We know that in many courses students work in groups, deliver presentations, undertake case studies, for example. In very few instances are we actually teaching these skills. Because of the way in which curriculum has traditionally been delivered at Seneca, there has always been a schism between vocational outcomes and those related to general education and generic skills. Many vocational faculty perceive that it is not their responsibility to teach generic skills. For many, it would require some learning on their part and perhaps some movement out of their own personal comfort zone , the content and teaching methodology with which they have become comfortable.
Students are also resistant to the notion of learning generic skills.
Many come to the college under-prepared. Many have had problems in their previous educational experiences with writing, math, computers and teamwork. In the spring of 2000, Seneca s Academic Vice-President called together a group of interested faculty and administrators to begin the process of implementing a generic skills initiative at the College. Assessment tools to be used by individual programs to create a program map identifying where and how generic skills are currently taught. Identification of support needed or available for faculty to facilitate integration of generic skills across the curriculum.