school management
Example : Rather than a worksheet on calculating areas , announce “ we ’ re painting the room and we need to know how much paint to buy ”. Then watch the magic !
COLLABORATION / INTERPERSONAL SKILLS / EMPATHY : Encourage kids to collaborate with others , discussing their ideas and working together .
Soft sell
NAPLAN can ’ t prepare students for real-world problems of the future .
By Christopher Hogbin
NAPLAN is under fire again . “ Outdated ” and “ inappropriate ” are words used to describe the aims of NAPLAN in a recent UNSW study . Many of us parents can relate to the many “ negative outcomes ” kids experience .
It ’ s tempting to think “ here we go again ”, but let me explain what I think is the biggest problem with NAPLAN , and why countries like Finland , Canada , Scotland and Singapore are moving in the opposite direction .
NAPLAN doesn ’ t help kids prepare for the real world . We need our next generation to be thinkers , to be problem solvers with the ability to learn new skills . Why ? Because real-world problems don ’ t come with a predetermined strategy . No formula given , no examples already completed for us . And definitely no nice , neat answer in the back of the book .
Real-life problems demand flexibility and strategy . They require critical thinking to decide what method and tools might work . They call for a strong dose of collaboration and communication . They need reflection and iteration . Kids are expected to take skills and knowledge from one scenario and transfer them to another .
And these are the exact skills society is demanding right now : soft skills . Teachers have known it for years . Other countries around the globe are also starting to catch on and are streaking ahead .
These soft skills ( or higher-order skills ) include a wide range of transferable skills .
Some I ’ ve already mentioned ; others might be interpersonal skills , creativity and resilience , to name a few .
In fact , the recruitment industry has seen a huge recent shift in focus for employers , from hiring based on experience to hiring based on soft skills . According to Human Resources Director magazine , soft skills are the “ currency of the future ”. And that ’ s something we want our children to be invested in !
So , does NAPLAN focus on these skills ? In short , no . But surely , if these skills are so important , shouldn ’ t the country ’ s main standardised test value them ? Well , the problem is that these skills are difficult to measure . And with the current system ’ s obsession with grades and ranks , anything that can ’ t be easily graded or ranked gets thrown in the too-hard basket . The result : we end up focusing only on what we can easily measure .
Standardised tests like NAPLAN are great for capturing what kids know . But they aren ’ t designed to measure these higherorder skills or student thinking . That ’ s why teachers are desperately calling for changes in NAPLAN and in the curriculum . Einstein ’ s old adage comes to mind : “ Not everything that counts can be counted .” I ’ m hopeful that change is coming . There are big conversations happening right now driving reform . But while we wait for change , here are a few ideas you could use at home or in the classroom to foster soft skills .
STRATEGISING : When it comes to real-life problem solving , start with less information . It forces kids to strategise . What information will they need ? How will they find it ?
CRITICAL THINKING : Strategic questions can really help those critical thinking aspects of any problem . “ Yes ” or “ no ” to whether an answer is correct halts the thinking on the spot .
Example : Try asking questions like : * How did you get to that answer ? * Can you think of a place you ’ d need to use this in the real world ?
COMMUNICATION AND REASONING : Find ways to make student thinking visible .
Example : Ask them to communicate their reasoning in words .
ADAPTABILITY : Ask problems in context . It makes the learning real to kids . It stops them asking : “ When will I need this ?” It encourages adaptability as they take familiar skills and apply them in unfamiliar , real-world contexts .
CREATIVITY : Try open-ended problems with more than one correct answer .
Example : Rather than “ Find the area of this rectangle ”, try “ A rectangle has an area of 20 square centimetres . Find 3 possible dimensions – see if you can surprise yourself !”
SELF-REFLECTION : Encourage students to reflect on their learning . What went well ? What could they do differently ?
Building these soft skills makes learning more real , relevant and much more fun . It also leads to more proficient learners , equipping them for the challenging journey ahead . Let ’ s invest in the currency that will count as our kids grow and find their way in the world . ■
Christopher Hogbin is an experienced teacher , faculty leader and holds a Master of Teaching . He leads the global education strategy of 3P Learning .
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