Through a process of careful research and in collaboration with subject-matter experts, FUSION’s modules were developed to address the transitional skills gap identified by potential employers.

These modules cover a breadth of skills. Individually, they offer students the chance to develop the specific competencies sought by today’s employers. Taken together, they form a picture of a well-rounded and capable citizen scholar, set up for success at school, at work and in life.

Current Modules

Current module offerings, along with corresponding descriptions, are listed below.

Adaptability

Our workplaces and communities are never static, and we are regularly exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking. New innovative systems are being developed and implemented, new colleagues join the workforce and new people move into our communities continually. When we are adaptable, we are ready to take on new challenges.

AI Literacy

Artificial intelligence can seem daunting to the uninitiated. Is it something to be frightened of? Is it a solution to all our problems? Developing your skill in AI literacy involves learning to navigate this issue sensibly, finding a middle road between these two questions and learning when the use of AI is appropriate and when it isn’t. It is to learn to make informed decisions, work more efficiently and productively, and enhance your creative and innovative output.

Collaboration

Collaboration and teamwork involve working with others in groups—something that you might do regularly, or just some of the time, over the course of your academic and professional careers. Regardless of the frequency or the situation in your own life, developing these essential skills will help you perform effectively and with confidence whenever you work with others.

Communication

It is important to know how to think critically as you collaborate with others. To handle difficult situations, good communicators must adapt to diverse contexts and anticipate the needs of successful communication exchanges. As you develop your ability to communicate, you will become a better team player and recognize that each person adds value to reaching the goal you are communicating about.

Inclusivity

When you feel included, you are more engaged. This creates a ripple effect on your morale and increases the likelihood of you being happier at work. This, in turn, has a positive effect on a group or organization’s effectiveness and profitability. Inclusivity helps develop trusting environments, fosters positive workplace cultures and allows individuals to experience a sense of belonging.

Metacognition

Thinking about thinking. Well-developed metacognitive skills improve your ability to process, absorb and retain information through self-recognition and self-reflection. Improving these skills will also help you understand the strategies, approaches and processes you use to overcome potential learning barriers and solve problems more effectively. Continuously developing your metacognitive skills can lead to an overall improvement in learning and self-awareness in all areas of your life.

Problem-Solving

You encounter new problems—and work to solve them—every day. These might be simple (deciding what to eat for dinner) or complex (deciding whether to apply for grad school or start job hunting), but in every case they require the application of similar procedures. When you evaluate and learn from your problem-solving experiences, you strengthen your ability to adapt quickly and successfully to change. Many organizations rely on people with this ability, as well as on those who can assess difficult or unexpected situations and effectively identify and implement solutions.

Self-Management

How do you manage your time? How do you motivate yourself? How do you stay productive? When you practice self-management, you learn to regulate your thoughts, emotions and behaviours, and, ultimately, you find ways to be successful in setting goals and achieving them.

Upcoming Modules

Two additional modules are under development and will be available at different points in the academic year. They include:

Digital Literacy

While you might spend a great deal of time online, being digitally literate is something else altogether. It means knowing, for instance, that blogs are great sources of opinions but not reliable sources of research information. Becoming digitally literate means learning to consider echo chambers of information, communicate using netiquette, practice digital citizenship, and build digital soft skills so that you can gather information from online sources and communicate in a responsible and professional way. (Coming January 2025)

Constructive Dialogue

Perhaps now more than ever there is a need for measured dialogue, for reaching an accord with those whose viewpoints we might not share. In thinking about the principles of constructive dialogue, you will consider things like maintaining clear and calm communication during high-stress situations, distinguishing between well-reasoned arguments and counterarguments, the benefits of giving and receiving constructive criticism, and how to identify and apply effective strategies for negotiating and resolving conflicts. (Coming March 2025)