College Teaching: Five ways to Better Prepare Students for Life
BY JANE HURST
Teachers show students how to do things like math, and they teach subjects such as history and English. But, how much are students really learning? Sure, they are learning the regular academic subjects, but how well prepared are they going to be for the real world after graduation? Unfortunately, what students learn in school will prepare them for the next phase of their educations, but it doesn’t always prepare them for life. So, let’s take a look at five ways that teachers can better prepare students for life after graduation.
1) Teach Complex Thinking Skills – It is important to teach students how to think outside of the box. They need to understand that there are often many different paths to the same destination, and one path may not be as good as another one. Teach them that today’s employers are looking for people who are able to think fast on their feet, who are creative, and who have innovative ideas. Encourage your students to come up with new and exciting ideas, and use various subjects to do so, such as politics, complex mathematics, and international affairs.
2) Prep them for College and Careers – Obviously, high school is preparation for college and careers. But, it is a lot more than just getting good grades so students can move on. In addition to teaching them the basics, start teaching them about life skills they will really need, such as how to balance a checkbook. Remember, not all students will be heading off to college, so you need to make sure that all of your students are prepared, no matter which path they choose. If you know that certain students won’t be attending college, do what you can to put them on the path to careers that will suit their skills and abilities.
3) Teach them about Investing – It is never too early to teach students how to properly invest their money. Many people end up leaving high school, and even college, without having the first clue about how to invest. It is a good idea to get them started with a beginner investment program, such as the one offered by WealthFront. While they may not have a lot to invest right now, they will learn what they need to do. Then, when the time is right, they can make that first invest, and the first $10,000 is absolutely free to invest.
4) Use Online Assessment Tools – As sad as it may sound, many kids are pushed into certain areas of study. The pressure often comes from parents who want their kids to follow in their footsteps (or do better than they did). Then, there are the students who are terrified of all of the choices before them, and they take the first job they are offered. Online skills assessment tools can be used to help your students figure out how to best use their skills and interests, and to choose their own career paths.
5) Encourage Business/School Partnerships – Many high schools and colleges set up recruiting with employers, but the jobs are only available after graduation. It is a much better idea to encourage businesses to partner with schools. Then, businesses are involved with the schools and students at a much earlier stage, and build a long-term relationship. Freshman students get to learn more about their future career choices, and they can even gain experience. For instance, a great idea is for businesses to take on more student interns. A lot of people may complain about non-paid internships, but they really are a great way to learn on-the-job skills that can’t be learned in a classroom.
Byline:
Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter!
