The Bridge to Self-Assessment and Lifelong Learning
During the past four years, our experiential learning program focused on year 9–11 students has curated innovation excellence, leveraging the principles of our pedagogical framework and leaner-powered assessment system.
In 2023, the Future Skills Studio’s pedagogical framework embraced the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI became a companion in the learning journey of nearly a thousand students. With its capability to tailor experiences and accelerate learning, AI has transformed the program into an even more potent crucible of innovation.
Last year, AI’s influence was impressive. AI like ChatGPT enabled personalized learning at an unprecedented scale, allowing students to engage with complex concepts at their own pace and fostering more profound understanding and retention. The symbiosis of AI with our pedagogical pillars enhanced the quality of work produced, culminating in final presentations that demonstrate mastery and the flair of individual creativity and thought.
What We’ve Learned Since 2020
Our journey since 2020 has not been about mere application but transformation — students discovering agency, educators pioneering new frontiers, career advisers catalyzing aspirations, and business owners engaging with the promise of youth.
Across public and private education systems, our program has stood as a testament to the potential of human development when underpinned by strategic and intentional skill cultivation.
This article distills the essence of our endeavor, mapping the contours of a pedagogy that doesn’t just prepare but empowers young people to navigate the complexities of their futures with resilience and vision.
The New Chasm in Education
A chasm has emerged in the education landscape in which we deliver our experiential learning program to year 9–11 students. There’s a chasm between the structured learning within school walls and the unstructured nature of the real world. A robust framework of crucial skills is essential to traverse this gap. The nine skills in our pedagogical model serve as a bridge — a passage crafted to carry young minds from the theoretical to the practical, from learning to application.
Delivering our program, we ask students to contemplate a symbolic bridge they will cross when leaving high school. At the core of this metaphorical bridge lies the concept of self-assessment, a process that hands the reins of evaluation over to the learners themselves. Here, we introduce the nine life skills as crucial pillars of this bridge and the Learner-Powered Assessment© as the pathway across it.
This article explores how these pillars can be integrated into a pedagogical model to support learners and empower them to assess and take control of their development. A process that is often called Lifelong Learning.
Nine Pillars of the Future Skills Studio’s Pedagogical Model
1. Entrepreneurial
The entrepreneurial skill is more than starting businesses; it’s about cultivating a mindset that embraces innovation and adaptability. In the classroom, this translates to project-based learning that simulates real-world challenges and encourages students to take initiative and learn from the outcomes.
2. Analytical
An analytical skill set enables students to dissect complex problems and think critically. Educators can nurture students’ ability to seek answers and question the questions by integrating case studies and problem-solving exercises.
3. Creativity
Creativity goes beyond artistic expression; it’s a way of thinking that challenges the status quo and imagines new possibilities. Through open-ended projects, collaboration, and interdisciplinary approaches, students develop the ability to conceive novel ideas and solutions.
4. Self-Management
This rudder skill allows learners to navigate life’s challenging scenarios. It encompasses an individual’s capacity for self-regulation, moral & ethical integrity, and the ability to recognize and seize ‘Kairos’ moments — those opportune times when an action or decision can be most impactful.
5. Resilience
Resilience is the fulcrum of this model, crucial for sustaining the weight of life’s challenges. It’s about practicing optimism, persevering under pressure, and valuing service over rewards. This skill ensures that when adversity strikes, the individual does not merely endure but evolves.
6. Collaborator
In an interconnected world, the collaborator skill is indispensable. It’s about fostering honorable relationships, elevating others, and embracing diversity to enrich every endeavor with multiple perspectives and shared successes.
7. Listener
Active listening is the skill that turns noise into symphonies of understanding. It involves participation with a genuine intent to understand, posing open questions, and fully engaging in the learning process.
8. Writer
We call writing a superpower skill, given the focus is on mastering the craft of communication. It’s the ability to understand and engage the audience through compelling narratives and well-structured arguments.
9. Persuader
Persuasion is the art of influence enabled by rapport, empathy, and a deep understanding of the human psyche; this skill allows individuals to establish trust, leverage agency, and turn ideas into actions that resonate and inspire change.
These skills are standalone attributes and threads in a rich tapestry of comprehensive skills development. They are interwoven, each reinforcing and drawing strength from the other, to create a resilient and adaptive learner fully equipped for the unpredictability and promise of the future.
Why Connecting Skills with Self-Assessment is Empowering
The journey of self-improvement in education is a never-ending personal odyssey; one best navigated with a map of self-awareness. The Learner-Powered Assessment© (LPA) tool aligns with the nine life skills. It’s a mirror for students to reflect on their abilities and a compass to guide their development. LPA encourages students to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, set personal benchmarks, and engage in reflective learning.
By incorporating regular self-assessments, learners track their progress across the nine pillars, gaining insights into how they learn best and where they need to focus their efforts. This active participation fosters a sense of ownership and accountability for their learning journey.
Our 2024 Program Plans
In 2024, we invite you to experience an educational process supercharged by AI. Imagine a learning environment that adapts instantaneously to your needs, where each challenge is tailored to push your boundaries just enough to stimulate growth but not overwhelm. Picture a program where AI’s analytical prowess supports the development of critical thinking, where creativity blooms with algorithmically curated inspiration, and persuasive skills are honed by real-time feedback.
Integrating AI into our program is not just a step forward; it’s a leap into a realm of possibilities where the bridge between learning and real-world application becomes seamless. For students standing at the precipice of this bridge, ready to cross from the structured confines of traditional education into the vibrant landscape of the real world, know that AI will guide, enhance, and illuminate your path every step of the way.
Join the 2024 program with the promise of enhanced experiences and unlimited potential. Join a vanguard of learners who will witness and actively shape the future of education. We embark on a journey together, forging ahead with a resilient vision, empowered by technology and driven by the boundless potential of human and artificial intelligence in concert.
About the author: Greg Twemlow, Co-Founder of Future Skills Studio.
Greg Twemlow: Sharing what I’ve learned from my career of 35 years as a citizen of the world, parent, corporate executive, entrepreneur, and, since 2018, CEO of Future Skills Studio, focused on experiential learning programs for young people.
