5 Ways to Prepare Today's Students for Tomorrow's
World
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X

Here are 5 Ways to prepare today's students for tomorrow's
world and help them realize their complete potential:
#1 Innovation & Continuous Learning
·
STEM: While focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), encourage
students to question not just ‘why’, but also ‘why not’.
·
Technological Literacy: Include basic/advanced
information about new age technologies like coding and programing, cyber
security, data protection, data analytics, etc. at school level to enhance
their technical awareness.
·
Healthy Competition: Make them
participate regularly in competitions like hackathons, pitch fests, etc. to
provide a platform to students to display their innovations.
·
Appreciation: Reward the innovative ideas
and try to implement them, so that students get to experience their ‘real
world’ application.
·
Collaborative Learning: Teachers should
ask open-ended questions in class that will lead to teamwork, leadership skill
development, out-of-box thinking, etc.
·
Critical Thinking: Focus on student activities
that not only encourage ‘problem solving’ but also focus on ‘problem finding’.
·
Unstructured Playing/Activities: Give
them time and conducive conditions for unstructured playing/activities, this
will help cultivate innovative thinking.
#2 Entrepreneurship & Leadership
·
Pitch Ideas & Concepts: Introduce ‘Shark
Tank’ like concept where students can pitch their innovative ideas on various
issues.
·
Personal Brand: Educate them about creating
a positive personal brand online and offline.
·
Set Goals & Chase: Help them set
goals for themselves, guide them wherever necessary to help them achieve these
targets.
·
Rewards & Appreciation: Reward them when these goals are achieved to
boost their morale.
·
Role Models: Children learn more by
observing than by following instructions, so make sure as a teacher/parent you
are a good role model for them.
·
Mentors: Find accomplished mentors for
the students who can provide technical, financial and strategic guidance.
·
Decision Making: Strengthen their decision-making
abilities by involving them in smallest discussions of family/class.
·
Listen: Let them articulate their beliefs
& decisions and patiently hear their viewpoints before adding your opinions.
·
Foresight: Encourage children to foresee
and grab opportunities around them.
·
Interaction with Experts: Student
activities in schools and colleges should include interactions of Entrepreneurs and Innovators with students,
through a one-on-one interaction or other technology channels to inspire them.
#3 Adaptability
·
Changing Dynamics: Explain to the students that change is
inevitable and adjusting your sails according to the wind is crucial.
·
Comfort Zones: Student activities in
schools and colleges should challenge them by moving them out of their comfort
zones as this is an important life skill.
·
Resilience: Teach them resilience through
various activities to encourage their adaptability.
·
Risk Taking: Help them to eliminate the
fear of failure and allow them to take calculative risks.
·
Independent Thinking: Support them but
let them face and come out of difficult situations on their own.
·
Work: Make the students do different
tasks on a rotation basis, this will help them understand and learn all kinds
of work.
·
Corrective Actions: When things go wrong,
don’t hesitate to teach them to accept their decisions and take appropriate
corrective actions.
·
Cultural Differences: Allow them to
participate in student exchange programs to sensitize them to different
cultures and understand inclusivity.
·
New Ideas: Encourage them to be more open
to new ideas, concepts & thought leaders.
#4 Networking
·
Group Activities: Initiate group
activities and project-based learning so that students will interact with each
other.
·
Knowledge Enhancement: Keep them abreast
about current affairs and enhance their general knowledge.
·
Socialize: Help them join curricular and
academic groups where there are children with common interests.
·
Observe & Learn: Allow them to
observe someone closely whom they admire for strong networking skills.
·
Lunch Time: Make them sit with different
groups for lunch to get to know the other kids better.
·
Expand Exposure: Encourage them to
establish strong connections and lasting bonds by expanding their exposure.
#5 Communication Skills
·
Interaction: Student activities in
schools and colleges can be designed to foster interaction with other students,
teachers, peers, alumni, industry experts, etc. to strengthen their
communication skills.
·
Audio/Visual Content: Motivate them to watch documentaries, TEDx
talks, ‘how to?’ videos, etc. to enhance their communication skills.
·
Public Speaking: Make them take interest
in student activities like recitals, drama, elocution competitions, debates,
etc. to help them master the art of public speaking.
·
Read: Encourage the habit to read on a
wide variety of topics, this is one life skill that will help them in the long
run.
· Body Language: Help them learn about the right
body language, gestures and voice modulation to complement their verbal
communication, in order to emote better.
Whether at home or at school, these are small
initiatives which can help equip the students with the right life skills to get
ready for the future. And while you work on inculcating these life skills,
don’t forget to teach them important human values like friendship, kindness,
compassion, charity and empathy that will also enable them to be better human
beings and not just successful ones!
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