Topic outline

  • Life Skills

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    life-skills
    Welcome to Life Skills Course
    This course is designed to introduce the individuals’ roles in life in terms of types, circulation and mutual influence. It aims to increase the students’ knowledge and skills which are necessary for everyday life. It further emphasizes life-long learning skills, decision-making, time and self-management, personal communication skills, mutual trust building, verbal and non-verbal skills, effective listening, problem solving, critical thinking, team and cooperative work, and the ability to utilize contemporary technology effectively.

    Please check the course outline page for more details

  • Week1: Module 1 (Introduction)

    Topics to be covered

    • Definition and importance of learning life skills
    • Course objectives
    • Audience of the course
    • Case studies
    • Review of the course topics
    • Delivery methodology
    • Vocabulary & Glossary

    Methods & strategies

    • Method of teaching: Lecturing, Presentations and discussion, Dialogue, Group Work, Brainstorming.
    • Technological support: Power-point, YouTube, Videos.

    Resources for Module 1 (Introduction)

    1. Amazon.com: College 101: College & Life Skills: Supplemental Course Book (9781494959753): Hernandez, Philip L, Ayon, Ana J, Davis, Darby "Isaac": Books

  • Weeks 2-3: Module 2 (Communication and collaboration)

    Topics to be covered

    • The concept of communication.
    • The significance of communication skills.
    • Spoken (verbal) communication.
    • Nonverbal communication.
    • Self-confidence and presentation.
    • Personal appearance.
    • Listening skills.
    • The concept of collaboration. 
    • The significance of collaboration skills
    • Building shared understanding.
    • Cognitive skills (task   regulation   and   knowledge   building)
    • Social skills (participation, perspective taking and   social regulation).

    Methods & strategies

    • Method of teaching: Lecturing, Presentations and discussion, Dialogue, Group Work, Think, pair, share, role play, Brainstorming.
    • Technological support: Power-point, YouTube, short educational Videos, kahoot, quizizz.

    Resources for Module 2 (Communication and collaboration)

    1. Media and information literacy. A practical guidebook for trainers, DW Akademi. 2021. 
    2. McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (2009). Messages: The communication skills book. New Harbinger Publications.‏
    3. Owen, H. (2018). The handbook of communication skills.‏
    4. Hargie, O., Dickson, D., & Tourish, D. (2017). Communication skills for effective management. Macmillan International Higher Education.‏

  • Weeks 4-7: Module 3 Technology (Information Technology and Digital Media)

    Topics to be covered

    • Understanding information technology and digital media 
    • Information technology and digital media topics
    • Channels of information
    • Photography and photojournalism 
    • Audio and video messages 
    • Weighing information
    • Channels on information 
    • Analyzing and assessing media and information 
    • Internet and social media 
    • Internet safety and privacy 
    • Disinformation and filter bubbles

    Methods & strategies

    • Method of teaching: Lecturing, Presentations and discussion, Dialogue, Group Work, Think, pair, share, role play, Brainstorming.
    • Technological support: Power-point, YouTube, short educational Videos, kahoot, quizizz

    Resources for Module 3 Technology (Information Technology and Digital Media)

    1. Cambridge University Press (2020). The Cambridge Life Competencies Framework: Collaboration, Introductory Guide for Teachers and Educational Managers. Cambridge University Press.
    2. Hargie, O., (2019). The Handbook of Communication Skills. 4th Edition. Routledge.

  • Weeks 8-12: Module 4 (Leadership)

    Topics to be covered

    • Principles of high performance:
      • Characteristics of High Performance
      • Building Trust
      • High Performance Tools and Plans
    • Leadership control and empowerment:
      • Principles of Leadership
      • Practices of Empowering Leaders
      • The Five Leadership Roles
      • Empowering Employees
    •  Emotional intelligence:
      • The Integrity Model and embrace Reality
      • Exercise Responsibility
      • Clarify the Vision and define the purpose
      • The trust factor:
      • The Trust Imperative
      • Face to Face Communication
      • Interpersonal Dialogue
      • Strengthening Relationships

    Methods & strategies

    • Method of teaching: Lecturing, Presentations and discussion, Dialogue, Group Work, Think, pair, share, role play, Brainstorming, research and exploration, practical demonstrations and project learning, linguistic communication and collaborative learning
    • Technological support: Power-point, YouTube, short educational Videos, kahoot, quizizz

    Resources for Module 4 (Leadership)

    1. Wilkie, V., Lynch, M., Waters, M., & Mehay, R. (2021). Growing Tomorrow's Leaders Today–leadership skills. In The Essential Handbook for GP Training and Education (pp. 503-514). CRC Press.‏
    2. Moldoveanu, M., & Narayandas, D. (2019). The future of leadership development. Harvard Business Review, 97(2), 40-48.‏


  • Weeks 13-16: Module 5 (Creative and Critical thinking)

    Topics to be covered

    • THE “THINKING” PROCESS
      • HOW TO DEFINE A PROBLEM AND SEPARATE FACT FROM OPINIONATED FACT AND OPINION
      • UNDERSTANDING HEURISTICS, MENTAL SHORTCUTS, EMOTIONS AND COGNITIVE BIASES THAT INFLUENCE OUR THINKING
      • UNDERSTANDING SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FOR CREATIVE THINKING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSPECTIVE IN REDEFINING THE PROBLEM.

    • CRITICAL THINKING
      • What is Critical Thinking?
      • The importance of maintaining a broad perspective, acquiring facts, listening and reflecting
      • Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
      • Common Critical Thinking Styles
      • Making Connections
      • The Critical Thinking Model
      • The Standards of Critical Thinking
      • Identifying the Issues
      • Identifying and Clarifying the Issues the Arguments
      • Establishing Context
      • Checking Credibility and Consistency

    • CREATIVE THINKING
      • Introduction to the Principles of Creativity
      • Creativity Tools                
      • Thinking Styles
      • The importance of defining and redefining the problem
      • The development of skills in ideation, illustration, refection, asking good questions and iterative reconsideration of the problem/ solution process
      • Ways of thinking laterally by yourself and with others
      • Techniques for Thinking Creatively

    • COMBINING CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING IN THE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS
      • DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS USING CLASS-BASED PROBLEMS AND REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION

    Methods & strategies

    • Method of teaching: Lecturing, Presentations and discussion, Dialogue, Group Work, Think, pair, share, role play, Brainstorming, 
    • Technological support: Power-point, YouTube, short educational Videos,

    Resources for Module 5 (Creative and Critical thinking)

    1. Birgili, B., 2015, Creative and Critical Thinking Skills in Problem-based Learning Environments, Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 71-80.
    2. Paul, R. And Elder, L., 2006, Critical Thinking: The Nature of Critical and Creative Thought, Journal of Developmental Education, vol. 30, no. 2, p.34.
    3. Paul, R. And Elder, L., 2019, The Nature and Functions of Critical & Creative Thinking, Rowman & Littlefield.
    4. Wechsler, S.M., Saiz, C., Rivas, S.F., Vendramini, C.M.M., Almeida, L.S., Mundim, M.C. and Franco, A., 2018, Creative and Critical Thinking: Independent or Overlapping Components? Thinking Skills and Creativity, vol. 27, pp. 114-122.