Today’s students are entering careers they never imagined possible. As AI and automation reshape entire industries, the skills that employers once valued are being replaced by the need for creativity, adaptability, and technological fluency. But how can schools equip students with these essential competencies?
To explore this challenge, EdSurge spoke with: brian johnsrudDirector of Education, Learning and Advocacy adobe. He shares insights into how schools can leverage creative tools to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a world where change is the only constant. . Known for its cutting-edge creative and digital literacy tools, Adobe is paving the way for a new approach to education, one that blends technical expertise with the soft skills that will define tomorrow’s workforce. .
EdSurge: How can educators prepare students for the future workforce and foster in-demand skills like creativity and adaptability?
John Srud: Educators can stay informed about future workforce trends, including new jobs and highly sought-after skills. School leaders are increasingly turning to organizations such as the World Economic Forum to analyze data on the skills most in demand over the next five years. This prepares students for future needs, even if the current curriculum does not yet require such skills.
The latest World Economic Forum Employment Report highlights: Top skills that will become more important by 2027. Creative thinking is at the top of the list, followed by analytical or critical thinking. The third most important skill is technology literacy, including AI and other technologies. Interestingly, number four is curiosity and lifelong learning, and number five is resilience, flexibility, and agility.
What does this shift in skills demand mean for employers and job seekers?
These skills highlight the skills revolution we are facing. Employers are increasingly recognizing that while it’s great to hire people with the exact skills needed for a job today, those needs will change in a few years. The real question is whether a person is a lifelong learner, someone who can self-learn and adapt when circumstances change, and the resilience to succeed in an ever-evolving world and industry. It’s about being flexible and agile.
How can creative tools help students develop both the technical and soft skills needed for future careers?
One approach is to train students on industry-standard tools to familiarize them with what they will use in the workplace. It’s also important to provide professional-quality templates and assets so that the projects you’re creating actually look like professional output. Pedagogically, this approach is authentic project-based learning in the real world. Instead of creating something meaningful only in the classroom, give your children authentic projects they can work on.
Collaboration is also the future of work, and creative tools with built-in collaboration capabilities give students the opportunity to not only create, but also co-create with others, share feedback, and exchange ideas. Masu.
How can educators choose the right tools to foster creativity in the classroom?
Choose tools that offer both low floors and high ceilings. Adobe Express for Education. This means providing an entry point for anyone to start creating, regardless of their starting point. Ceiling height plays a role when migrating from Adobe Express to Creative Cloud. Nothing beats our creative tools.
Creative confidence is also often a major barrier for students, so it’s essential to address it. Many students think this way. I don’t know if I can design something that looks good. ” fear blank canvas It’s real, and it can be daunting. Teachers can help by providing professional-looking templates so students can focus on the content instead of starting from scratch.
What makes a tool truly valuable in education?
The true value of a tool in the classroom goes far beyond its functionality. It’s important to provide the right content, support, and resources so everyone can use it effectively. take Adobe Express for Educationfor example. It’s packed with free lesson plans and resources for teachers, as well as a learning tab with videos and guided activities for students to practice on their own. To demonstrate what they have learned, students can: Adobe Certified Professional Exam — We’ve been offering these for 17 years and have issued more than 1.8 million certifications.
It’s all about giving teachers the tools to teach effectively and giving students the means to showcase their skills to universities and employers. That’s where creative tools become really valuable in education.
How is AI integrated into creative education?
AI plays a key role in enhancing this creativity. It supports brainstorming and rapid iteration, helping students quickly generate different ideas and alternatives. AI can also help students step away from their day-to-day tasks and see the big picture.
In this sense, traditional education has often taught students to swim in controlled pools. We use AI to teach kids how to surf in an ever-changing ocean. It’s not just repetition and efficiency. It’s about adapting to changing circumstances and engaging in creative thinking. AI acts like a surfboard, allowing students to navigate change and thrive in an unpredictable world.
How will AI change teaching and learning strategies?
Traditionally, education has focused on teaching students to perform specific tasks. But as AI automates many of these tasks, the focus of education will need to change. We believe the next focus should be on understanding context: understanding what tasks to perform, when to perform them, and why.
As tasks become easier to perform, understanding the broader context of these tasks becomes increasingly valuable. Understanding context is an important human skill that is best taught through storytelling and real-world application.
English language arts and history teachers have long excelled at teaching context by helping students understand the context and culture surrounding texts and historical events. This broader perspective, although less emphasized outside of these subjects, is becoming essential in all fields.
By mastering storytelling and understanding context, students can see the big picture in complex situations, understand how individual tasks contribute to larger goals, and develop creative approaches to multifaceted problems. You will be able to develop solutions and adapt more easily to changing circumstances in your future career.
