NTC Success Skills Information + Rubric

Communicates Effectively

Achieving understanding through effective two-way communication. There are five characteristics within this category:

Speaks clearly, concisely and professionally

  • Skill Mastery: Communicates in a logical, purposeful, organized, and well supported manner, consistently using acceptable language with effective use of voice and appropriate gestures, body language, and expressions.
  • Developing: Communicates in a manner that shows some sense of purpose and organization as well as use of language, voice, gestures and body language to support that purpose.

Writes clearly, concisely and professionally

  • Skill Mastery: Writes consistently at an acceptable level to convey a clear message with minimal errors in grammar and standard written language.
  • Developing: Writes to convey a message, though the message may be impaired by errors in grammar and standard written English.

Demonstrates active listening

  • Skill Mastery: Listens attentively and can accurately restate the message and/or appropriately respond.
  • Developing: Listens for understanding.

Adapts communication for audience

  • Skill Mastery: Applies appropriate language and effective use of voice for audience.
  • Developing: Recognizes that different language and voice may be required for different audiences.

Demonstrates teamwork

  • Skill Mastery: Actively engages in workgroups, contributes to positively impact productivity.
  • Developing: Passively participates in workgroups, contribution is minimal.

Models Integrity

Acting in a responsible and ethical manner. There are four characteristics within this category:

Practices personal accountability

  • Skill Mastery: Accepts personal responsibility for resources, actions, collaboration and outcomes.
  • Developing: Identifies behavior of blaming outside influences for circumstances and outcomes and shows self-reflection skills.

Demonstrates ethical behavior

  • Skill Mastery: Models consistent and acceptable code of conduct in personal, academic and professional settings.
  • Developing: Demonstrates awareness of expected and acceptable conduct in different settings.

Applies quality standards

  • Skill Mastery: Practices techniques and methods that ensure intended and consistent outcomes.
  • Developing: Identifies criteria that are used to produce an expected and specified result.

Develops self-awareness

  • Skill Mastery: Applies strengths, seeks to improve weaknesses and models a positive image to others.
  • Developing: Identifies strengths and weakness in oneself.

Thinks Critically

Solving problems and seeking understanding logically and creatively. There are six characteristics within this category:

Applies problem solving strategies

  • Skill Mastery: Selects and uses an appropriate process in solving problems.
  • Developing: Demonstrates a process to use in solving problems.

Acquires relevant information

  • Skill Mastery: Evaluates and questions relevance, accuracy and biases of information sources.
  • Developing: Accesses and uses some types of resources.

Applies digital and data literacy skills

  • Skill Mastery: Demonstrates ability to use appropriate techniques and technologies to select/utilize valid and reliable resources appropriately to research, analyze, create and effective communicate data/information to others.
  • Developing: Demonstrates minimal ability to select, evaluate, and use information resources to communicate data and information effectively through technology.

Evaluates alternatives

  • Skill Mastery: Demonstrates ability to provide thorough analysis of possible outcomes of solution selected.
  • Developing: Demonstrates minimal ability to predict the outcome of a proposed solution.

Constructs probing questions

  • Skill Mastery: Constructs questions that result in deeper understanding and information gathering.
  • Developing: Asks relevant questions.

Demonstrates creativity

  • Skill Mastery: Creates a novel or unique idea, question, format or product.
  • Developing: Reformulates a collection of available ideas.

Works Across Differences

Working effectively with people who have different perspectives, experiences, backgrounds and roles. There are five characteristics within this category:

Works effectively with others

  • Skill Mastery: Contributes positively with others by using varied perspectives, experiences, roles and strengths to reach a common goal.
  • Developing: Recognizes the value of working with others who bring different perspectives, experiences, roles and and strengths.

Demonstrates respectful and inviting interactions

  • Skill Mastery: Treats others with respect and seeks out opportunities to engage with people who have different perspectives or experiences.
  • Developing: Indicates an awareness of the importance of maintaining professional interactions with others.

Demonstrates reflective self-awareness

  • Skill Mastery: Regularly reflects on behavior and makes adjustments to support fair, respectful and effective interactions.
  • Developing: Acknowledges how past experiences and viewpoints can shape their responses to others.

Adapts to different situations

  • Skill Mastery: Demonstrates flexibility and professionalism when working in varied environments and with different groups of people.
  • Developing: Identifies differences in communication styles and norms across academic, workplace and social settings.

Demonstrates global awareness

  • Skill Mastery: Applies awareness of local and global contexts when interacting with others and decision making.
  • Developing: Identifies ways local and global factors can influence work, communication and decision-making.

Uses Technology Responsibly

Using technology and AI tools effectively, ethically and with sound judgement. There are five characteristics within this category:

Uses digital tools effectively

  • Skill Mastery: Selects and uses appropriate digital tools to complete tasks efficiently, accurately and professionally.
  • Developing: Uses basic digital tools to complete tasks with guidance or limited efficiency.

Evaluates digital and AI-generated information

  • Skill Mastery: Critically evaluates digital and AI-generated information for accuracy, credibility, bias, relevance and limitations.
  • Developing: Uses digital or AI-generated information with limited evaluation of accuracy, credibility, bias, relevance and limitations.

Uses technology and AI ethically

  • Skill Mastery: Uses technology and AI tools responsibly, transparently and in alignment with academic, workplace and professional expectations.
  • Developing: Demonstrates awareness that technology and AI tools must be used appropriately.

Protects digital information

  • Skill Mastery: Protects personal, academic and professional information and demonstrates responsible digital behavior.
  • Developing: Demonstrates basic awareness of privacy, security and digital responsibility.

Applies human judgement when using technology

  • Skill Mastery: Reviews technology-supported outputs, verifies accuracy and applies human judgement before using or sharing results.
  • Developing: Relies on technology outputs with limited review or reflection.