Enrichment workshops to encourage awareness of employability skills

Authors

  • Janet Margaret Haresnape The Open University
  • Ruth Gilbert
  • Heather Fraser

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtns.vi19.4560

Keywords:

Community-building, Enrichment of learning, Active learning through participation, Skills development, Employability, Practical skills, Laboratory skills

Abstract

A series of workshops offered to biology and health sciences students during June and July 2022 was primarily aimed to help students to understand and appreciate the employability benefits of engaging with practical science investigations. Such investigations are designed to help students develop not only practical, numerical and problem-solving skills but also skills such as perseverance, creativity and resilience which are important additional employability skills. Scrutiny of feedback comments submitted by students who attended the workshops indicated that these aims had been achieved. Side-benefits of the programme included an increased sense of community among students, and the provision of an opportunity to maintain engagement over the summer months when there is a break in module presentation for many students, leaving them in danger of losing their study momentum.

Author Biography

Janet Margaret Haresnape, The Open University

School of LIfe, Health and Chemical Sciences, STEM Faculty

Senior Lecturer

References

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Downloads

Published

17-07-2024

How to Cite

Haresnape, J. M., Gilbert, R., & Fraser, H. (2024). Enrichment workshops to encourage awareness of employability skills. New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences, (19). https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtns.vi19.4560