This summary comes form a talk by Tony Wagner, the Author of Global Achievement Gap, which he did at the online Global Education conference. Recordings are available at the website: www.globaleducationconference.com
Two problems in education today:
- Access to education is becoming more available outside of school: Udacity, Coursera, etc. , hence no need to go to school to acquire knowledge.
- Changing nature of work, i.e. “global knowledge economy”, which calls for new workplace skills
He was influenced by Thomas Friedman’s book “The World if Flat”. Based on an extensive analysis and interaction with major corporations, Wagner comes to a conclusion that our students need 7 survival skills:
- Critical thinking skills – how to improve their company productivity. In real world, critical thinking is defined as “asking the right questions” unlike what school does – giving the right answers
- Collaboration in the professional network to solve problems often involving cross-cultural, cross-religious boundaries
- Agility and adaptability
- Initiative and entrepreneurial skills
- Effective oral and written communication – number one complain from senior executives. “They do not know how to write with voice” – quote from one of the CEOs, ability to speak with passion
- Accessing and analyzing a lot of information
- Creativity and imagination
What is taught and tested through standardized assessment due to accountability pressure is in conflict with 21st century demands. Hence he suggests an approach to a developing accountability system:
- We should work with businesses and organizations in the real world to develop a new system of accountability
- Starting from kindergarten, students should develop an electronic portfolio that shows their skills and talents
- He cited Finland for being very successful in developing the right kind of accountability in education
Another compounding problem is the global economic problem. BA degree is not worth much any more. Graduating with a BA does not add more skills for work place. This economy is innovation driven economy.
“What must we do differently?” – He interviewed a number of young highly motivated and innovative people from different social groups. Then he interviewed their parents and mentors or teachers. His conclusion was that their teachers from elementary all the way through colleges were “outlier teachers”, people with unique approach to teaching. He came up with contradictions between traditional teachers vs. outlier teachers
- Culture of schooling – celebrating individualism vs. Culture of innovation – value of team work and collaboration
- Compartmentalized approach to teaching vs. Cross-disciplinary approach
- Class of students sitting passively, consumer approach vs Class of creators and producers
- Mistakes are stigmatized vs. failing often is encouraged, such that this word is not even used; instead ‘iteration’ is a more appropriate word
- Extrinsic motivation (grades, money, parents’/teachers’ satisfaction vs. intrinsic motivation, i.e. inner interest encouraged by parents through ‘play and passion’
These young people all were driven by a sense of purpose to change the world for a better place.
Neat website: http://creatinginnovators.com/