learning

In response to my post last week about preparing students for the future, one of our Twitter followers had a suggestion. He said:

“How about studying how to actually make things? Kids are growing up without any trade skills these days.”

He makes a great point. Kids are more tech-savvy than ever, but all that screen time (an average of 7.5 hours a day for kids aged 8-18) may mean less time spent interacting with physical objects, creating, designing, and developing important coordination skills. Since shop and home economics classes have largely disappeared from schools, many kids are growing up without the sort of basic trade skills previous generations had at least a passing familiarity with.

Last week, I shared a report by Xconomy which asked innovators, scientists, and other thinkers what students should study now to prepare for ten years from now. Topping the list were programming and mathematics, in anticipation of advanced technology and computers in just about every field; science, engineering, and biology in particular, to prepare for careers in healthcare, sure to be important with an aging population; and other cultures and languages, especially Chinese, to prepare for an increasingly globalized world.

Other panelists had less tangible advice, including “learn how to learn” and learn how to focus, while several encouraged students to pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavors rather than one course of study.  One Xconomist answered the question by arguing young people need to be “students of life.” Rather than committing to an industry or technology, students should ask themselves questions like:  

In honor of President's Day 2012, GreatApps.com is offering young learners an opportunity to learn an important aspect of U.S. history by taking them on a fun and educational meet and greet with the 44 U.S. Presidents to celebrate President's Day.  Starting Friday, Feb. 17 through the end of President's Day on Feb. 20, they are offering Encyclopedia Britannica’s first mobile application,  Britannica Kids: U.S. Presidents for FREE! 

Britannica Kids: U.S. Presidents takes young learners on a fun and educational meet-and-greet with the 44 U.S. Presidents. Bring the Oval Office into your living room with detailed profiles for every President. Tap into a wealth of interesting Presidential facts, and solidify your knowledge through quizzes, achievement badges and voiced over text.

In a series of thinktanK¹² blog posts,  we will be taking a look at some trends we can expect to see in education in the near future, as well as introducing you to some of the influential people helping revolutionize education.

In a recent report by Xconomy, which examines trends in business and the economy, the company asked leading scientists, inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs from around the country one simple question: “what should students be studying now to prepare for ten years from now?”