Sunday, October 25, 2009

PLN 14

In the article "Rigor Redefined" by Tony Wagner, he talks about the skills that students need to build successful careers. Tony interviewed Clay Parker, president of the Chemical Management Division of BOC Edwards (a company that makes machines and supplies chemicals for the manufacture of microelectronics devices). A few qualities Clay says he looks for when he hires young people are "...good question asking...someone who can engage in good discussion...can work in teams...and engage with customers." Clay gives seven survival skills that students need to master: critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and leadership, agility and adaptability, initiative and entreprenuerialism, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing information, and curiosity and imagination. If students can pick up and master these tricks, Clay believes that they will be able to survive the 21st century. This is important to the world, education, and myself if people want to be successful in life.

2 comments:

  1. Hey David. My only question to you is: Do you believe that if students were to master those skills they would survive in the 21st century? Why or why not?

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  2. I believe they would have to learn these skills especially because of the advancement in the technology they might need to work with. They have to know how to use it and how to use it efficiently. If people don't know how to use the technology, they would need to use skills such as question asking, communication, and critical thinking to figure out how to use it. For other jobs that require big projects, they would need to be able to use all of these skills because they would most likely be collaborating with others, have questions, need to learn new things, critically think through problems, and have lots of imagination.

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