Future Jobs – Future Ideas

The Futures Channel was founded in 1999 with the goal of using new media technologies to create a channel between the scientists, engineers, explorers and visionaries who are shaping the future, and today’s learners who will one day succeed them. A variety of excellent resources are on the site and they have an excellent application for all educationists at all stages of teaching.

Easy to use navigation and pupils will find it a great source of knowledge and inspiration and maybe encourage them to look at different careers areas that they had not considered before.

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Influence of fathers on their child’s education

Came across an interesting article from the Fatherhood Institute regarding the influence for fathers on their child’s education. Do not take the wrong end of the debate mother’s do have very powerful influence as well and in some areas an even greater influence. Since 1975 considerable research has been going on looking at this issue and some of the findings are very pertinent. A small-scale Scottish study ( Henderson 2007) was carried out in 2007 in South Lanarkshire with the programme Father Figures  giving an indication of how much fathers were engaging with their children’s learning and marries the increase that is being seen in America. This research summary Fathers and their children’s education  gives a very concise overview for the reader with good additional references for the reader to follow-up.

Several reliable studies have shown high levels of interest by a father in his child’s schooling and education, his high expectations for their achievement and his greater direct involvement in their learning, education and schools to be associated with their better educational outcomes. These include: better exam / test / class results; higher levels of educational qualification; greater progress at school; better attitudes towards school (e.g. enjoyment); higher educational expectations; and better behaviour at school (e.g. reduced risk of suspension or expulsion). And these outcomes do not derive from the school-involved fathers already being richer or better educated. Whatever the father’s socio-economic level, his high involvement paid off.

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The Spirit of Malawian Entrepreneurship

Picked up this amazing book as a going away present from my colleagues at Learning and Teaching Scotland – The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. An amazing story of a teenage boy, William Kamkwamba,  who at aged 15 built his own windmill to put electric power into his home…inspired  by reading a book in the school library – true education.

In the book a quote that should make us in the western world stop and think – Africans bend what little they have to their will every day. Using creativity, they overcome Africa’s challenges. Where the world sees trash, Africa recycles. Where the world sees junk, Africa sees rebirth ”

His profile was raised when he asked to present his story at TEDGlobal 2009 where he talked to an audience of over 450 delegates from around the world about his idea and what he hoped to achieve.

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Britain’s Lost Talent

The current economic crisis will have and is having a deep impact on young people getting into the job market. A survey of over 1000 young people was commissioned by the Princes Trust and their report Britain’s Lost Talent gives a shock warning about a generation of talent that could be lost for future growth. The statistics are alarming for us in the UK  – I do wonder then what the global picture will look like.

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Engaging Employers

The importance of education embracing a wider partnership approach to teaching ; in make learning real and relevant to the world of work and the skills agenda has been well recognised. In Scotland a very successful partner that has become involved in this partnership is the Scottish Food and Drink Federation.

The organisation has produced a series of videos which show how Scottish entrepreneurs have been developing the food and drink sector  and making it fit and competitive for the 21st century. Baxters, Macsween, Macphie of Glenbervie, Pinneys, Matthew Algie. Not only do they showcase the work that they are doing but highlight the careers that are within the food and drink industry.

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Collaboration – Why Penguins Have No Commanding Officer

 Interesting article I picked up from NESTA Why Penguins Have No Commanding Officer about the need for collaboration and how leadership in our world is led by a small group of people.  Ken Thomson gives an insight into the really smart teams that we have in the nature world. He mentioned the smartness of the goose and I have used this presentation The Flight of the Geese on several staff training sessions…especially the need to honk to the one in front !

We all need to collaborate more via blogs, Twitter etc…it makes the sharing of information so much more meaningful and targeted.

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12 Jobs That Did Not Exist 1 Year Ago

We are always hearing of the facts that we should be preparing our pupils for jobs that do not yet exist. This web link from Yahoo 12 Jobs That Didn’t Exist Until Recently gives an insight into new jobs that are coming on to the market. Interesting reading with the field of education…..a way out for some of the teachers at the white-board face ?

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Work Related Learning

The importance of pupils learning through work related learning has been well recognised in enterprise in education and a new report from Scotland has been published by the HMIe  – Working Out  . Working Out supports ISE2 by evaluating practically-based programmes delivered to different stages of secondary school pupils and identifying and describing good practice. It notes that schools and their partners play a pivotal role in equipping our young people with skills developed through work-related learning, and that employers expect potential employees to have skills that, in their view, should have been developed at school. It contains many examples and case studies of how these demands are being met. The report looks in depth at a number of aspects of work-related learning, including partnerships and rationales; learning engagement and progress; and learning and teaching.
assessed.

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Teachers of Excellence – An Aspiration for Us All ?

The more  research that comes out today about good teaching and learning focuses back on the good teacher – why should it be anything else !. …..But what makes a good teacher ?

In Scotland there is a growing focus to create an environment where every teacher aspires to be a Teacher of Excellence in Scottish Schools. Margaret Alcron gives her views on this and she suggests that their are 5 interdependent essential elements which are present in excellent teaching.

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A Stitch In Time….or is too late?

There seems to be a great focus around the world at present to address the pupils are disengaging with education in terms of economic and education impact. This interim report from DEMOS reports back on some work that is being done in England. More research is being carried out this year. Many of these people are named either as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training – UK except Scotland) More Choices More Chances in Scotland.

Metrocarried an update on the numers of people that are now in this classification.

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