It takes a lot more than good grades to succeed in today\u2019s fast-paced, hyper-digital world. Employers are increasingly valuing skills like critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration\u2014often just as much (or more) than academic knowledge and specialized training. National mandates, like ESSA, and state-specific college and career readiness standards, have the right idea to help district leaders make students future ready. But they don\u2019t offer guidance on how educators should introduce these newly-required 21st-century skills in a way that will ensure they\u2019ll have a long-lasting effect. The question becomes how to make it fit into an already jam-packed school year. The clock is ticking to find a solution. Students are becoming increasingly discouraged with what they perceive is a disconnect between what they learn in school and \u201creal life.\u201d<\/p>\n So how can you ensure students are building the skills they\u2019ll need for lifelong success, in a way that doesn\u2019t overburden already time-strapped educators? The smart way to combat 21st-century challenge is to use a 21st-century solution. Since technology is practically woven into the DNA of Generation Z, an online future readiness program is almost a no-brainer. [xo-module id=”13086″] Experiences that can go a long way to encourage curiosity and build a generally positive attitude towards learning.<\/p>\n A \u201ccareers\u201d class or in-person meetings with a guidance counselor shouldn\u2019t be the only time and place students think about the soft-skills they\u2019ll need for their future. There are opportunities for 21st-century skills to be incorporated into many subjects. At first blush, this may seem like more work for educators, but if it\u2019s done right (and often), it can blend in naturally, enhance learning, and boost engagement and achievement. Approaching 21st-century skills in an integrated way instead of something \u201cextra\u201d that must be added to a select number of subjects is key to success. By taking a whole-school approach to skill-building it becomes a shared responsibility and students benefit from consistency and continuity.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s workplaces are hives of collaboration and communication. Set students\u2019 expectations for the real world by encouraging them to apply what they\u2019ve learned in other situations and through group-based learning. Many students fail to give much thought to their futures until they reach their final years of high school. Then there\u2019s often confusion and panic as they rush to explore the options available to them. As society has evolved, so must curricula. Teaching 21st-century skills is imperative to help students understand themselves, each other, and learn how to think creatively and critically no matter what field of study or work they plan to pursue. With the right tools, such as a high-quality online future readiness program, educators will feel equipped to start integrating real-world skills into the curriculum early and make school-to-life connections. The result? Students will feel empowered to enter post-secondary studies and the world of work prepared and confident that they\u2019re ready for anything.<\/p>\n To create successful futures, students need to be equipped with the necessary 21st century skills. Might sound cliche, but it’s vital.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":26650,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,81],"tags":[93],"class_list":["post-22139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-career-exploration","tag-blog-posts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nExperts warn<\/a>\u00a0that to thrive in a competitive job market, today\u2019s entrepreneur or employee needs \u201creal world\u201d or 21st-century skills, which include emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate impeccably.
\nUnfortunately, many students are not living up to these expectations. According to a survey from the\u00a0Association of American College and Universities<\/a>, less than a third of employers believe new college graduates are prepared for the world of work.<\/p>\nRead ACTE Whitepaper: Delivering Real-World Experiences Through Work-Based Learning<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n
\nA well-rounded, 360-degree education that balances academics with real-world skills will empower students to build the confidence and capabilities they need to be productive members of the workforce and society at large.<\/p>\nStudents Are Asking for Real-World Skills a.k.a. 21st Century Skills<\/h3>\n
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\nHere are five things to consider to get started.<\/p>\n1. Use Modern Technology<\/h3>\n
\nThe right online career planning software responds to users\u2019 desire to click, swipe, tap, and post. It\u2019ll offer interactive lessons and features like personality\/aptitude quizzes that inspire students to reflect on their interests and skills, set goals, and make a plan for the future.
\nIn Xello, more than 500 age-appropriate, grade-specific lessons are embedded right into the program for students in grades K-12. They present students with real-world situations to help them learn new skills in an interactive way to prepare them to tackle real-world problems. Lessons are self-paced and can be done as part of a class or done outside of classroom time.
\nNot all future readiness programs are created equal. Look for solutions that offer personalized experiences so students can get custom choices based on the strengths and interests they input. You\u2019ll also want to prioritize intuitive, user-friendly software with modern design principles that look and feel like apps students already love to use.\u00a0It\u2019s important to take the time to assess the right program for your district.<\/a><\/p>\n2. Build a Solid Foundation by Starting Early<\/h3>\n
\nBuilding skills is a process that takes time and practice. Much like forming good habits, the earlier you start in life, the more likely it will stick. \u201cResearch shows children can \u2018habituate\u2019 effective processes and tendencies into their mental repertoire. These include inclinations to take responsible risks, to persist, to manage impulsivity or thinking \u2018outside the box,\u2019\u201d according to a\u00a0University of Cambridge Report\u00a0on habit forming and learning in young children.
\nA\u00a0study by Brown University\u00a0<\/a>found that those habits can take root as early as age 9. With that in mind, the earlier educators introduce 21st-century concepts, the better.
\nSelf-regulatory skills like self-assessment, collaboration, and self-reflection can be incorporated into just about any subject in the current curriculum. Educators can work to help students build the skills required for life-long learning and inquiry, including flexibility, planning, and problem-solving.
\nAn online future readiness program with age-appropriate lessons helps take the guesswork out of instilling these skills in elementary school students. When framed in a grade-appropriate way, even young students can:<\/p>\n\n
3. Weave Real-World Skills into Every Subject<\/h3>\n
\nWhen you look at the skills that are so critical to building real-life ability, most can be woven into other subjects. Ideas include:<\/p>\n\n
4. Encourage a Collaborative Learning Environment<\/h3>\n
\nCollaborative learning helps reinforce and solidify many core 21st-century skills employers look for, including creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal relationship building. Students can test some of the key capabilities they may have learned through independent work in real life role-play scenarios or project-based learning to see how the concepts come to life. They can also test drive new concepts in this way.
\nStudies have demonstrated<\/a>\u00a0the value of collaboration alone as an employable skill, and one that helps foster other professional skills in demand today.
\nClassroom simulations, explorations and curriculum that present \u201creal world\u201d concerns, such as career backup plans, job interviews, career demand, lifestyle costs and work\/life balance will help students understand some of the factors underlying every career choice.<\/p>\n5. Make Learning Real-World Relevant<\/h3>\n
\nEducators can help students avoid the mad scramble by giving them concrete examples of how certain skills and concepts will be applied in the \u201creal\u201d world. We\u2019ve often heard students complain that they\u2019ll never \u201cuse\u201d trigonometry or chemistry in real life, so what\u2019s the point? It is becoming increasingly incumbent on teachers to share with them \u201cthe point.\u201d
\nParticularly with respect to soft skills, which are often less identifiable, it\u2019s important to reference career profiles that point out when and how communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical-thinking skills are important to excel in careers and in life as an adult. In Xello, students have the option to explore careers and fields of study based on their self-identified strengths and preferences. Each career is tagged with specific skills that are required so students can get a full picture.
\nConsider bringing in professionals in different fields or connecting students to open roles in the community so they can better understand what skills are used day-to-day in a variety of careers. Reviewing job descriptions, volunteer postings, or internship roles and highlighting the types of skills employers are looking for is a useful exercise to make the school-career connection.<\/p>\nConclusion<\/h3>\n
Read ACTE Whitepaper: Delivering Real-World Experiences Through Work-Based Learning<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"