What Skills Are Important?

By Sam Piha

Over the last decade, we have been blessed with important research on the skills that promote young people’s success in school, work, and life. These studies have looked beyond the traditional academic skills and produce useful information about the importance of character building, social emotional learning, non-cognitive skills, grit, and growth mindsets.

The downside of these studies is each have provided their own “trademark” list of important skills. Youth practitioners ask us, “these lists are great but which one should I use to design and shape my practice?” Are these research studies a help? Or do they produce confusion?

The Expanded Learning 360/365 Project brought together researchers and exemplar practitioners to examine these lists and develop a single list that could guide youth programs. They created three buckets which we believe integrates all of this research and provides a good tool for the field. These are listed below:

I AM – intrapersonal skills

• Self-awareness – young people are able to recognize and understand their own personal identity and feelings. “I know how I am feeling.” “I know who I am.”
• Self-management – young people regulate and monitor their own behaviors, feelings, and impulses in order to make responsible decisions, maintain focus, and achieve goals. “I choose how I react to things.” “I can control my own behavior.” “I can stay focused.”

I BELONG – interpersonal connections

• Social awareness – young people have a capacity for empathy, and are able to consider and appreciate the diverse feelings, perspectives, and personal contexts of others.  “I care about other people’s feelings.” “I get along with kids who are different than me.”
• Interpersonal skills – young people use effective communication and collaboration skills to establish and maintain positive and productive relationships. “I listen to the opinions of others.” “I can communicate my ideas clearly.” “I work well with others.”

I CAN – beliefs and mindset

• Self-efficacy – young people believe in their own capabilities and their ability to learn, achieve goals, and succeed. “I can overcome challenges.” “I believe that I can do well in school.” “I’m really good at something”. “I’m going to college.”
• Growth mindset – young people believe that they can, through their own efforts, grow in their intelligence and abilities.“The harder I try the better I will get.” “I can learn from my mistakes.”

The Expanded Learning 360/365 Project is now working to design training and consultation to build the capacity of school districts, schools, and expanded learning programs to apply this framework to the design and practice within their organizations. More later…