Q In Module 5, we examined Excelsior’s General Education Career Competencies and learned how these skills will be beneficial in the future of work, regardless of the career field. One of the most important competencies is “oral communication.” In fact, according to an Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) 2018 survey of business executives and hiring managers (Links to an external site.) likewise found that the ability to effectively communicate orally was the most important skill in college graduates entering the workforce. It ranked ahead of critical thinking, ethical decision-making, teamwork, time management, and written communication, among others. So, in this discussion, you will practice this critical skill through a video post, or audio if you’re unable to post a video. You’ll get another chance to practice this skill in the Module 8 discussion, so don’t worry if you haven’t quite mastered it this week. Begin by reading pages 6.3 through 6.10 in the webtext on career planning and page 6.11 on the oral communication discussion. Now, put yourself in the mindset of your future self. Pretend that it is a few years in the future, once you have completed your college degree (and any subsequent degrees you plan to attain) and are entering your chosen career field or positioning yourself to advance in your current field. For this discussion, you are interviewing for an ideal job in your field. Discussion Instructions Initial post: By Thursday of Module 6, create a 3-minute video clip (and a text transcript) speaking as your future self, answering the following questions from the hiring manager: • Why do you want to work in this career field? What sets you apart from other candidates? • As a graduate of Excelsior College, what are the most important skills you learned from your education? How do you plan to apply these to your work? • What do you think the future of this career field/industry will be in 10, 20 or even 100 years? How can you help us plan for that future? (Your answer to this question should refer to evidence from at least one source. Please cite that source at the bottom of your discussion post in text.) NOTE: You will need to include a transcript or closed captions with your video in order to make it accessible for people with hearing disabilities. The easiest way to do this is to write out a script in advance and attach this to your post as a transcript. Use the Audio Script Writing Guide for help creating a script. NOTE: Read the resources below for help with creating your video (or if a video is not possible an audio file) If you experience trouble uploading your video file to Canvas directly because of a slow internet connection, read option 4 in the Tips document below. You will not be able to see posts written by your classmates until you create your initial post. Replies: Then, from Friday through Sunday of Module 6, reply to your classmates’ videos with text or video replies. Comment on specific aspects of your peers’ oral communication skills – what did they do well? How did they communicate their points effectively? What can they work on for the next video discussion? Please be sure to reply to at least two of your peers' posts. Resources: • Tips for Creating a Video (also includes alternate audio-only information) • Audio Script Writing Guide Evaluation • This discussion will be graded according to the Cornerstone Oral Discussion Rubric. Review the rubric and Discussion Board Expectations in advance to know how you will be assessed. • All discussion boards combined are worth 20% of your course grade.