How can school teachers prepare students for careers in the future?

Karl Keely, Immerse Education’s Academic Manager, explains how including three key elements in your planning can future-proof your lessons 

We live in a world dominated by rapidly changing technology. These developments seem to be changing the way we work almost daily. As a result, many of the careers that our education systems have been created in order to ultimately service are either disappearing or are not the great opportunities they used to be. 

One of our biggest aims as teachers is to prepare our students for their future post-education. If jobs are changing at such a rapid rate that curricula cannot keep up with the pace, how can we help prepare students for careers in the future? 

The following are some examples of elements you can blend into your lessons that will develop key competencies in your students that will be invaluable to any job, preparing them for a successful career no matter what the job market looks like upon graduation. 

Teach transferable skills 

A consequence of the rapid development of some sectors - such as technology - is that it can be hard to find people with experience as the role may be the first of its kind! As a result, more and more employers are now looking at transferable skills as a key measure in their selection process. 

Bringing these skills into the classroom is the easiest way to support your students in their future development. Adding soft skill objectives to your projects and sessions is an excellent way to monitor and develop transferable skills. 

Key transferable skills to focus on include empathy (and emotional intelligence), creativity and problem solving, leadership and coaching and mentoring. When creating a project or task for your students, consider adding one of these to your list of objectives and also make clear to students the reasons they are developing these skills. It is key that students are aware they are developing these skills and they are able to articulate and provide examples of them when they come around to applications and interviews. 

Transferable skills will cross across multiple careers, providing a wider breadth of opportunity for your students, and even be applicable to future jobs that we do not yet know will exist! 

Promote digital skills 

Although we may not be entirely sure of the exact jobs our students will do in the future, we can be fairly certain that whatever their career, they will be using digital technology in some form. 

Build digital skills in your students by providing as many opportunities as possible for the use of technology in assignments and regular class work. Instead of a traditional presentation in which students stand at the front of the room and speak to the class, have them create a multimedia presentation using sound, image and editing skills that can be played to everyone. Essentially taking their TikTok skills and refining them for a class assignment! 

You can also use one of the many effective educational apps available to run communication exercises entirely online, not only developing digital skills but also preparing your students for a future in the work from home model of the 2020s. 

Any time you can see an opportunity to get your students using the digital technology they will be using as an essential part of their future careers, make that adjustment to your lesson plan and let those skills develop! 

Create opportunities for real world practice 

common question teachers can hear is “Why are we doing this?” If the answer is “because we have to” then it’s likely that what you are doing is not beneficial in the long term for your students. A great way to avoid this is to infuse your lesson with opportunities for real world practice through experiential and authentic learning experiences. 

Central to this idea is providing students with hands-on opportunities and access to professionals. Instead of reading about the growth of internet technology in their textbooks, organise a qualified technician to talk with the group, allowing them the chance to ask questions. Where possible, combine this with a visit to a company workshop so they can experience this role in person and interact with the people working there. 

In addition, using project-based learning and community action projects allows for independent learning and the development of core skills such as teamwork or problem solving that are essential to success in the workplace. Basing these projects on relatable, community-relevant topics connects students with the outside world in a constructive and focused way that will be of great long term benefit. 

Preparing students for their future careers can be one of the most satisfying things you can do as a teacher. Knowing that they leave your school with the tools and knowledge to succeed post-education is what every teacher aims for. By focusing on transferable skills, developing their ability in using digital technology, and finding as many opportunities as possible to allow for the real world to enter your classroom, you will equip your students with the tools to succeed in any job.  

Underpin all of this by explaining the long term benefits of the skills and experiences you are providing your students - if they know that this is something that will benefit them in the future when they enter the world of work you can increase buy-in and focus.

In an ever changing job market, building these core competencies will prepare your students for anything! 

 

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