The resources listed on this webpage can be used in the following ways:
- Incorporate them into a lesson plan.
- Incorporate them into your learning management system as a pre-lesson or post-lesson activity.
- Assign a task as homework or an extension activity.
- Have a student coordinator or classroom aide complete some of the activities with a small group of learners.
1. Critical Thinking
Thinks clearly and rationally with an open mind to arrive at decisions or conclusions by examining evidence, analyzing relationships, and drawing conclusions from a variety of data.
- 1.1 Observes Critically
- 1.2 Solves Problems
- 1.3 Makes Decisions Using Reasoning
- 1.4 Processes and Analyzes Information
- 1.5 Recognizes Bias, Assumptions, and Multiple Perspectives
- 1.6 Organizes, Analyzes, and Illustrates Relationships
- Critical Thinking and Decision-Making – How Critical Thinking Can Change the Game (GCF Global) – Work through examples of how observing critically can improve performance.
- Soft Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (YouTube) – Watch a video of how childcare workers solve an on-the-job problem.
- Decision-Making Strategies (GCF Global YouTube) – Watch a video about using reasoning to solve a real-world problem.
- What’s Going On in This Picture? (New York Times – free preview) – Observe this photo and create a possible caption for what is happening in the photo.
- How to reduce bias in your workplace (TED Talk video) – Watch a video on reducing bias in the workplace.
- What Is A Graphic Organizer Example? – Learn As An Adult (YouTube) – Watch a video that explains how adults can use graphic organizers to organize knowledge and improve comprehension.
2. Self-Management
Takes responsibility for one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and recognizes their impact on one’s own and others’ behavior in different situations.
- 2.1 Anticipates Change and Adapts to New Situations
- 2.2 Demonstrates Responsibility and Self-Discipline
- 2.3 Completes Work Independently and Takes Initiative
- 2.4 Demonstrates Integrity
- 2.5 Demonstrates Professionalism
- 2.6 Demonstrates a Growth Mindset
- 2.7 Perseveres to Accomplish Goals
- Adapting to Change – Change: Reacting, Then Responding (GCF Global) – Read about adapting to change.
- Job Success – Time Management (GCF Global) – Watch a video to learn how to create an action plan to complete a large task.
- Taking the Initiative Module (USC Career Center) – Read about initiative and review how-to steps to propel your success on the job and brainstorm ways to take the initiative in your current job.
- Integrity in the Workplace: Why It Matters (Indeed Career Development) – Read an article about the concept of workplace integrity, its key characteristics, and ways to exhibit it effectively.
- Build Your Professional Brand (Google Applied Digital Skills) – Complete an activity that focuses on highlighting the qualities, skills, and talents that describe you as a professional by building a brand profile and mission statement.
- 11 Growth Mindset Strategies: Overcome Your Fix Mindset to Grow as a Person (YouTube) – Watch a video about 11 strategies that can help you develop and growth mindset.
- Create a Vision Board (Google Applied Digital Skills) – Complete an activity that might inspire you to reach your goals by creating a vision board in Google Drawings.
3. Utilizing Resources
Identifies and measures effective resources and makes the most of available resources to achieve desired objectives.
- 3.1 Uses Time Effectively
- 3.2 Manages Money
- 3.3 Selects and Uses Appropriate Tools and Materials for Tasks
- 3.4 Thinks Creatively
- Job Success – Time Management (GCF Global) – Examine how you spend time in a 24-hour day.
- Money Basics – Assessing How You Manage Money (GCF Global) – Assess how you manage money.
- What is Cost Benefit Analysis (YouTube) Watch a video about Cost Benefit Analysis and how it affects your daily decisions.
- 8 Creative Thinking Exercises to Boost Your Creativity (YouTube) – Watch a video that explores eight different creative thinking exercises and try one or more to improve your creative thinking skills.
4. Using Information
Uses observations, experiential information, and data to communicate and support the decision-making process.
- 4.1 Locates Information
- 4.2 Organizes and Uses Information
- 4.3 Analyzes Information
- 4.4 Communicates Information Securely and Effectively to Others
- Career videos (CareerOneStop) – Watch videos on careers in which you have an interest and then explore the training and education requirements for each career you might be interested in pursuing.
- Google Sheets – Sorting and Filtering Data (GCF Global) – Explore how to organize information in Google Sheets.
- Skill and ability videos (CareerOneStop) – Watch videos to learn about the skills and abilities employers are looking for in job candidates and make a list of your strongest skills.
- Business Communication – How to Write an Effective Business Email (GCF Global) – Read an article and watch a video on how to write a professional email.
5. Working with Others
Interacts, cooperates, collaborates, and manages conflicts with other people within a team or organization to complete tasks and achieve shared goals.
- 5.1 Works Effectively in Teams
- 5.2 Works within Organizational Structure and Culture
- 5.3 Uses Leadership Skills to Take Initiative
- 5.4 Resolves Conflicts Through Negotiation
- 5.5 Respects Differences and Diversity
- 5.6 Engages Positively with Customers and Stakeholders
- 5.7 Seeks Information and Assistance Appropriately from Others
- Job Success – Listening Skills (GCF Global) – Read an article and watch a video that focuses on active listening skills and how to practice using them when working with others to complete a task or project.
- Why Workplace Culture Is Everyone’s Responsibility (YouTube) – Watch a video that explores what workplace culture is and then write your definition of workplace culture based on your personal experiences and knowledge.
- Atomic Habits Summary (YouTube Podcast) – Listen to this podcast to know more about how building small habits can lead to big results.
- Resolving Workplace Conflict (YouTube) – Watch a video on strategies for resolving conflict at work.
- Digital Media Literacy – What is an Echo Chamber? (GCF Global) – Watch a video on echo chambers and learn how echo chambers can create misinformation and distort a person’s perspective so they have difficulty considering opposing viewpoints and discussing complicated topics.
- Business Communication – The Power of Body Language (GCF Global) – Watch this video to understand body language and learn how to better present yourself so you can improve your daily interactions with others.
- Career profiles (CareerOneStop) – Read a few occupation profiles for jobs in which you are interested and then research if employers in your local area are hiring for those occupations you are interested.
6. Understanding Systems
Navigates within the organizational structures that are part of the 21st-century communities, workplaces, and schools and knows how these components interact and interconnect to influence one another as a whole.
- 6.1 Understands Process and Product
- 6.2 Engages in Sustainable Practices
- 6.3 Demonstrates Fiscal Responsibility
- 6.4 Navigates Systems
- 6.5 Monitors Systems
- 6.6 Improves Systems
- 6.7 Demonstrates Quality Consciousness
- 6.8 Understands and Follow Rules, Policies, and Procedures
- Micro Class: Goals: Process vs. Product (YouTube) – Watch this video to learn about the difference between process and product when trying to accomplish a goal.
- 8 Sustainable Practices In The Workplace (YouTube) – Watch a video to learn about eight ways your workplace can be more sustainable.
- MoneyCounts: A Penn State Financial Literacy Series (Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center) – Pick a financial topic of interest and complete the corresponding activities for that topic.
- Business Communication (YouTube) – Watch a video to learn the basics of business writing.
- Forms of Government (YouTube) – Watch a video to learn about government systems and identify how these systems have or might affect your life.
- Be Election Ready: Registering to Vote (YouTube) – Watch a video to learn how to communicate with local officials to communicate concerns and new ideas.
- Quality Consciousness Improve Quality Through Attention To Detail (YouTube) – Watch a video to explore strategies to improve quality through attention to detail.
- Job Success – Five Ways to Increase Your Chances of Workplace Success (GCF Global) – Read this article to identify five ways to increase workplace success.
7. Transition Skills
Navigates change in personal and professional environments while remaining flexible and adaptable.
- 7.1 Evaluates Personal Skills, Strengths, Values, and Beliefs to Inform Decisions
- 7.2 Uses Problem Solving Skills to Evaluate and Eliminate Options
- 7.3 Applies Skills in New Contexts
- 7.4 Develops Plan
- 7.5 Implements Plan
- 7.6 Evaluates Plan
- Work values (CareerOneStop) – Complete a self-assessment and learn about how your work values match up with occupations.
- DECIDE Framework – A tool to help you make better decisions (YouTube) – Watch a video that describes the DECIDE framework and determine how you might use it to solve a personal or work problem.
- LinkedIn Basics – Navigating LinkedIn (GCF Global) – Watch a video on how to use the LinkedIn job networking website.
- Money Basics – Budget Now – Before You Start Looking for a New Job (GCF Global) – Read this article to help you determine how you make and spend money now so that you can develop more reasonable expectations for what you need to earn in the future.
- Money Basics – Financial Problem Solving Strategies (CGF Global) – Read this article about the problem-solving process and then pick a current financial problem you have to apply what you have learned.
- Learning Tips – Learning from Failure (GCF Global) – Read this article to explore how you can overcome failure and learn from past mistakes.