How do we prepare students for success in the future? is the topic of the first of three posts I’m writing in an effort to stimulate more conversation.
I think it’s important to have a conversation about this question with students, teachers, parents, businesses, and community members. In other words, everyone needs to participate in this conversation!
I want to look at three different questions in order to approach this problem from the perspective of an educator:
1: What are the skills that our students need to be successful?
2: In order to help students develop these skills, what type of projects and assessments can we engage them in?
3: What are some tools and practices that we can use to implement these skills into the classroom?
The Skills
I made the decision to organise the research-related notes I had taken. In an effort to determine which skills our students will need for future success, my goal was to determine the skills that were mentioned the most. The top 10 skills mentioned the most frequently are listed as follows:
1. Adaptive Thinking:
Things are changing exponentially in the digital age. By the time staff members master the most recent software or programme, a better version has already been developed. Future employees will need to be able to learn new things quickly and effectively, as well as continually adapt to changing circumstances. We must teach our students how to learn.
2. Communication Skills:
The capacity for communication is still prioritised. However, in the digital age, we have access to a wide range of new communication methods, such as social media and video conferencing. Communication skills are necessary for future employers to interact with both members of their team and those outside the group or organisation.
Instead of encouraging cooperation and teamwork, most classrooms promote competition and independence. Future employers will have to quickly adopt a collaborative culture. They will frequently need to use a variety of new technologies in their collaboration with people both inside and outside the organisation.
4. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills:
There is a decreased emphasis on employers following directions and an increased emphasis on employers thinking critically and solving problems. In a rapidly changing world, employers need employees who can solve problems, provide ideas and help improve the organization.
5. Personal Management:
Employers should be able to independently plan, organise, create, and execute rather than relying on someone else to do so.
6. Inquiry Skills:
Most academic tests include question and answer sections. We hardly ever grade students based on how well they ask questions. However, the capacity to pose excellent questions is a crucial talent that is desperately needed in a culture that demands constant innovation.
7. Technology Skills:
Nearly every company I spoke with stated that employees would need to be proficient in using technology. In the era of digitalization, technology is ubiquitous. However, schools have taken a while to adjust to this change. Students are rarely instructed or required to learn technology effectively. It is important to emphasise this.
8. Creativity and Innovation:
This talent is frequently mentioned. It’s related, in my opinion, to having good questioning and problem-solving skills. Employers will increasingly rely on staff members to come up with original and creative solutions to problems.
9. Soft Skills:
Soft skills, which include abilities like time management, organisation, the capacity to look someone in the eyes when speaking to them, and using a firm handshake, are rarely taught in schools. Several different business leaders have told me that these skills appear to be vanishing.
10. Empathy and Perspective:
Despite the fact that this ability has always been crucial, it also appears to be one that is gradually vanishing. the capacity of our students to put themselves in another person’s shoes, comprehend their emotions, and offer assistance in resolving problems.
I love it