Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 65).

1. The comfort zone and "being out of it" -- Comfort -- Beyond comfort -- 2. Exiting the comfort zone: reasons and impact -- Authenticity -- Essential professional skills learning -- Character building -- Expansion of performance and capacity -- Survival -- 3. Getting educators and students out of the comfort zone -- Comfortable curricula and beyond -- The university comfort zone and beyond -- Educational collaborations -- 4. Principles of "out-of-the-comfort-zone" (OOC) teaching -- Existing and new curricula -- Learning to expect the unexpected -- 5. Anecdotes of OOC learning -- Life is unfair: change of teams and projects -- No room for me: change of project presentation logistics -- A boring project: change of team responsibilities -- Out of the box: requiring innovation -- Nervous but not dead: change of delivery person -- What are we going to do: open-ended projects -- Nobody is around: change in instructor availability -- My impact: oral team member evaluation -- 6. Measuring the outcome -- Performance levels -- Example of scoring professional skills proficiency: oral presentation -- Project context and details -- Planning and discipline -- Change management -- Innovative thinking -- Ambiguity management -- Teamwork and leadership -- Oral presentation -- Written presentation -- Interpersonal communication -- Attitude -- Conflict resolution -- Cross-cultural understanding -- Knowledge about "self" -- Expectation management -- Bibliography -- Author's biography.

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.

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Success in careers outside the university setting depends on an individual's capacity to master professional skills and respond appropriately to dynamic situations with flexibility, adaptation, and innovative thinking. This book describes a simple, common sense method of how to include professional skills training in any curricula without compromising academic rigor. It relies on introduction of unanticipated yet manageable crises simulating scenarios commonly experienced in the workplace. The method promises to inspire both students and their teachers to conquer new territory outside their comfort zones. Examples include how to respond to a demand for innovation and teamwork, a lay-off, a re-organization, or switching jobs and projects. These situations are bound to occur for most people and in most jobs they often create stress and, perhaps, despair. Preparing and practicing a mindful and healthy response is beneficial, and now this process can be performed in the classroom, while it serves as a platform for character building prior to unexpected real-life events. Key Features: Description of the importance of, incentives for, and rewards of exiting the comfort zone. Principles for teaching and learning professional skills. Student anecdotes and reflection. Rubric entries and assessment of learning.

Also available in print.

Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on February 16, 2010).