employers: communication. In fact, LinkedIn’s 2024 report on in-demand job skills puts communication in the number one position.
Looking for new and creative ways to teach these skills in the classroom? In a CERTIFIED Academy: Business webinar, veteran educator Brittany Hochstaetter shared her tried-and-true strategies and assignments that empower students with stronger communication skills.
Group discussions
Whether they find a job working remotely or in an office setting, learners need to know how to interact and collaborate with their coworkers. Providing opportunities for group participation is a great way to prepare them for the workforce.
Brittany has found that small, daily exercises help students push themselves without creating too much discomfort. “I like to mix up the groups for just a portion of the class. I’ll pose a discussion question and then have them group together by assigned numbers or letters. It’s crucial that students learn to work with different people, even people they wouldn’t choose to work with initially.”
Setting up new teams helps Brittany mirror a traditional workforce setting, with various ages, genders, skills, and backgrounds represented. She continued, “Students need to work comfortably in diverse environments with people who think differently than they do. Pushing past the discomfort of working with new people helps them build their collaboration skills to reach a common goal or group objective.”
On-the-ground surveys
Communication today is much more than just interacting with coworkers and colleagues. Employees now are meeting with clients and counterparts around the world. Interacting with strangers can feel intimidating unless students are able to practice.
Throughout the semester, Brittany likes to get out of the classroom and help her students interact with others across campus. “Over the years, I’ve seen the value of what I call on-the-ground surveys. My class will develop questions to learn more about a particular topic, compile them into a survey, and then we get out of the classroom. Students stop others on campus to ask questions and gather survey results. Afterwards I have them analyze the data and present it to the class.”
With this assignment, not only are students learning how to ask effective questions, but they’re also learning how to interact and communicate with strangers. “This type of exercise is a bigger stretch than just interacting with a new group inside the classroom, but such a great way for learners to push themselves outside of their communication comfort zone,” commented Brittany.
In-class presentations
Throughout your course, you’re building up your learners’ confidence and skills. They’ve interacted more with each other; they’ve communicated with those outside the classroom. Now it’s time to put the last tool into their communication toolbelt.
“At the end of the semester, I assign my students a chapter of the textbook. That chapter is now theirs to learn, master, and teach to the rest of the class. I want to ensure that they can communicate new knowledge in different ways. I tell them to include a handout with their presentation and some visuals, such as slides. I always recommended they dress up as well, to really get them ready,” said Brittany.
By putting students at the front of the classroom, you’re empowering them to hone their verbal communication skills. Learners are also practicing non-verbal skills with their body language and dress. Handouts and slides are the cherry on top of the communication sundae, allowing them to show their written skills as well.
“This isn’t a complex or innovative idea,” Brittany concluded. “It’s one that I’ve used for years and that I know other educators use in the classroom. We keep coming back to it because it works! I love seeing the students make the presentation their own with treats and engaging games. Not only are they practicing their communication skills, but also their creativity.”
Your efforts teaching workforce skills are relevant and critical for your learners’ career success. Check out the full webinar here for additional ideas.
Ready to take things a step further? Validate your learners’ understanding of key communication principles and skills with the Communication Skills for Business Professional Communication exam. Learn more here.