What do today’s high school students need to succeed in the 21st-century world? At GIIS, we ask ourselves this question every day. Why does GIIS place so much importance on getting our students prepared for the future? Because today’s world is more advanced, complex and uncertain than it has ever been. And students who are able to adapt and change direction when the need arises will be the ones who’ll succeed.
Our focus is to prepare students to be future-ready in all things, including technology, problem-solving and leadership, as well as the local and international community. From an early age, our students learn to take control of their academic future. They’re critical thinkers with a good grasp of technology, display their creativity in multiple ways and empathise with others. As a result, they’re prepared to lead whenever the need arises.
As per a World Economic Forum study, half of us will require reskilling by 2025, due to the pandemic and increasing demand for automation of jobs. Ultimately, our students need to be ready to meet challenges head-on, adapt where needed to be successful global citizens in a highly diverse and digitised world.
How does high school prepare students for the real world?
1. Tech savviness: Technology is becoming more advanced every day, and students who have the opportunity to learn and practise new skills in technology have an easier time transitioning to college and the workforce. Therefore, students need skills in all types of technology, including: Artificial Intelligence, datafication, gamification, robotic process automation.
Keeping abreast of new advancements in technology is key for students who attend GlIS. Jobs will one day look far different than they do today, boasting zero geographical boundaries and no need for in-person communication.
The world is quickly becoming digital, and students who learn the necessary skills in high school will spend less time playing catch-up when the real world comes knocking. For these reasons, GIIS prides itself on its digital innovation.
Smart campuses, tech-enhanced infrastructure, digital classrooms and online educational apps and devices are the norm in the GIIS classroom, and they have been for years.
2. Leadership skills: Not everyone is born a leader, but everyone can learn leadership skills. At GIIS, skills such as active listening, the ability to regroup after failure, grace under pressure, kindness and empathy play essential roles every day.
Learning to be an effective leader means learning how to view situations from varying perspectives. It means admitting mistakes and acknowledging that you don’t always have the answer. It means listening to the opinions and ideas of others, offering constructive feedback and inspiring others to do their best work.
GIIS provides multiple opportunities for students to polish skills in leadership, including:
● Student Council
● Real World Challenges Convention
● Leadership Lecture Series
● Student-led school clubs
● Model United Nations
Through these and other opportunities, students have the ability to hone skills in presenting, public speaking, assisting, organising and coaching — all skills required of strong leaders in the 21st century.
3. Critical thinking: Rote memorisation will only take a student so far. The leaders of tomorrow must learn to think and reason on their own. They must apply the theories they learn in the classroom to real-world scenarios to affect positive change.
For these reasons, GIIS embraces international and Indian curricula (IB PYP, Cambridge IGCSE, IBDP, CBSE and GMP programme) that challenge students to think beyond the textbook. Teamwork plays a vital role, and so does problem-solving.
4. Community care: At GIIS, practising agency happens at various levels of international schools. This means they’re encouraged to go out into the community and use their skills and ideas to solve problems. This not only develops soft skills such as respect but also boosts a student’s self-esteem.
Knowing their accomplishments are appreciated and useful makes students feel as though they’re part of a larger community. For secondary students, agency includes learning how to interact with charities and people in need. It means finding solutions to problems such as hunger, hygiene and it using the skills they have to effect positive change at a local level.
Also read: Leadership opportunities for GIIS secondary students
5. Global citizens: From the time they enter our preschool and kindergarten classes, GIIS students are immersed in a diverse environment. This allows them to learn about the world in an organic way and develop international-mindedness. International curricula such as the IB PYP, the Cambridge Lower and Upper Secondary Programmes and the IBDP reinforce different ways of thinking and learning.
If you’re interested in learning more about the many ways GIIS can prepare your child to succeed after graduation, please contact our friendly admissions counsellors today.
Shubhdarshani Mitra
Shubhdarshani has over 10 years of experience in content creation, curation and editing. She has worked for Indian newspapers, school magazines and international news websites where she worked closely with the leadership on the execution and communication of the content strategy. Aside from work, she’s a passionate B&W photographer and storyteller.
