The core abilities and indicators at Lakeshore Technical College, as provided at the official website www.gotoltc.com, are a demonstration of critical thinking, responsible work ethics, effective communication, effective use of mathematics, cooperative work, applied learning, respect for diversity, and technology integration. Every student has to aim at developing the above core abilities and skills.
Demonstration of critical thinking refers to the determination of issues that merit action, usage of problem-solving processes, consideration of alternatives and consequences while making decisions, and refining action plans based on evaluation of feedback. Critical thinking skills are vital for learners in the college setting as well as can be applied in everyday life and the workplace. For example, the knowledge of problem-solving processes will assist students in solving problems related to the education process. The action plans based on the evaluation of feedback assist leaders with refining their decisions. The determination of issues that merit action contributes to effective decision-making in all types of situations.
The responsible work ethics shapes the behavior of the learner and contributes to personal growth and emotional maturity. In particular, the learner is responsible for displaying behavior consistent with ethical standards within a discipline or profession. Moreover, learners must follow policies and procedures and attend classes as mandated by the instructor. Among the other ethical responsibilities are the duties to complete an assignment on time and exhibit academic honesty.
Finally, according to the work ethics, the learner accepts responsibility for their actions. The responsible work ethic is not obligatory because every student has a choice – there are students who cheat and are dishonest, as well as there are students who follow all procedures, policies, and ethical standards. However, despite the choice, all students must accept responsibility for their actions.
Effective communication ability refers to the learner’s comprehension of written material as well as clear, concise, and accurate writing. The learner has to speak in an understandable way and demonstrate active listening skills. While critical thinking and work ethics depended upon the learner’s choice, effective communication is a matter of education. It means that not all students are active listeners, and not all students are able to write clearly and concisely. In addition, not all students can express their ideas understandably and logically. However, the core ability of effective communication sets the principles that should be followed – the student should strive to develop effective communication skills.
The learners must use mathematics effectively, solve real-world problems using mathematics, measure accurately, and analyze graphical information. The effective use of mathematics is not achievable by all learners because there are students who experience hardships with applying mathematics to real-life situations. However, accurate measurement is a highly valuable skill that can be widely applied in college, as well as in real-life settings. Sometimes, real-world problems cannot be solved using mathematics and logic only. In addition to reasoning skills, all students have emotions and feelings. Thus, some decisions are made using emotions and intuition, not logic and reasoning. However, the core ability of effective use of mathematics points out the need to develop effective problem-solving skills.
Cooperative work refers to the learner’s contribution to a group with ideas, suggestions, and efforts. Moreover, students are responsible for completing their share of the tasks necessary to complete a project. Learners must encourage team members by listening and responding appropriately to their contributions. In addition, students should maintain self-control and resolve differences for the benefit of the team. Finally, learners must accept constructive feedback. The core cooperative abilities of the student contribute to the successful completion of the projects and prepare learners for teamwork. The ability to listen, to appreciate the contribution of other students, and to accept constructive feedback enhance the learner’s ability to become a cooperative team member.
One of the core abilities is to apply to learn. Every student should transfer academic knowledge and principles to life and work situations. Learners incorporate prior learning and know when to ask for help. In addition, students demonstrate appropriate safety precautions. This core ability to apply to learn is one of the fundamental skills that can be applied at college as well as in everyday situations and at work. It is not enough to learn something. It is vital to know how to apply the gained knowledge.
For example, knowing when to ask for help contributes to enhanced learning and improves student’s ability to complete tasks effectively. The objective of education is to increase the knowledge and to teach how to apply the newly gained knowledge in everyday situations.
Learners must have respect for diversity. Every student should treat people with respect and promote a work environment that embraces differences. The workplace is becoming more and more diverse, and students should be tolerant of cultural and ethnic differences. Respect for diversity is a fundamental value of the American community, and all students must treat people with respect and tolerance despite cultural or racial differences. Discrimination is ethical wrong, and it is forbidden by law. It is a learner’s responsibility to develop and maintain a tolerant attitude toward all people. The learner must be free of prejudice and accept cultural differences. Respect for diversity means that every learner must strive to understand the differences and accept diversity as part of everyday life.
The final core ability is to integrate technology. The learner is responsible for determining which tasks can be performed more efficiently by using technology. In addition, students must use technology to perform tasks more efficiently. Learners should adapt to changing and emerging technology. Technology plays an important role in learners’ academic and everyday life. The use of technology cannot and should not be avoided. Students are given an opportunity to learn how to apply technology to perform tasks more efficiently, and it is their responsibility to use the gained knowledge. Technological advances make the life of people easier, and every student should strive to gain a full understanding of how to use technology to complete tasks.
In conclusion, the core abilities at Lakeshore Technical College cover the fundamental skills and responsibilities of all students. Demonstration of critical thinking contributes to the development of effective problem-solving skills. Responsible work ethics shapes the behavior of learners: students are responsible for completing assignments on time and exhibit academic honesty. Effective communication and mathematics help students to develop excellent communication skills and apply mathematics to everyday situations.
Cooperative work and respect for diversity enhance the ability of learners to tolerate cultural differences and appreciate the contribution of all team members. Applied learning and technology integration motivate the use of technology to solve problems more effectively. Finally, the ability of a student to apply the newly gained knowledge is the fundamental objective of education.