Ten things to learn this school year!

Staying with posts by Guy Kawasaki - he has posted a really good blog that mentions some of the things that he thinks that students should be learning today that teachers were not taught in 'Ten things to learn in school this year'

These include:

1. How to talk to your boss.
2. How to survive a meeting that is poorly run. (Not making a comment here!)
3. How to run a meeting.
4. How to figure out anything on your own. (Like that is going to happen!)
5. How to negotiate.
6. How to have a conversation.
7. How to explain something in thirty seconds. (I need this lesson)
8. How to write a one-page report.
9. How to write a five-sentence email.
10. How to get along with co-workers.
11. How to use PowerPoint.
12. How to leave a voicemail.


Thanks to Wesley Fryer for some of the content and the synopsis of the points!

But it does open the question that perhaps we have lost sight of over the years. What exactly is school for? What exactly are we supposed to be preparing the kids for? Are we giving the kids enough life skills to be able to cope with, operate in and succeed in our world today.

I have been speaking to students who got exam results today and have been pleased that so many students were able to get the grades that they need for the courses that they want to continue in - either back at school or in Further Education. But, if we read 'The World is Flat' - Freidman argues that the skills gap of the future will be in Engineering and the Sciences (and Maths). Yet I think (in Northern Ireland) that the shift seems to be away from these subjects and not towards - therefore are we adequatley preparing our kids for success or merely for survival and maintanence of the staus quo?

I am not sure of the answer but am sure of one thing, as a teacher starting the new year, my aim is that the kids that walk into my classroom walk out having learnt something and hopefully by having a bit of fun in the process. I call it my 'Learning through the backdoor' philosophy. If I have interesting and challenging activities available - the learning will slip in the backdoor.