The BoxPlay team of psychologists is currently engaged in research to explore the potential of CQ: Communication Quotient™ as a trainable and measurable skill for employability. They have proposed a study to assess the effectiveness of CQ:Communication Quotient™ courses in improving Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Negotiation skills. The objective of their planned study is to gather empirical evidence on how targeted CQ: Communication Quotient™ training can impact these specific areas of Communication Intelligence. By conducting this study, the researchers aim to gain valuable insights into the developmental aspects of CQ: Communication Quotient™ and its potential to enhance employability by equipping individuals with essential communication skills applicable in various professional contexts.

Communication skills, although widely referred to as “soft skills”, are shown to be pertinent in the fast-changing 21st century workplace (Rios et al., 2020). Previous initiatives have trained communication skills using project-based learning or immersive simulations, targeted at students, healthcare professionals, and preservice educators (Wolderslund et al., 2021; Vogler et al., 2018; Johnson & Voelkel, 2021). In spite of the shifting needs in continuous and professional training, microlearning was found to facilitate knowledge acquisition by engaging employees through short, personalized, and just-in-time learning (Emerson & Berge, 2018). However, no previous work has leveraged microlearning for communication skills training.

In their proposed study, the BoxPlay team aims  to implement a micro-training series that uses an engaging multimedia format, contrary to traditional lecture-style training, to evaluate its effectiveness on people’s active thinking, critical thinking, and negotiation skills. The researchers anticipate that engaging microlearning will be more effective than traditional lecture-style materials and that learners will be more inclined to continue using microlearning materials in the future.

Rios, J. A., Ling, G., Pugh, R., Becker, D., & Bacall, A. (2020). Identifying critical 21st-century skills for workplace success: A content analysis of job advertisements. Educational Researcher, 49(2), 80-89.

Wolderslund, M., Kofoed, P. E., & Ammentorp, J. (2021). The effectiveness of a person-centred communication skills training programme for the health care professionals of a large hospital in Denmark. Patient education and counseling, 104(6), 1423-1430.

Vogler, J. S., Thompson, P., Davis, D. W., Mayfield, B. E., Finley, P. M., & Yasseri, D. (2018). The hard work of soft skills: augmenting the project-based learning experience with interdisciplinary teamwork. Instructional Science, 46, 457-488.

Johnson, C. W., & Voelkel, R. H. (2021). Developing increased leader capacity to support effective professional learning community teams. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 24(3), 313-332.

Emerson, L. C., & Berge, Z. L. (2018). Microlearning: Knowledge management applications and competency-based training in the workplace. UMBC Faculty Collection.