Coaching in communication skills: Online learning using e-micromodules

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified communication as a key core competence required for success in the workplace (2021). In the university curriculum, module assessments related to this objective range from teaching students written skills like writing proposals, and reports to spoken skills like interpersonal skills, and public speaking. These are often conducted in face-to-face classrooms where after brief turns of instruction, students could receive personalized coaching on their areas of weakness. However, the effects of this instruction seldom go beyond the duration of the module.

The Singapore Institute of Technology thus embarked on curating six original e-micromodules based on students' needs to support students in the flow of their work during their internship and studies, in a more permanent manner using the blended learning approach. This presentation investigates one of these e-modules (i.e. the Interpersonal Skills e-module) to determine whether it was effective in improving students’ communication skills in six areas.