Course Details

Workforce Fundamentals

This course introduces students to the skills needed to build a successful career in today’s modern job market. This course emphasizes the importance of professionalism in all work environments and jobs. In addition to this, the individual modules of this course go into detail on specific skills that are needed in the workplace such as: reading comprehension, critical thinking, mathematical skills, basic computer skills, and soft skills. Being able to apply these skills to the real world will make students more employable and more successful in their jobs.

Invitation Only

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic Reading Comprehension, Basic Computer Skills, Basic Internet Browsing Skills

What You’ll Learn

Course Module Listing

Overview

Pre-Course Survey

Course Introduction

Course Outline

Reading Comprehension

Introduction

What is Reading Comprehension?

The SQ3R Model

Strategies for Expanding Meaning

Building Vocabulary

Summary

Assessment

Locating Information

Introduction

Reading for Information

Locating Information in Visual Representations of Data

Charts

Diagrams

Maps

Gauges

Bill of Materials

Blueprints

Summary

Assessment

Critical Thinking / Analytic Skills

Introduction

What is Critical Thinking?

Core Skills of Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Summary

Assessment

Basic Math

Introduction

Numbers

Whole Numbers

Fraction Notation and Simplification

Decimals

Ratios, Proportions, and Rates

Summary

Assessment

Mathematical Applications

Basic Money Mathematics

Measurement

Basic Geometry

Statistics and Graphs

Summary

Assessment

Introduction to Computing

Introduction

What is a Computer?

How Does a Computer Work?

Basic computing concepts

Basic computing

Going online

Summary

Assessment

Computer Application and Skills – Word

Introduction

Getting Started

Basic Functions

Adding and Formatting Text

Adding Graphics and Tables

Summary

Assessment

Computer Application and Skills – PowerPoint

Introduction

Getting Started

Viewing a Presentation

Creating a Basic Presentation

Adding Effects

Printing a Presentation

Summary

Assessment

Computer Application and Skills – Excel

Introduction

Getting Started

Entering and Editing Data

Creating Charts and Graphs

Summary

Assessment

Basic Employability

Introduction

Starting the Process

Job Descriptions

Writing a Resume

Writing a Cover Letter

Job Search Process

Filling Out an Application

The Screening Interview

Additional Screening Processes

Summary

Assessment

Professional Work Ethic

Introduction

What is Professionalism?

Competence

Honesty and Integrity

Self-Management

Appearance and Presentation

Attitude

Summary

Assessment

Review

Exam

Invitation Only

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE-1104181. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are hose of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.