Center for Teaching Excellence

Core Abilities to succeed in life

Eastern Florida State College's goal is to prepare students to live and work in a dynamically changing world by emphasizing student growth and lifelong learning. Through experiences both in and out of the classroom, students will be given the opportunity to develop critical skills needed to succeed in life, known as Core Abilities.

In keeping with our institutional mission and vision, EFSC promotes the development of the five key Core Abilities. These also line up with the five broad categories of community college general education learning outcomes defined in 2007 by a special task force of the State of Florida Council of Instructional Affairs.

Click the topics below to read more about each Core Ability, including indicators that demonstrate students have effectively integrated the skills within each area.

Keys for Preparing Students to Succeed in Life

Work Cooperatively

Indicators
• Learner demonstrates the ability to act cooperatively and effectively in a diverse environment
• Learner demonstrates respectful interpersonal skills with working with others
• Learner provides and accepts constructive feedback
• Learner contributes to a group with ideas, suggestions, and effort

Think Critically & Solve Problems

Indicators
• Learner demonstrates the ability to research, evaluate, interpret, synthesize, and apply knowledge across contexts
• Learner demonstrates the integration of culturally and aesthetically-based knowledge and understanding of problem-solving activities
• Learner demonstrates the integration of mathematically and scientifically-based knowledge and understanding into problem-solving activities

Process Information

Indicators
• Learner identifies, locates, and uses appropriate technology and informational tools for research purposes
• Learner gathers required information
• Learner selects, synthesizes, and organizes information
• Learner evaluates and documents sources

Model Ethical & Civic Responsibility

Indicators
• Learner accepts responsibility for his/her learning
• Learner demonstrates respect for the rights, views, and work of others
• Learner exhibits personal and academic honesty
• Learner exhibits responsibility in personal, civic, professional,
and educational environments

Communicate Effectively

Indicators
• Learner applies appropriate reading, writing, speaking, new media, and active listening skills to express information, ideas, and opinions
• Learner uses appropriate technology that supports or facilitates communication
• Learner communicates effectively, appropriately, and professionally in verbal, nonverbal, and written forms