Most of us know in a general sort of way that in a few years today's students will enter a work force that is very different from the one we know now. Most of us also agree that, to better prepare these students, we need to do some (or many?) things differently. I just watched a video that might help the next time you are arguing advocating for change with parents or a member of the board.
The video Did you know created by Karl Fisch gives some statistics that can remind you to think harder about what we’re teaching and why. Here’s just one quote to give you an idea:
According to former US Secretary of Education Richard Riley, the top 10 jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t yet been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.
Far more than Physics or Literature or Mathematics (although these are important), and way more than blogging, PowerPoint, smart boards and teleconferencing (although these are also important), our students need to learn from us how to learn. Go ahead and assign scribes to create classroom wikis and podcast your asynchronous debates, but make sure they learn how to learn. Teach them to create knowledge and to communicate it effectively. Let them watch you as you keep learning.
Scott McLeod has reproduced the Did you know video into several different formats for you to download. Click here for a list. Click here to see the video on YouTube.
25 June 2007 update: Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod have released a new version of the video to correct some errors and respond to critiques like the comment here. I have updated the links in the post.
Hi, I'm Jake,
we haven't met yet I'm really enjoying your blog though. I found your blog through Bahadir's. I just wanted to let you know that I'd referenced your blog on mine today.
Jake
Posted by: Jake | March 03, 2007 at 06:55 AM
Both Karl's original presentation and Scott's variation are breathtaking, the facts presented are mostly inaccurate or unverifiable. Researching the sources Karl offers I find only a handful of the data he uses is accurate. Fully two-thirds of the data he uses is wrong, simplified to the point of being misleading, or unverifiable.
Should we be pointing the way to the future with inaccurate information?
Posted by: Richard Birdsall | June 03, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Richard,
Thanks for the comment about the accuracy problems in the video. I have been following both Scott and Karl's blogs, and they also recognize these problems and had been working on tracking down reliable information about the issues they mention in the video. I should have updated my blog post to reflect that.
Karl and Scott planned to create a version that reflects better data, but in the meantime, Karl published this follow-up post: (http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/03/over-two-million-served.html ) where he discusses the reliability of the data. If they do publish a revised version, I'll update this post.
Posted by: Tom | June 03, 2007 at 10:42 AM