"Seven Skills Students Desperately Need"

I found this article on eSchool News, detailing a speech that Harvard's Dr. Tony Wagner made to the State Educational Technology Directors Association. We have the opportunity to hear Dr. Wagner speak at Landstown High School on February 12th, as part of the National Speakers Series.

After reading this article, I have found that Dr. Wagner and I have similar beliefs about education--maybe even identical.

Just as Daniel Pink spoke about student creativity at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Dr. Wagner talks about not teaching to the test, and allowing students to learn how to learn. Here are some of my favorite parts of the article.

This first comment reflects what Mr. Pink said:
"Wagner, co-director of the Change Leadership Group at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, said economic change will come as soon as classroom and national practices involving instruction change as well." "Wagner said the problem is that you can have all the equipment and technology you want, but 'if you don't teach kids how to think, how to think beyond multiple choice, you've got a problem.'" "Wagner continued: 'The problem is that teachers are teaching to tests--telling kids answers that they don't think [of] for themselves--and that's why students may pass high school but can't cut it in college or in the workforce.'"

"According to Wagner, students of this generation are not unmotivated; they're just differently motivated. 'They're multi-taskers, they are drawn to graphics, they like instant gratification, they use Web 2.0 tools to create, and they love collaboration,' he said. 'If we can figure out how to grab their interest in learning, they'll become great thinkers and be eager to learn the basics.'"

"'We are making [Adequate Yearly Progress] at the expense of failing our kids at life. Something has to change,' he concluded."

I'll leave it to you to read the article yourself to find out what the seven skills that students desperately need are. You'll have to register with eSchool News, but don't worry; it's safe. They won't SPAM you or send you naughty emails.

You may also want to visit Dr. Wagner's site and read his book, The Global Achievement Gap; then register to see him in February.