Are soft skills the future?
The World Economic Forum predicts that nearly half – 44% - of workers will need to new skills to compete in the job market in the next five years, and that the most crucial skills will be the ability to think analytically and creatively. Analytical and creative thinking transcend the skillsets needed for any one job but are the kinds of skills that make a person more likely to succeed at any job they have.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum said in an interview for the Radio Davos podcast on the Future of Jobs Report 2023 that “it's also become especially important to have leadership skills and to have social influence, and the ability to work with other people. The traits that make us human, make us able to relate with each other and to get innovative, creative things done in the workplace."
Soft Skills Are a Differentiator
Soft skills – the skills that help us work well with others - emotional intelligence, the flexibility to navigate rapid change, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to think critically – are the most desperately needed skills. They don’t always get the highest priority in K-12 curriculums, but they are the skills that will prepare students for what lies ahead.
Can EdTech Help Students Develop Soft Skills?
Top of mind with edtech is often as a solution that helps students develop STEM skills – science, technology, engineering, and math. It makes sense since those skills are necessary as we enter an AI-fueled future. But given the anticipated need for soft skills and the understanding that no matter how well-prepared students are in STEM they will still need to learn new skills as technology changes, edtech can be useful in developing the lifelong soft skills that transcend specific skills needed for a singular job.
Recommended EdTech Solutions that Improve Soft Skills
There are many edtech solutions on the market that help build soft skills that you can find in the EdCuration catalog. Do you have an edtech solution that helps develop soft skills that you would like to add to EdCuration? Partner with us!
PALO
PALO is a comprehensive program for SEL and life skill-building. Their mission is to help schools foster whole-child excellence in every student by empowering middle school students with skills that complement the academic skills they're learning in school, spark a zest for life, and help them thrive as a whole - academically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
School Day Wellbeing
School Day Wellbeing is a social emotional learning tool based on the well-known Finnish education success and tailored to educators globally. School Day Wellbeing was developed with the belief that no person anywhere should miss their childhood, youth, or adulthood, because of the pressure caused by academic achievement. Their goal is to help every student, teacher, and school leader in this world to understand that well-being is more important than perfect grades and give them the tools to better understand and manage their emotions and interpersonal interactions.
Education Lifeskills
Education Lifeskills helps at-risk students develop the skills they need to navigate life and achieve not only their academic goals but also address emotional hierarchy needs that help to prevent self-defeating and self-destructive behaviors more successfully.
Do you know of another edtech solution that helps students develop soft skills? Let us know!
