After reading chapter one I am pretty excited to keep reading! Wagner outlines the Seven Survival Skills for future generations. I agree with all seven and can proudly say that I foster many in my learning environments. I do have some questions on how to better provide learning experiences for my young students for some of the skills. When I really think about them I am surprised at how they can be encouraged across all areas of learning! Here are the seven skills:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving
2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
3. Agility and adaptability
4. Initiative and entrepreneurialism
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Accessing and analyzing information
7. Curiosity and imagination
Naturally we will all see some of our favorites in there. Mine being number 7 and number 5! What do you think? Are these essential for the future of education, business, life? How have you seen these skills shine or have you noticed areas of deficit? Time to share folks :)
Kevin
I can relate with #1. The district I am in use to participate in a program called Odyssey of the Mind. It was a great outlet for students to be challenged, beginning at the elementary level. Students would have to come up with solutions to situations/problems. It forced them to think outside the box. Then, in the face of diminished budgets, the program was cut. It is a great disservice to our students.
ReplyDeleteI am just glad to see #7 on the list! Living in this visual/technological era can limit imagination if it's not stimulated and steered in the right direction!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try this again. To me this is like writing a letter to the editor when the editor is Bob. I didn't think I would post on here. BUT...I think your blog directly asked me a question.
ReplyDelete"Are these essential for the future of education, business, life?".
Absolutely! I only differ in thinking that there should be eight skills. One could argue that my eighth is not a skill. More still can argue that my eighth is a given if any number of the other seven are possessed. I would disagree. I think 'discipline and accountability' are both characteristics and skills.
The most frustrating issue that I have with the high school that my little man attends is the ability to retake quizzes, tests and missing homework assignments. Often without any penalty for the first attempt (or non-attempt). Zero accountability.
It's true that a student will get the most out of something that excites them, but life doesn't come with a gaurantee that all responsibilities will excite you. Anyhow, that's my two cents worth (good for about 1.9 cents in Canada)!
Cool Blog Bro! Good work.
Great insight, #2! I have to agree with the addition of 8, although perhaps it should be graduated--the degree required at the primary-grades level being less stringent than that needed in middle and high school. I think that both are skills that must be learned. (PS: Love the life's lesson you learned in Canada!)
ReplyDeleteLove it brother. I agree that students should be held accountable and discipline is a must in any learning environment. Now having said that I would refer to my quote in another post about how the problem with education is the adults and not the students. If teachers give a clear cut assignment and provide a safe and stimulating learning environment.....then students should be held very accountable. The problem is that many times the teachers do not set the groundwork down and then they play these "games" with students and no one wins. There is a reason I teach 2nd grade :) These games get much more complicated as students get older. I also think that society itself can do a better job holding our students accountable. Detention, redone assignments and such lose some of their meaning when kiddos are still carrying around cell phones and complaining about it on Facebook. I think many times the privileges outweigh the effort. Less and less is earned by kids and they just keep getting more and more...schools can't fix that on their own.
ReplyDeleteI also love your point about responsibility and what excites students. I think the above point goes hand in hand with that. I can remember spending all day Saturday trying to find change around the house so we could rent a couple movies, or raising animals for the fair, even athletics held you accountable for your own satisfaction. Now it just comes too quick and too easy, there is really no drive evident in many....that is scary because a lot of them are starting to have their own kids and if your not driven to succeed as a parent....well, that is another lose, lose.
Kind of negative on my end, I apologize for that. You are totally right though brother and I think I will add #8 to the list!
Thanks for the post, keep em coming
Kevin