The article “Rigor Redefined” by Tony Wagner is about redefining how we work. Wagner conducted research with businesses, non profit, philanthropic, and educational leaders. He observed classrooms in some of the nation’s most highly regarded suburban schools to find our whether our “best” was, in fact, good enough for our children’s future. In most interviews he had with businesses said that the number one thing they looked for was someone who asks good questions. I think this is the most important skill because people aren’t just going to give you everything that you need to do a job; you are going to have to ask questions to understand what you have to do. “We can teach them the technical stuff, but we can’t teach them how to ask questions-how to think.” Clay parker responded. Just like in the famous play Inherit the Wind, Henry Drummond’s main point was to have man think for himself.
Today’s students need to master seven survival skills to thrive in the new world of work. First, Critical thinking and Problem solving. There are going to be times when you are working that a problem comes up and its something you didn’t learn in school you have to problem solve. Second, Collaboration and Leadership. Certain jobs require you to be a leader. Mike Summers said “His greatest concern was young people’s lack of leadership. Kids just out of school have an amazing lack of preparedness in general leadership skills and collaborative skills.” I think this has to do with what we learn in school. You learn strategies and numbers not critical thinking and finding your own way to do things. Third, Agility and Adaptability. In the real world you have no time to adapt. It normally takes a few days, but if you are put in a new job they want you to be able to adapt quickly. You can always learn technical stuff but adaptability is hard to teach. Most jobs require you to have those 3 things. When Wagner sat in on an AP Chemistry class he asked a group
“What happening to your mixture?”
“Dunno,” one muttered “We must have mixed it up wrong.”
“What’s your hypothesis about what happened-why is it smoking?”
The three looked at one another and shrugged.
This shows that teachers tell us what to think and if something is right or wrong. There are sometimes when there is a right or wrong answer. In other cases the student’s might have found a new chemical reaction.
In AP U.S. Government the same thing happened the teacher said “Here let me tell you the answer to this one...” In AP English the same thing happened. The pattern is if the students don’t know the answer then let them figure it out unless you haven’t gone over it in class.
