In the informative article “Rigor Redefined” by Tony Wagner, I learned the problems in the education system and how things can be made more effective so that students are more successful. The article focuses on the seven survival tips, critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration/ leadership, agility/adaptability, initiative/entrepreneurialism, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing information, and finally curiosity/imagination. These are seven things that employers look for when hiring their employees. It demonstrates how things are constantly changing and these seven skills are important to have in order to keep up with the continuous change occurring. The article then goes on to explain that these skills are only sometimes being practiced in schools today. That it is vital for teachers to incorporate these abilities into schools because they are in a sense more essential than the material being learned.
This article relates to me because I am indeed a student and the knowledge that I obtain through school effects my ability to obtain a job in the future. If I am not taught the skills that are important to acquire a good job then I have less of a chance at being successful in life. This article mainly caused me to look at my own teachers and how they are teaching me. Am I learning these skills in school? How are my teachers including these skills into my class sessions? Should teachers make it more obvious of the skill we are learning in each lesson and inform us of which specific skills we will be using that day? this effects not only my school but schools around the world, everyone is affected. Children are the future and if we are not taught how to live and work in the future then our society as we know it will fail. Conclusively, this article, I think brings up a lot of important points on the flaws of the educational system and caused me to evaluate my own schools.
