The Changing Shape of Work

The first panic began – where is that new learning book? After looking on both bookshelves far to obvious! That would imply I actually put something away in the proper place! I looked everywhere … everywhere it seemed but my laptop bag! So after realising I was a moron and I went back and looked at chapter three.

Work.

Chapter three in the new learning book began - education prepares people for productive working lives.

Education does prepare people for productive (or unproductive) working lives. We ultimately open up new worlds to our students. Through the subjects we teach (hopefully all interesting and engaging) we are able to show our students that they can change their lives.

However, after reading and viewing Rita’s breakout box I was amazed. I understand that their have been many changes in the workforce, women’s rights and technology. But thinking about the educational outcomes really made me view things seem differently.  As a student I cannot imagine learning in that environment. If I was told at best I could become a secretary, I would aim to be that. I wouldnt want a teacher to fill my head with magical worlds that exist in literature. And as a teacher I almost wouldnt want to open these worlds to my students that were basically unachievable.

Currently our classes can range from the student who wants to leave after year ten to begin an apprenticiship, to the student who can’t wait to graduate year twelve, go to univeristy and become a doctor.  Both are valid – so how do you teach students who are after different outcomes from class. I think one of the most important things we can teach our students (as mentioned in my breakout box in PBWiki) are things like social skills, communication skills, the ability to work independantly and in a group. I think we need to try and give our students as many skills as possible to equip them with the best future.

I think that as teachers and educators we are left with the difficult job to open up our students eyes to the possibilities that are out there. Being a secretary is a worthwhile and great job – but you should be able to choose your job! Love what you are doing! I can only aim to teach my students as best as I can and hope that each student is given a chance to succeed in the future, allowing them to believe in themselves.