| Employability skills, also known as soft-skills and 21st century skills, are defined as a set of attributes, skills, and knowledge that all labor market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability to be effective in the workplace. Traditionally, employability skill development took place in the on-site classroom setting. With the widespread adoption of online learning there have been theoretical models for developing employability skills in the online environment yet the empirical research to support the theoretical models is insufficient. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to discover how curricular activities are being used in the online course-room to develop employability skills, which are highly necessary to tackle the challenges in the global economic market. Specifically, the manner in which employability skill development activities are being integrated into e-learning curriculum will be examined. This study included six veteran online instructors, who are employed within three colleges of study at a Nebraska post-secondary institution. Participants in this study provided their perceptions of current practices that promote the development of employability skills within the online environment. Common themes found include current institutional practices that support instructors to include employability skill development in e-learning, curriculum practices that support a student's development of employability skills in the e-learning environment, institutional procedures that promote faculty training in the deployment of employability skills, and barriers to incorporating employability skills into the online environment. Based upon the data analysis, leadership and institutional-wide practices are in place which support the integration of employability skills into the e-learning environment. Implementation of practices that support employability skill development are evident across multiple schools of study. Methods for professional development are in place and are focused on employability skill development practices for both faculty and students. Additionally, barriers to the integration of employability skill development were found at all hierarchical levels: leadership/institution-wide, faculty, and student. This study will help guide future research in the area of employability skill development within the online environment. Specifically, a close analysis of current practices across all hierarchical levels is needed; leadership/institution-wide, faculty, and student. |
