How to Teach the Children of Our Future

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Craig_Dean]Craig Dean

Schools are now faced with the need to offer careers support advice and teach skills for the future. We are preparing children for job opportunities that have not yet been created. Many of my friends are now working within web design and other IT jobs which were certainly not taught within the classroom 15 years ago. As globalisation allows markets to operate internationally, communications have improved significantly. Many of the pupils we teach today will be working alongside other global communities as part of their everyday working experiences.

We only have to look at the way in which the leading political parties within the UK are communicating with potential electorates in the upcoming General Election, and you will see that Global Social Networks are central to effective communications.

How often do people in full time employment, part time employment or even temporary employment work solely as an individual? Would you want to work in an environment without social interaction on a daily basis?

With this in mind, I wish you to consider some of the activities you may plan into your lessons, and how long, over a period of a week, pupils spend working on a task individually. Allowing the pupils you are offering careers support to and teaching to work independently, in silence, on a regular basis, for long periods of time is not conducive to preparing those individuals for future job opportunities whether in full time employment, part time employment or temporary employment.

Pupils need to develop their 'group work skills' and pupils regardless of academic ability really struggle with many aspects of team work. Indeed I know many adults that were denied the employment support they needed and are now uncomfortable in this role. I often wonder how this may have affected their own employment success.

Here I am going to suggest ways that you can embed some simple support structures within the classroom to enable the pupils to work with others, feel a sense of challenge and excitement within an inclusive, and not isolated or intimidating environment. I must go on to say that you must not deviate too far from the structures as it may make them less effective in terms of the employment support you are trying to deliver.

Employment Support - Rally Robin

This involves pupils taking turns in partners sharing information. Pupil one says a word or an offers an idea, then pupil two, then back to one again, and so on. This structure is ideal for getting pupils to think about a new topic, it can also be ideal as an assessment tool to start a lesson recapping what they remember about the previous lesson, or as a overall topic revision tool. This is great for self and peer assessment whilst remaining fun.

Employment Support - Round Robin

This structure is similar to Rally Robin, but involves students taking turns in a team, sharing information verbally. The information can also be shared by passing a piece of paper around the team and pupils adding a different idea each time. You can decide which style is more suitable for your pupils careers support.

Employment Support - Numbered Heads

Teacher poses a question, think time is given. When each pupil has given their individual choices they will show their team they are ready with a "thumbs up". Teacher then says "heads together". Pupils get off their seats and lean into the centre of the table to decide upon their chosen answer. When they all know the answer they sit down. When all teams are sat down you can tell that the whole class is ready. You can use a variety of techniques to choose a spokesperson from a spinner, to smallest shoe size, longest hair etc. The pupil from each team must pick up the whiteboard and pen on their table and write the answer and stand up. This must be done in silence. Give a signal and each team shows you their answer at the same time. A team point can be awarded for each right answer.

So how do structures help pupils to develop skills within full time employment, part time employment or temporary employment? Well it is quite simple. These structures enable he pupils to bring creativity to the table, to listen to other people's opinions, to contribute to decision making, and to work under pressure. These certainly are skills required in the workplace that I can identify with...how about you?

My name is Craig Dean and I have been massively successful in the recruitment industry for over 15 years and am considered as a specialist in acquiring real job opportunities for "go getters". I have successfully assisted thousands of people just like you in securing full time employment, part time employment, temporary employment and even working from home placements across all sectors. I invite you to read my articles and blogs for further advice at http://www.employmentsupport.net

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Teach-the-Children-of-Our-Future&id=4083085] How to Teach the Children of Our Future