Strategies to Build Non-Cognitive Skills

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1 8/29/14 Strategies to Build Non-Cognitive Skills Presented by Public Profit National College Access Network September 2014 Grit and growth mindset TED Talk by Angela Duckworth 1

2 8/29/14 Find a partner and discuss Why are non-cognitive skills like grit and growth mindset important for young people? What might college access programs do to help youth build these kinds of skills? 2

3 8/29/14 STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE NON-COGNITIVE SKILLS A Guide for Youth Developers and Educators Selecting a strategy Youth Served Strategy Type Training for Staff Cost to Implement 3

4 8/29/14 Going Forward 4

5 Strategies to Build Non-Cognitive Skills: A Pocket Guide 2014 National College Access Network National Conference Definitions of Non-Cognitive Skills The education field uses the term non-cognitive skills, social emotional skills, and 21 st century skills to refer to some of the same types of competencies. Some common skills that are cited are listed below with definitions. Academic Behaviors observable behaviors that show students engagement and effort Academic Mindsets - students attitudes and beliefs about their academic work and ability Academic Perseverance the ability to overcome distractions, obstacles and challenges to complete academic work Learning Strategies tactics that students use to help them remember think and learn Social Skills behaviors that allow students to interact with peers and adults in positive and productive ways Problem Solving applying knowledge, skills and available resources to solve novel problems Motivation the reason why youth engage in specific behaviors Resiliency the ability to adapt positively to a situation in the presence of risk factors such as poverty, illness, and other long-term stressors. Practices that Support Non-Cognitive Skills In addition to specific curricula, there are instructional practices that research has associated with non-cognitive skill development. The following practices can be used in formal and informal education settings. Praise effort, not ability Tell youth how skills can be used in and outside of the educational context Normalize difficulty and de-personalize challenges Tell youth the skills that they will learn Provide projects are age-appropriate but challenge youth to use new skills and knowledge Provide projects that are active, hands-on and require cognitive engagement Strategies to Promote Non-Cognitive Skills Public Profit,

6 Have youth monitor their own progress and solicit their feedback on their experiences Break complex, multi-step tasks and projects into more manageable chunks Additional Resources RESEARCH ON NON-COGNITIVE SKILLS Teaching Adolescents to Become Learners. The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A critical Literature Review. Download at: Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: Critical Factors for Success in the 21 st Century Download at: The Impact of Non-Cognitive Skills on Outcomes for Young People: A Literature Review Download at: LESSON PLANS The Character Education Partnership provides lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school youth that develop character skills many of which overlap with noncognitive skills. These lesson plans were developed and road tested by teachers. Review at: The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) developed a systematic framework for assessing classroom based social and emotional programs. The guide also includes best practices for districts and educators. Review at: ASSESSING NON-COGNITIVE SKILL DEVELOPMENT From Soft Skills to Hard Data: Measuring Youth Program Outcomes Download at: The Youth Development Executives of King County are developing a survey to assess the non-academic skills that contribute to students success in school. A helpful guide describes their approach and issues to consider when deciding how to assess noncognitive skills. A recent presentation describes initial results from the Student Skills and Beliefs Survey. Review at: Strategies to Promote Non-Cognitive Skills Public Profit,

7 Non-Cognitive Strategies Decision Tree Youth Served What ages of youth do you want to serve? Consult the Population row in the table. Almost all featured strategies are appropriate for K-8 th grade, and most are appropriate for K-12. Do you want a strategy that has been used with specific populations? Strategies that have been implemented with ethnic/linguistic minorities are indicated with Strategies that have been implemented with youth with special learning considerations are indicated with v Strategy Type How much proof do you need? Tier 1 strategies (p. 6) have strong evidence of effectiveness Tier 2 strategies (p. 7) have moderate or strong evidence of effectiveness Tier 3 strategies (p. 8) have moderate evidence of effectiveness What type of strategy are you considering? C Curricula Curricula describes a set of activities for youth that requires an adult facilitator. SG Self-Guided Activity Self-Guided Activities can be completed individually by youth. A Approach Approach describes a set of adult and youth practices that permeate the learning environment. Consult the Type row at the top of pages 6-8. Strategies to Build Non-Cognitive Skills Prepared by Public Profit, 2014

8 Training for Staff What kind of training do you need for staff? In person Online Guidebook Cost to Implement How much can you spend? 1 Free/low cost Social Decision Making/Problem Solving ($40, additional fee for training) Design Thinking (Free) Step-it-Up-2-Thrive (Free) Self Authoring ($30) G.R.I.T. Initiative (Nominal) Moderate cost Mindful Schools ($575, including training) PATHS Curriculum ($ , additional fee for training) SOAR Study Skills ($1,100, including training) Higher cost Student Success Skills ($2,250, additional fee for training) Brainology ($1,860, including training) Youth Program Quality Intervention ($3,028, including training) Tribes Learning Communities ($225 per person, 20 person minimum) 4Rs ($4,500, additional fee for training) RULER Approach ($3,300, including training) Mindfulness in Afterschool ($6,864, including training) Building Intentional Communities ($5,000, including training) 1 Based on materials and training for 30 youth and one staff member. Strategies to Build Non-Cognitive Skills Prepared by Public Profit, 2014

Non-Cognitive Factors Session

Non-Cognitive Factors Session Suchi Saxena U.S. Department of Education March 10, 2015 No official endorsement is intended or should be inferred by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity,