But I can just google that.

Writing from the perspective of a current college student and former high school student, I can say with certainty that the way we teach is outdated and inefficient. The rise of the internet and smartphones and widespread data-coverage made quite a lot of things obsolete in teaching. Why should I spend time memorizing dates and factoids that I can google in a second if need be? This is a thought that I’m sure crosses a lot of people’s minds after losing points on a test over trivial information that slipped their minds. Now I’m not saying that teachers will become obsolete themselves. I’m just saying that teachers need to adjust their focus.

The industries of today require a workforce with knowledge of many relatively new skills and the list is constantly growing. Information is available at our fingertips whenever we want it. Skills, on the other hand, are increasingly valuable and can’t be downloaded into our brains from the cloud. Life skills that advance both individuals and the workforce as a whole need to become more of a priority. So I really believe it is crucial that teachers and professors focus their time and effort towards modern skills in order to optimize the competence of students when they finish their education.

What do I think are some important ones?

Using technology, programming technology, engaging in a debate, analyzing information, recognizing biases, fiscal responsibility, networking, long-term planning, high pressure decision-making, navigating uncomfortable social scenarios, self-care, etc.

I know I’m not the only one that wishes my high school taught how to balance a checkbook instead of drilling it into my head that “the mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell”. Anyway the list above doesn’t include the most valuable skill of all: learning new ones.

The ability to learn new skills has two crucial elements to it. And neither is really useful without the other. First there’s the patient, systematic approach to learning any new craft. These things take time and consistent practice, which sounds obvious until you notice how often people lack patience and discipline. Second there’s the desire to learn. Without an initial desire, without intellectual curiosity, without a drive to learn, individuals become complacent and increasingly less useful. For that reason I think it’s crucial that teachers consistently explain the WHY first and then the WHAT. “Why am I learning this again? Oh that’s right, because it’ll be useful.”

Being an adult today is more complicated than ever. Being in the workforce today is more complicated than ever. But knowing more facts won’t help the new generations—at least not enough to waste time on them. In the end it’ll be modern skills and the ability to learn new skills that make people more adept to our ever-changing society.

Filip, again.