10 Essential Skills Map

1

Communication

Graduates will communicate effectively by listening, weighing influencing factors, and responding accurately and professionally. They will express their thoughts coherently in writing, orally, and in formal presentations.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 8.1 (Module 8)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (7)

• 1.1 I can describe my personal reasons for attending college and define what success means to me right now.
• 2.2 I can describe how I will use my support system intentionally this semester.
• 2.4 I can practice asking for help clearly and specifically in a realistic college scenario.
• 6.4 I can write five specific questions to bring to my Success Coach advising appointment.
• 9.3 I can explain the STAR(T) framework and describe how each of the five steps works.
• 10.4 I can articulate in one clear sentence what I need from teammates to do my best work.
• 12.2 I can articulate how each skill connects to my future in college, my career, and my life: the Transfer step.

2

Critical & Creative Thinking

Graduates will think critically by evaluating assumptions and assessing information to make informed conclusions. They will also think creatively by combining ideas in original ways or developing new ways of addressing issues.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 9.1 (Module 9)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (6)

• 8.1 I can research one career using Career Coach and O*NET, including regional salary, job outlook, education requirements, and typical work environment.
• 8.2 I can evaluate a career for personal fit by connecting my research findings to my strengths, values, work style, and pressure tolerance.
• 8.3 I can articulate one clear question I still have about this career direction.
• 9.1 I can identify one thinking habit that sometimes gets in my way and name a strategy for interrupting it.
• 9.2 I can apply the 4C Check (Clarity, Context, Credibility, Consequences) to evaluate a real situation or decision.
• 9.4 I can draft one practice STAR(T) response using a real experience and apply the 4C Check to strengthen it.

3

Quantitative Reasoning

Graduates will hone their ability to provide solutions guided by data and choose the best methodologies for arriving at informed conclusions.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 5.1 (Module 5)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (4)

• 5.1 I can build a realistic zero-based budget that assigns all available income to specific categories.
• 5.2 I can identify at least one pattern in my spending habits and describe one small change I want to make.
• 5.3 I can explain what financial wellness means and describe how it connects to my overall wellbeing.
• 5.4 I can use AI tools safely for budgeting exploration without sharing personal financial information.

4

Interpersonal Relations

Graduates will demonstrate both self-awareness and appreciation of people with different perspectives, as well as the ability to collaborate, communicate, and work respectfully with others.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 2.1 (Module 2)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (6)

• 2.1 I can identify people and OCTC resources that can support my success and explain how each one helps.
• 2.2 I can describe how I will use my support system intentionally this semester.
• 2.3 I can identify one new campus resource I want to explore and explain why it matters for my goals.
• 2.4 I can practice asking for help clearly and specifically in a realistic college scenario.
• 10.2 I can name two collaboration strengths and one or two challenges and explain why those challenges happen.
• 11.2 I can describe specific ways my everyday actions make a positive impact on the people around me.

5

Adaptability & Leadership

Graduates will accept change and find effective ways to work and thrive in different settings. They will motivate others in the pursuit of a common goal and coach others in the pursuit of this goal.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 7.1 (Module 7)
• Capstone: Assigned STAR(T) Story

I Can statements (7)

• 1.3 I can set one personal or academic goal for this semester and describe how I plan to reach it.
• 3.3 I can identify which of my five energy batteries needs the most attention and describe one way I will recharge it.
• 7.1 I can identify my Top 5 HIGH5 strengths and explain what they mean for how I learn and work.
• 7.2 I can identify my Top 5 personal values and describe how they shape my decisions and priorities.
• 7.3 I can connect my strengths and values to my academic habits, career direction, and how I work with others.
• 7.4 I can recognize one blind spot that comes with my strengths and describe what to watch for.
• 11.3 I can connect my strengths and values to one intentional way I want to grow my community impact going forward.

6

Professionalism

Graduates will adhere to the code of ethics in their chosen profession and act with honesty and fairness. They will prioritize their tasks, manage their time, take initiative, and demonstrate accountability and reliability.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 3.1 (Module 3)
• Capstone: Assigned STAR(T) Story

I Can statements (10)

• 1.1 I can describe my personal reasons for attending college and define what success means to me right now.
• 3.1 I can analyze how I currently spend my time and identify at least one pattern or time-waster.
• 3.2 I can create a realistic weekly schedule that reflects my actual priorities and commitments.
• 3.3 I can identify which of my five energy batteries needs the most attention and describe one way I will recharge it.
• 3.4 I can describe one small habit or adjustment I will make to manage my time more effectively.
• 4.4 I can recognize AI creep in my own work and describe honestly how I used AI.
• 4.5 I can write one SMART goal for continuing a study strategy or academic habit this semester.
• 5.2 I can identify at least one pattern in my spending habits and describe one small change I want to make.
• 6.3 I can draft a realistic course load for next semester based on my goals, schedule, and program requirements.
• 8.2 I can evaluate a career for personal fit by connecting my research findings to my strengths, values, work style, and pressure tolerance.★ Institutional assessment anchor

7

Civic Engagement

Graduates will engage in political, social, and other activities to address issues that benefit society.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 11.1 (Module 11)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (3)

• 11.1 I can define community broadly and identify at least one community I already belong to and contribute to.
• 11.2 I can describe specific ways my everyday actions make a positive impact on the people around me.
• 11.3 I can connect my strengths and values to one intentional way I want to grow my community impact going forward.

8

Collaboration & Teamwork

Graduates will collaborate with colleagues, become effective team members, and manage conflict.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 10.1 (Module 10)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (4)

• 10.1 I can identify my natural collaboration tendencies using my 16Personalities results and explain how they show up in group work.
• 10.2 I can name two collaboration strengths and one or two challenges and explain why those challenges happen.
• 10.3 I can describe three specific strategies that help me work more effectively with others.
• 10.4 I can articulate in one clear sentence what I need from teammates to do my best work.

9

Knowledge Application

Graduates will articulate and apply the theoretical content of their academic preparation with relevant knowledge and abilities essential to their chosen careers.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 6.1 (Module 6)
• Capstone: Assigned STAR(T) Story

I Can statements (12)

• 2.3 I can identify one new campus resource I want to explore and explain why it matters for my goals.
• 6.1 I can interpret my Career Coach or O*NET Interest Profiler results and connect them to at least one program or career direction at OCTC.
• 6.2 I can describe the difference between certificates, diplomas, AAS degrees, and transfer pathways at OCTC.
• 6.3 I can draft a realistic course load for next semester based on my goals, schedule, and program requirements.
• 6.4 I can write five specific questions to bring to my Success Coach advising appointment.
• 6.5 I can use AI responsibly to explore academic pathways without sharing personal identifying information.
• 7.3 I can connect my strengths and values to my academic habits, career direction, and how I work with others.
• 9.3 I can explain the STAR(T) framework and describe how each of the five steps works.
• 9.4 I can draft one practice STAR(T) response using a real experience and apply the 4C Check to strengthen it.
• 11.4 I can select four experiences from my semester and match each one to an Essential Skill for my STAR(T) Story.
• 12.1 I can record four STAR(T) responses, one per selected Essential Skill, that are specific, honest, and clearly structured.★ Institutional assessment anchor
• 12.2 I can articulate how each skill connects to my future in college, my career, and my life: the Transfer step.★ Institutional assessment anchor

10

Information Literacy

Graduates will identify, evaluate, and responsibly use information needed for decision making.

• Skill Spotlight: Lesson 4.1 (Module 4)
• Capstone: Student-choice STAR(T) Story option

I Can statements (8)

• 1.2 I can navigate Blackboard and locate key course information, assignments, and instructor contact details.
• 1.4 I can explain what artificial intelligence is and identify where it already shows up in my daily life.
• 4.1 I can identify and apply at least one evidence-based study strategy and describe what I noticed about my learning.
• 4.2 I can evaluate a source or AI-generated response using the SIFT method and explain whether I would use it and why.
• 4.3 I can apply at least one digital organization strategy to manage my course files.
• 4.4 I can recognize AI creep in my own work and describe honestly how I used AI.
• 6.2 I can describe the difference between certificates, diplomas, AAS degrees, and transfer pathways at OCTC.
• 8.1 I can research one career using Career Coach and O*NET, including regional salary, job outlook, education requirements, and typical work environment.