Soft Skills Module PDF

MODULE: SOFT SKILLS Components 1) Communication and public speaking abilities The basics of public speaking and communication skills : ( definition,types such as verbal, non-verbal, etc.) listening skills: listen carefully what others are trying to...

MODULE: SOFT SKILLS Components 1) Communication and public speaking abilities The basics of public speaking and communication skills : ( definition,types such as verbal, non-verbal, etc.) listening skills: listen carefully what others are trying to say and acknowledge others opinion The gestures are: Eye contact, body posture, and sound modulation How to overcome fears such as shyness, shivering, balance, self-isolation, etc. How to speak effectively in front of an audience: knowing your audience, building rapport, the technique to face a large group of audience members, and how to deal with diverse group of audience members How to present a theme using different methods : Visual aids, AI, PowerPoint, etc. Visit to different institutions: a news channel, press, Schools for visually impaired and the hearing impaired ( not only school but other institutions), a library, etc. Movie / Documentary screening. The activities mentioned below 2) Team Building Importance of team building ( task-oriented team building,..device a game ) How to build a diverse team : Know how interdisciplinarity helps them achieve their goal How to mediate a meeting : How to do a conversation without deviating the subjects How to respectfully disagree to others opinion How to organize a program: planning, organization, etc The activities mentioned below 3) Leadership Skills Qualities of a good leader 1. Teamwork: working together with others, sharing tasks, and helping each other. 2. Emotional intelligence: understanding and managing your own emotions and being aware of how others feel. 3. Communication: speaking and listening carefully to understand each other better. 4. Mentoring and Coaching: Helping others learn and grow by giving them guidance and support. 5. Adaptability: being able to change and adjust when things don't go as planned. 6. Empathy: understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and being kind and supportive. 7. Motivation and Inspiration: Encouraging yourself and others to do their best and achieve their goals. 8. Conflict Resolution: Finding peaceful ways to solve disagreements and problems. 9. Openness to New Experiences: being curious and willing to try new things and learn from them. 10. Commitment and Motivation: Being dedicated to your goals and staying positive and focused on achieving them. 4) Stress management ‘Stress is inevitable, management of the same is needed’ Understanding Stress: Knowing what stress is and how it affects you. Relaxation Techniques: Ways to calm your body and mind, like deep breathing or imagining a peaceful place. Positive Thinking: Think in a positive way to feel better about yourself and your life. Time Management: Organizing your time and tasks to reduce stress. Physical Activity: Move your body to release tension and improve your mood. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment and being aware of your thoughts and feelings. Creative Expression: Using art, music, or writing to express your feelings and relax.  Social support: talking to friends and family for help and support. Self-care: taking time for yourself to relax and do things you enjoy. 5) Time Management Learning to identify and prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. Establishing clear objectives and deadlines for tasks and projects. Creating schedules and timelines to allocate time effectively. Knowing when and how to delegate tasks to others helps optimize productivity. Handling unexpected disruptions and maintaining focus on important tasks. Monitoring how time is spent to identify areas for improvement and increase efficiency. Being adaptable to changes in priorities and adjusting schedules accordingly. (Ex- Activity) Activity: Prioritization Exercise Prepare a list of tasks. Include urgent, important, and less-critical ones. Ask participants to prioritize the tasks based on importance and urgency. Facilitate a discussion on participants' prioritization choices. prompt participants to reflect on their prioritization process and challenges faced. Encourage participants to create an action plan based on their prioritization exercise. 6) Social values Empathy and compassion: teaching individuals to understand and share the feelings of others; fostering kindness and consideration towards others' perspectives and emotions. Respect: instilling the importance of treating others with dignity, regardless of differences in backgrounds, beliefs, or opinions. Integrity: emphasizing honesty, sincerity, and moral principles in actions and interactions with others. Responsibility: encouraging individuals to take ownership of their actions and their impact on others, promoting accountability and reliability. Cultural Awareness and Diversity: Educating individuals about different cultures, traditions, and perspectives, fostering acceptance and appreciation of diversity.  Community Engagement: encouraging participation in activities that contribute positively to the community, promoting social responsibility, and fostering a sense of belonging. As all of the above-mentioned components overlap, it is not necessary to deliver the topics separately. An approach of keeping milestones by bringing all the topics at once would be better. TIMELINE Week 1: The students at the MRS can be grouped. The groups should be mixed in nature. Each group will be assigned by a student leader. The volunteers can ask the students to form different groups and to select a leader. basic introduction by each and every student and volunteer can be given. Volunteers can assess the basic communication skills and team-building capacity of the respective students. The first day should be used to make maximum rapport with the students. Week 2: A group-based activity to assess the public speaking skills of the students. Different topics can be given to students to speak on for a few minutes. Volunteers should communicate the necessary things to keep in mind while facing a larger audience. Activities can be included to overcome the inhibition of the students and face a larger audience Week 3: We need to consider every student as a potential leader. Volunteers can ask the student to list the qualities of a good leader. The said qualities can be recorded on chart paper. Questions can arise about whether they considered these qualities on the first day while selecting the leader.  Week 4: Time management and stress management are the important qualities of a leader. This class can be carried out as the continuation of the third week. Games can be included in this session. Basic technical knowledge like google Calendar, task manager, etc. can also be included in this session Week 5 and Week 6: Each student will get a chance to speak individually on a topic that they like the most. As the student is facing a larger audience, the volunteers can assess their improved skills in public speaking. A small piece of appreciation also can be given to the student after the presentation ACTIVITIES ( The activities we can do throughout the academic year (which Obviously are based on the discretion and ideas of the volunteers) ❖ Split the children into teams, ensuring each team has members from different classes. Assign a leader for each group, rotating the leadership weekly. There may be more than two weeks between each session. During this time, the groups can engage in activities such as planting trees or starting a community garden. These activities will help them develop communication skills, leadership qualities, time management, teamwork, and social values. ❖ Encourage the groups to organize exhibitions showcasing the interdisciplinary talents within their team. This could include art displays, food stalls, and cultural performances. This approach highlights that everyone has unique talents and strengths. These activities will further develop communication skills, leadership qualities, stress management, and social values. ❖ Organize visits to public offices to improve their communication skills and leadership qualities. ❖ Arrange visits to NGOs, such as palliative care centers, to enhance their social engagement and interest in volunteering. This will also help them develop communication skills and social values. ❖ Encourage participation in team-based competitions at the Kerala School Kalolsavam to build teamwork, communication skills, and leadership qualities. ❖ Challenge the groups to identify and solve a common societal problem. This exercise will develop their communication skills, leadership qualities, and social values. ❖ Conclude with a student parliament and a children's Gramasabha at the local body level after the 8th session. This will further enhance their communication skills, leadership qualities, time management, and social values.