If you’re reading this, you may have concerns about AI.
Recent research from EY Research show 71% of employees with knowledge of artificial intelligence are concerned about it. Given the rapid infiltration of AI into educational conversations, this statistic certainly includes teachers and administrators.
the feeling of AI anxiety It works for technologies that bring about so much change and uncertainty. Tools like ChatGPT have rapidly destabilized the way we think about the future of school and work.
One of the roles of schools is to prepare students for the future. But how can teachers and schools meet this obligation when the future is so uncertain?
The answer lies in zooming out.
Rather than teaching specific facts or skills, we teach timeless skills that allow students to adapt to any challenge or problem solve. These capabilities were valuable in the past, essential in the present, and essential for future prosperity.
Key skills in the AI era
which skill is the natural next question.
Power skills include: creativity, collaboration, resilience, leadership, critical thinking, making all other skills more effective. As anyone with a professional background can attest, these skills have always been valuable.However, as AI will automate more aspects of today’s workforcelearning power skills is more important and powerful than ever.
Teaching students power skills will prepare them to succeed and adapt to an uncertain future. But it also provides a strong foundation for academic and personal success today.
Imagine if all students intentionally practiced and improved their critical thinking and team-based problem-solving skills during class. No doubt, there will be great potential for their performance to improve in other classes, extracurricular activities, and even home life.
As the social-emotional learning (SEL) movement demonstrates, it is increasingly important to provide students with flexible, practical abilities that are not limited to core subject areas. SEL is a great starting point and is included in Power Skills, but it’s not enough. Power skills are built on interpersonal relationships and extend to practical matters.
Make it fun and refreshing for students
The great thing about bringing power skills into K-12 education is that they are exciting and engaging for students to learn and practice. By definition, solving interesting and difficult problems requires kids to work together, talk to each other, and share unique and sometimes crazy ideas. This is very necessary because research shows that students do more. I’m more bored with school than ever.
Additionally, current teaching methods lack opportunities to practice power skills. After 90% of the class time is over, The teacher spent the time talking, there is little room for collaboration or leadership practices.As Sir Ken Robinson said What are schools doing about creativity? If that’s true, students need opportunities to learn and practice creative thinking skills.
Power skills are already widely discussed in business and technology. However, their presence is greatly lacking in K-12 education. But there’s never been a better time to introduce them.
California schools adopt power skills
Megan Freeman, CEO of Elite Academy, a prominent California school, wholeheartedly agrees.
“There are so many changes happening in our world, especially now in the age of AI, but we know that skills like leadership, creativity, and decision-making will never become obsolete,” Freeman said. I know.
Importantly, Freeman notes that the introduction of technology such as AI has made power skills instruction more timely than ever.
“As our work increasingly involves technology, these kinds of skills will only grow in importance. That’s why we’re so excited about what our students are learning. NXTLVL. ”
How NXTLVL gives students a head start on their future
Freeman mentions that Elite Academy students learn and practice power skills. NXTLVL’s immersive team-based problem-solving program. During these student-led live learning games, students learn how to decipher complex problems and work together to arrive at optimal solutions.
The result is a unique way for students to leverage existing skills and knowledge not often available in school, while learning new power skills that will help them now and for years to come.
STEM cannot be ignored. We can’t pretend that technological advances in artificial intelligence and other fields aren’t happening. But we also cannot ignore the adjustments needed to help students thrive in a future different from today.
In an uncertain future, teaching students power skills is one surefire way to help them reach the next level.
