Abstract
Communication is an essential 21st century learning skill and is ranked high among a job candidate's “must have” skills and qualities. In the global workplace, communication is a key element in effective collaboration and teamwork. Employers are seeking candidates who are adept in various forms of communication and show signs of empathy to others by the manner they listen and respond. Communication skills are in alignment with social-emotional learning. Through effective communication, young people can build positive relationships with others to collaborate, and they learn to be self and socially aware through effective listening and mutual perspective taking. Educators must begin to think about the real-world challenges of communication skills and how to incorporate practical strategies that address these skills in their daily lessons to optimize student success in their daily and academic lives as well as their future lives in the workplace.
TopBackground
Communication, like the other Four C’s, have different definitions and meanings cited by educators and experts in the field. Brinkley et al (2010) defined communication as a means of focusing on ways of working together through knowledge of language, skills (e.g., having the ability to listen), and attitudes, values, and ethics (e.g., showing confidence when speaking). The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2006) defined communication skills as the ability to effectively express thoughts and ideas by using oral, written, and nonverbal communication in a variety of contexts and forms, including communicating effectively in diverse environments: one must also be able to listen effectively to others in order to interpret meaning; one must be able to use communication skills for a range of purpose (e.g., instruct, inform, persuade), and finally, one must be able to use multiple media and technology. EBSCO Competency Center (2016) summarized effective communication as having the following traits: listening, knowing the audience so that one can tailor the message accordingly, and being clear and deliberate.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Emotional Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage one’s emotions in ways that are positive to relieve stress, to show empathy toward others, and to communicate effectively.
Mutual Perspective Taking: The ability to understand how a situation can appear to another person and understanding how that person reacts emotionally to the situation; with adolescents, perspective taking is mutual when the adolescent realizes that both he/she and others (particularly peers) can view each other mutually and simultaneously.
Nonverbal Communication: Communicating without the use of speaking; can include facial expressions, gestures, and body language.
Soft Skills: Abilities that relate how he/she works and interacts with other people; skills include communication, teamwork, and other interpersonal skills.