Holistic Rubric for Employability Skills
A rubric for broad, holistic assessment of employability skills, aligned with ECU Graduate Attributes, is presented below. This rubric is designed as a general guide only and does not claim to suggest that a student has mastered any single skill. Rather it serves as an organiser for the student and lecturer/tutor to gather evidence about student skills during a specific teaching period and over the duration of a course. This rubric is based on the Core Skills for Work Framework (DEEWR, 2013) performance features for ‘Advanced Beginner’, ‘Capable Performer’, ‘Proficient Performer’ and ‘Expert’.
Skill/Graduate Attribute / C / CR / D / HDAbility to communicate / Attends to communication practices and protocols
Communicates with some understanding of purpose and audience / Uses appropriate communication conventions, paying attention to others
Provides relevant information
Adjusts communication to context and situation. / Considers subtle implications when selecting what to communicate, with whom and how
Selects written/visual format, tone, language and content to suit purpose and audience. / Demonstrates a finely nuanced understanding of what to communicate, with whom and how
Builds constructively on input of others
Tailors every communication to achieve its purpose
Ability to work in teams / Seeks to cooperate with others
Recognises barriers
Uses some practices for building rapport. / Pays attention to diverse perspectives
Shares information and resources
Looks for strengths in others / Actively seeks to build rapport and genuine understanding with others
Provides useful feedback and seeks feedback to enhance own performance.
Cultivates relationships to build networks. / Acknowledges the points of view of others without compromising integrity.
Uses high level influencing skills to motivate others
Actively builds strategic networks.
Critical appraisal skills
Plan & organise / Makes some decisions regarding sequencing and timing of tasks
Starts to coordinate some activities with others
Begins to seek guidance / Plans sequencing and timing of tasks, links with work of others
Makes realistic commitments
Recognises and adjusts to deadlines are reached. / Takes responsibility for workload
Balances competing demands (own and others)
Reassesses priorities when circumstances change / Organises time and effort around priorities
Monitors performance in relation to goals
Renegotiates if necessary while managing expectations of others.
Solve problems
Make decisions / Addresses unfamiliar problems by applying past solutions
May reflect on outcomes
May seek assistance to develop an improved approach / Applies formal problem solving processes
Identifies and evaluates several options
Seeks feedback or advice before implementing a solution. / Redefines problems and identifies underlying causes when necessary.
Clarifies key issues and generates possible solutions,
Establishes criteria for deciding on a course of action. / Uses nuanced understanding to recognise surface indicators of deeper problems
Invests time in defining the real problem, using a variety of techniques
Uses formal techniques to generate and evaluate solutions
Ability to generate ideas / Identifies how ideas in other contexts might be applied.
Applies a formal lateral thinking technique.
Supports adoption of ideas that appear to produce minimal change. / Contributes to design of new approaches
Seeks different perspectives in designing solutions to problems.
Supports ideas that appear to produce some radical change. / Considers radical as well as incremental change to current approaches
Combines lateral and analytical thinking
Supports ideas that contribute to broader goals and uses clear criteria to assist decision-making / Challenges beliefs and assumptions that may be shaping thinking
Facilitates a climate in which creativity and innovation are integral
Addresses issues that may affect implementation
Ability to manage self and learning / Some insight into personal aptitudes and preferences,
Targets some skill development
Seeks advice and feedback when confronted by barriers. / Reflects on past experience and feedback
Uses a systematic process to develop skills and knowledge
Pro-actively seeks assistance to address identified gaps. / Formally reflects on performance
Seeks and uses feedback, takes on new challenges,
Develops strategies to address factors that limit achievement, / Treats every activity as an opportunity to learn,
Actively seeks feedback from a wide range of sources
Devises innovative ways of sharing knowledge with others.
Ability to use technology / Applies a small set of operating principles
Uses technology in routine ways to enter, store, retrieve and present information. / Uses technology to access, organise, analyse and display information and improve efficiency.
Interacts, collaborates and creates online
Takes responsibility for security of online information. / Uses a broad range of technologies to improve productivity
Uses online profile and social networking to engage with others in virtual environments.
Uses technologies to access and filter data and to extract, organise, integrate and share information effectively / Actively seeks out technologies with potential to meet current and future needs
Uses digital tools to filter and synthesise meaningful information from multiple sources.
Evaluates benefits and risks when collaborating with others.