Date of Award

Spring 4-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Stephen Sherblom

Second Advisor

Dr. Beverly Bonner

Third Advisor

Dr. Robyne Elder

Abstract

Research has shown that both educators and prospective employers agreed that students needed more than just ‘hard skills.’ Instead of focusing only on students meeting the academic requirements needed to graduate with a diploma, students also needed to work toward mastering social and emotional skills such as ‘soft skills.’ This study consists of five parts; (i) seeking information from employers associated with the target school; (ii) seeking information from parents of students in the target school; (iii) the researcher crafted intervention for students based on the literature on soft skills, (iv) the researcher completed intervention in two area churches, and (v) assessment of the outcome of the intervention in terms of greater student awareness of the importance of soft-skills and ability with soft-skills in their interactions. This qualitative study inquired: (1) What soft skills are sought by the employers associated with the target school in their new hires? (2) What soft skills are being consciously supported in the home of the students? (3) What evidence is there that the intervention devised was successful at developing useful soft skills in the student engaged in the intervention?

Rights

Copyright 2018

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