Integrate into all Courses

Employability Skills are not exclusive to career and technical education courses. All students can develop Employability Skills in all classes, and they likely already are. Consider an English class; is it possible that students are learning to read and write without also developing communication skills? By integrating Employability Skills into all classes, you give teachers and students shared language to highlight the interdisciplinary overlap in these skills.

Tools to get started

Designing real-world, authentic learning experiences in core content classes is a recipe for high student engagement. To get started, first consider how you're already developing collaboration, communication, and work ethic with your learners. Then, use this tool to make more real-world connections in an upcoming learning experience.

Examples

Paoli, IN

Teachers worked to explicitly show the integration of Employability Skills into core content curriculum maps. This 7th grade math example includes Employability Skills standards in the left two columns. See row 33 and 34 for more information.


San Diego, CA

Every first grader at Design39 in California engages in a six-week design project. One student pitched the idea of toothpaste tabs. His teachers worked to connect him with a local business, and the six year old had the opportunity to pitch ideas and flavors to the team. Explore a variety of different D39 learning experiences that help develop Employability Skills in core content classes here.


Vista, CA

Fifth graders created their own businesses and sold their products in their local community. Any revenue was sent to a microfund for third-world companies. In addition to developing Employability Skills, students also practiced reading, math, writing, art, etc.

Resources