“Humans are hardwired for learning by doing.” 
—James Wilson 

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Hello, faculty,

Welcome to the mid-semester! Our newsletter contains several articles, podcasts, and videos about incorporating activities into your courses to promote the practical application of 21st-century “Soft Skills”. We hope you enjoy and find this information useful. Also, Instructional Development is happy to meet and discuss how to connect creative activities to your course(s), content, and goals. Brainstorming is kind of our favorite thing to do. 

-The ID Team
CITS | Instructional Development

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21st-century skills also referred to as “Soft Skills” are becoming increasingly important in the success of college graduates. The four Cs of 21st-century learning, known as Communication, Collaboration, Critical thinking, and Creativity are core skills that employers are seeking when hiring college graduates. These skills including other core competencies are defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as fundamental life skills and include:

• decision-making and problem-solving,
• creative thinking and critical thinking,
• communication and interpersonal skills,
• self-awareness and empathy,
• and coping with emotions and stress.

By incorporating group-based projects known as project-based learning (PBL), real-world scenarios learned through improvisation, and other creative activities, instructors can prepare their students for success in their content and in the skills to succeed in life.

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🎧Listen to Podcast: Interactive Theatre Enters the Classroom	🎧Listen to Podcast: Team-Based Learning
🎧Listen to Podcast: Choose Your Own Adventure Assessments	🎧Listen to Podcast: Developing 21st Century Skills
🎧Listen to the Podcast: Best Of: Using Skills From Improv to Master Your In-The-Moment Communication

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	The 21st Century Skills Today’s Graduates Need to Succeed –Collegis Education
	Engaging Students in STEM with Problem-Based Learning –PBL Projects, New England Board of Education
	Project-Based Learning –Graduate School of Education, Harvard
	Using Improv to Unite Your Team –Harvard Business Review
	Academic Success Tip: Use Improve to Teach Communication Skills –Inside Higher Ed
	Improv in the College Classroom –Inside Higher Ed

• What is Team-Based Learning?
• Learn more about classroom technology.
• If You Flip It, They Will Learn – UMassD invites Thomas Mennella from Bay Path University
• Stay updated on our move to Canvas!

• Register for the Blended Teaching: Designing Meaningful Content Connections certification course.
• Register for the Online Teaching and Learning Strategies certification course.
• Check out our full list of workshops and other self-paced offerings! 

Instructional Development works with faculty to…

• Explore, design, and experiment with different teaching and learning modes.
• Research and integrate technologies that can enhance teaching and learning.
• Design and develop online courses and programs.
• Write learning outcomes, design assessments, craft activities, and develop content.
• Utilize best practices for using instructional technologies.

Feel free to contact us online to book an appointment!