Every educator has repeatedly heard this question (or a variation thereof) uttered by one of their students: “Will I ever use this in the real world?” It is posed in reaction to every conceivable course of study and every conceivable assignment. And it is not totally without merit, because not every shred of information has lasting implications. At the same time, the educational process should. Read more: https://dranthonyhamlet.com/how-can-schools-prepare-students-for-the-real-world/

1. HOW CAN SCHOOLS
PREPARE STUDENTS FOR
THE “REAL WORLD”?
Dr. Anthony Hamlet

2. Every educator has repeatedly
heard this question (or a
variation thereof) uttered by
one of their students:
“Will I ever use this in
the real world?”

3. At the same time, the educational
process should.
We as educators should be constantly
evaluating and re-evaluating how we
engage our students – how and what
we are teaching them and whether we
are preparing them for the world at
large and especially the working world,
which is evolving ever more rapidly and
increasing in complexity.
And it is not
totally without
merit, because
not every shred
of information
has lasting
implications.

4. The Focus on
Standardized Tests:
We often gear our approach to enabling students to regurgitate facts,
which are quickly flushed in the tests’ aftermath
The goal of “No Child Left Behind” was to ensure that every child,
no matter his or her background, received a quality education
While that is certainly a worthwhile aim, the larger mission should be
to ensure long-term success – that no adult is left behind, either

5. While that is certainly
a worthwhile aim, the
larger mission should
be to ensure long-
term success – that
no adult is left
behind, either.

6. 84% of high school students believe they’re prepared for
college, but only six in 10 believe they have the
necessary skills to enter the workforce
Among adults, the breakdown is no less dramatic: 66
percent believe high school graduates are “college-
ready,” but only 42 percent believe they are “career-
ready.”
26% of high school students believe the job they will
hold two decades from now doesn’t yet exist
And 18% of adults believe their positions will be phased
out within 20 years
A 2019 study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

7. Sandra Love, Director of Education Insight and Research for
Mentoring Minds, wrote in 2021 that educators should foster
four critical competencies in their students.
"The Four C's"
1. Critical thinking - as that
enables an individual to sift
through all manner of
information in order to determine
the best course of action
2. Creativity - Stepping back and
looking at things through a
different lens, in an attempt to
find an alternative others might
not have considered, is invaluable.

8. 4. Communication. - managing
the various channels available to
all of us, understanding what
information is important and what
is not and building meaningful
relationships
3. Collaboration - enables
someone to pick the brains of
those in an ever-widening circle
– to consider viewpoints that
might not have been considered
otherwise. It results in
teamwork!

9. So what
does that
mean for
educators?

10. Establishing the basics of reading, writing, math and science at
the elementary level, then building upon that foundation.
Providing certain life skills in middle school
Helping students understand the value of managing one’s
finances in high school
Continually honing their tech skills, including keyboard navigation
and word processing, two that are too often neglected.
Keep in mind that not every student is college material. Trade
school should never be dismissed as an option!
Encourage community service, to make students understand
that there is a world beyond themselves and their smartphones

11. Obviously, it’s a huge to-do list.
But the world is becoming more and more
complex, and students need to have the tools
that enable them to succeed within it.
Educators, understanding that standardized
tests only have so much value, must endeavor
to provide those tools, as best they can.

12. Thank you!
DrAnthonyHamlet.com