The shift to life-long learning
It's a common adage that change is the only constant in life. Though it dates back to the 6th century BC, it is as relevant today as it was probably then.
If I go back 10-15 years, none of us educators had ever heard of SEO professionals, social media managers, bloggers, telemedicine physicians or data science and mining professionals. Fast forward to just five years back and we have AI content creator, virtual reality consultant, and sustainability professionals. Interestingly, while searching for jobs in 2050 I came across Space Tourism Guide!!
The Educational Challenge
So what exactly are we preparing the students of today or the job seekers of tomorrow? We as educators or professionals clearly are as clueless about future job prospects as were our predecessors regarding the job seekers of today. Therefore, the most pertinent question is what we equip our young learners with to ensure their employability in the coming decades. World Economic Forum clearly states that in addition to foundational literacies, competencies and character qualities are going to be essential for aspiring professionals of the next decade.
Foundational literacies in modern education
Foundational literacies, in addition to the literary and numeracy skills, encompasses digital literacy, financial literacy as well as cultural and civic literacy. Students should be able to understand and integrate AI and create a balance between it and human abilities. AI needs to be rightfully integrated rather than being used as a mere support tool. Schools should open the doors to students exploring ways and means of integrating AI. Cultural and civic literacy should be integral part of elementary education. This will help foster respect and inclusivity and at the same time empower young learners to be part of societal change.
The 4Cs: Critical competencies for tomorrow
Competencies comprising 4Cs will arm the young learners of today to handle the complex challenges of tomorrow. Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication and Collaboration need to be promoted through experiences that are created both inside and outside the classrooms. Creating a safe learning environment will foster out of box thinking and promote risk-taking abilities. It will also foster open communication through collaboration. Schools should be able to provide real-world experiences through internships and projects. This creates awareness on career options as well as serves as a step towards networking. The school alumni should be tapped effectively and forums ought to be created for experience and knowledge sharing.
Character development & emotional intelligence
Character qualities play a significant role in enabling students to navigate through an ever-changing world. Ability to lead and take initiative, be persistent to stay on course and not give up yet be adaptable and flexible to change when required. These surely are qualities that can be nurtured through real world projects. At the same time, socio-emotional learning is being acknowledged as a vital part of education and it can can help learners thrive personally and academically. Policy makers and educators are undoubtedly aware and conscious of the modifications that ought to be made and paradigm shift is happening with more focus on the process of learning.
