My friend’s 9-year old was proudly showing off his new encyclopaedia. He had read a few topics that interested him and wanted to share it with others.
Flipping through the pages, we got talking when he stated clearly that they don’t teach all this at school.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. The children want to learn and the schools are still stuck with the curriculum that maybe is a few decades old. The children are starved of meaningful knowledge.
With everything evolving at a breathless pace, why haven’t the school curriculums kept up? Why aren’t they teaching real-world skills now that information is at our fingertips?
Instead of solely focusing on 18th century explorers, why not teach kids coding basics or financial literacy or emotional intelligence?
Why Traditional Schooling Is Failing Our Kids
The problem with the traditional education is that it’s trapped in outdated content that doesn’t reflect the current realities.
The answers are standardised. The measurement for ‘learning’ becomes the grades which reflects their ability to memorise, not understand the subject.
There’s no room for application or critical thinking.
Some textbooks also carry outdated or redundant information. It’s like a check-off list of topics to cover in the class, irrespective of whether the kids need it or not.
Schools insist on rote learning, regurgitating texts with little or no ingenuity or creativity. This doesn’t prepare them for real life. This was acceptable for yesterday’s society which valued high grades, not today’s.
Just saw a post the other day on LinkedIn where she posted that in spite of being a college topper and getting the highest grades all through her schooling years, she didn’t get a job offer because she lacked practical knowledge or real-life skills!! If this is not a wake-up call then what is?
A 2020 World Economic Forum report states that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025. Are we preparing our kids for this future or will they be left to fend for themselves, acquiring skills on the go?
Believe me, the traditional education system is like a rusted lock on the door leading to the future.
The Growing Gap Between Traditional Education And Real-World Learning
When the kids move from the classrooms to the digital world (and that’s where the majority of them reside), they can see for themselves the wide divide.
They’ve access to global knowledge. They can learn whatever they want to. YouTube tutorials, podcast, open sources.
They get real-time update if they want to learn about current events, new technology or even AI.
One of my kids from Grade 5 was learning word processing and spreadsheet basics at school; back home he was coding, creating apps and trying to learn about AI.
Do you think he’ll be interested in what’s he learning in the classroom?
How do you keep them interested in class when clearly they’ve moved beyond, in terms of information and knowledge?
Another kid in class had learnt the basics of playing the keyboard watching online videos before joining regular classes.
Why Self-Directed Learning Matters
Parents and educators need to encourage self-directed learning. It’s a process where one takes ownership of one’s learning path, pace and goals.
Once the child decides what they want to learn, you can decide what methods and platforms to use, extent of the content, make it relevant and age appropriate and matching the child’s level.
It builds autonomy and confidence because it takes into account the different learning abilities. You can include videos and infographics for visual learners, activities for active learners.
This inclusive learning method encourages love for learning which can last for a lifetime.
It allows children to think and figure out the solutions for themselves.
The successful learner is not one who knows the most, it’s one who knows how to learn and use the knowledge.
Practical Tips for Parents & Educators to Nurture Self-Directed Learners
- Keep the fire burning. Expose them to diverse and dynamic ways of learning. It can be through podcasts, books, videos, discussions. Choose whatever format best suits you and your child.
“What more can we explore?” must be your attitude.
- Kids decide. Let the kids choose what they want to learn about. Space, animation, wildlife, entrepreneurship. Whatever they want to explore, let them. Because whatever excites them is what will hook their interest.
- Make them digital literates. The dos and don’ts, identifying fake and genuine information, how to research, what tools to use. Teach them how to make their way through the digital minefield.
- Be open to different formats of learning and keep the sources accessible. Be it the laptop or books or notebooks. Encourage time for deep focus and maintain a balance between tech and offline exploration.
- Focus on the process and not their results. Appreciate the different resources they’ve used for exploring. Review what they have learnt. Make suggestions. Encourage questions. Highlight their growth and adaptability.
Future-Proofing Your Child With Skills They Actually Need
Don’t wait for the schools to take action or align their curriculums to your child’s needs. You’re wasting time.
You can equip your child with the skills they need to navigate the present world by focusing on –
- building digital literacy
- encouraging creativity and innovation
- promoting emotional intelligence and collaboration
- fostering adaptability and resilience
Think big. Think ahead. You’re not preparing your child to be another cog in the workforce wheel; you’re creating a new wheel that will navigate the choppy waters of tomorrow.
Let them build on their skills which are in sync with their interests and passions.
The traditional routes to getting employed are overcrowded. Almost everyone has similar set of skills.
Equip your child with skills to make them stand apart. Help them explore new paths.
Maybe start blogging or journaling, or work on mini projects on coding, or creating apps or games, or make videos or podcasts.
There’s no restriction to what they can do.
Time to Think
The world’s changing at an uncomfortably fast pace. Every other day you hear something that rocks your traditional ideas and beliefs.
Education has to move from memorisation to knowledge acquisition.
It needs the children to be able to think independently, feel empowered with their knowledge, and become reflective and mindful learners.
From getting restricted to the textbooks and having access to trickle-down information, the self-directed learning will create a bridge for them between the chaotic information flow that they’re being exposed to and the confident future generation they aspire to become.
Begin teaching them early so they learn to ask better questions and not become part of the herd.
Remember that the future belongs to the curious, the adaptable, and the bold. Let’s teach our children not just to learn, but to lead.
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