Education is Behind The Ball
Over a century and a half ago, public education was designed to train students to work in factory jobs from having starting and stopping times to working in rows all doing the same work at the same time. It worked well for what it was designed to do.
Unfortunately, it has not kept pace with the technological changes occurring right now. I was at a technology conference last weekend. Some of the stats I heard included the availability of 500,000 computer jobs with only 45,000 people graduating each year.
In addition, within the next 10 to 20 years, the jobs being filled will not have existed right now. There are jobs which have moved from the physical world to the virtual world such as virtual assistants, copy writers, etc
There are all sorts of places out there to find freelancers who will complete any job you need done but the schools are not changing rapidly enough to keep up with the change in job requirements.
For today’s world, students need to be fluent in social media, using digital devices as work tools, creativity, etc. Yes, the basic classes such as English, Social Studies, Math, and Science still need to be taught but they need to be taught in a new way.
They need to be taught so students are able to do their work using the modern tools available. Instead of having standard tests, have student document their work in such a way as to prove they know the material.
In math, let students show they know the math through videos or other media. Have them research the ways the math is used in real life and create a presentation showing that.
In English, it might be letting students create a news broadcast on the material in a book. Imagine having a daily summery on the trial in “To Kill a Mocking Bird” or have a daily update on a student created map for the story of the guy who hunts humans who land on his island.
Set up a Skype with someone from a country being studied in class. Perhaps arrange a Q & A with someone in the state capital to explain how the bill goes through congress.
In addition, students can learn project management skills, collaboration, brainstorming using a variety of programs which could be applied directly to work since these are all skills needed now.
I don’t know if education can move fast enough to keep up with the rapidly changing technological world. I do know it takes a bit of risk on any teacher’s part to turn their class down this path but it can be done.
I know the skills we need but I don’t always know how to implement and teach the technology necessary to do it in an effective way. All I can say is that I try.
