Our role as educators is to equip students with the skills they need to achieve success in their lives and livelihoods. In our rapidly-changing world, students need to learn much more than basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. According to Tony Wagner, co-director of the Change Leadership Group (CLG) at Harvard Graduate School of Education, there are seven skills that every child needs for the future.
This is the first of a two-part article where we’ll share these skills, and how we inculcate them through programmes at TWC. We also hope to inspire you to develop these skills in your children through interactions at home.
1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
In today’s era of constant disruption, we are preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet. However, the skill of being able to critically evaluate situations and come up with solutions is crucial regardless of career choice. In the TWC classroom, our composition exercises encourage students to find their voice and organise their thoughts. These are two major components of critical thinking.
TRY THIS AT HOME
Ask your child: “If you were the school principal, which rules would you change and why?”
Prompt him or her with open-ended questions such as “why do you think that’s a rule?”
2. Collaboration and Leadership Influence
Due to globalisation, collaborating across boundaries, cultures, and specialisations is becoming increasingly important. This means that we must teach our students to work well with others. In the TWC classroom, our teachers do this by conducting collaborative group activities and facilitating interactive discussions.
TRY THIS AT HOME
Support your child when he or she tells you about working with others. If they get frustrated with their team, guide them to be empathetic.
3. Agility and Adaptability
In just ten years, new technology has transformed every business sector from transport to television to music and beyond. With this pace of innovation, it is clear that the future is going to be drastically different too. To prepare our children, we must help them to be agile. In the TWC classroom, we do that by throwing them curveballs — specific goals that students must incorporate in their story writing.
TRY THIS AT HOME
Help your child embrace change by pointing out the positives. Had to reschedule outdoor fun because of the rain? Acknowledge the disappointment, but help him or her look forward to movie night.
Watch out for Part Two in the next blog post for four more skills that every child needs to navigate their future!