Integrating Soft Skills in Teaching Learning Processin Bachelor of Education Programme
Somapriya Samarawickrama Dahanayake
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to develop soft skills among the Bachelor of Education undergraduates through integration of soft skills into the teaching learning process. Undergraduates’ satisfaction level on contribution from Bachelor of Education Curriculum for developing soft skills varied with 80% satisfaction in time management skills. Over 60% were very satisfied with contribution towards Teamwork, Work Ethics, Presentation skills, Interpersonal, Organizational, Listening skills and Motivation. Need for informal and formal soft skills development and training for teaching and other employment were highlighted. Teaching practice and school experience provide opportunities for supervising, developing, guiding, and evaluating soft skills. Enhanced acquiring of undergraduate soft skills was observed at end of Course. Conclusions include need for providing guidance and opportunities for soft skills development with a self-learning environment and student-centered learning reducing competition and examination mentality; undergraduates to integrate soft skills into lives developing a personality students can learn from.