A new look at literacy in the workplace

Speaker at Oshkosh Business/Education Summit challenges audience to make learning more relevant

Editorial by Sean Fitzgerald

What’s crucial to teach in schools today?

When I was in high school, we learned about King Leonidas’ unlikely success at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. In another class we studied excerpts from Vladimir Nabakov’s 1955 novel Lolita.

Both fascinating topics I occasionally get to discuss now and then. But do either make your experience reading B2B magazine each month any more valuable or more efficient?

Our changing world and ever-growing body of information within this world are invariably altering the job skills and abilities demanded by today’s employers to compete in a global and technological playing field. And while today’s schools aren’t necessarily failing in their delivery of education to students, contemporary educators aren’t exactly purging curriculum from 40 years ago that hold little relevance with the contemporary workplace.

That’s the message Bill Daggett shares with his audiences around the country when he’s asked to discuss education reform as a crucial component of workforce development. Daggett, the president of the International Center for Leadership in Education (www.leadered.com) and an 11-year top administrator with the New York State Department of Education, argues technology and global competition are exponentially increasing the rate of change of the skills required to excel in the workforce. He speaks to business and employer groups nationwide regarding the differences between today’s students and students from a generation ago, and he elaborates on the rigorous and broad skill set students need to be ready for work upon graduation.

Daggett will visit Oshkosh on April 8 to discuss “Rigor, Relevance and Relationships” as the focus for the third annual Business/Education Summit presented by the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce.

Daggett’s not necessarily critical of contemporary education in the U.S. He doesn’t believe schools are failing. But he recognizes the skills gap is growing between the material students learn and those skills students actually need to be effective in the workforce.

“With that, there are a new set of skills that you need to have in order to be successful,” Daggett said, pointing to quantitative literacy and the ability to analyze documents, as examples.

He identifies a three-step process – which demands input from the business community as equally as it demands contributions from educators and parents. First, Daggett said, determine what is essential to learn vs. what is “nice to know,” but not necessarily relevant in today’s workplace. Then determine the proficiency level of those topics and skills that are essential. Daggett argues that technology itself has driven our reading level higher, requiring students to foster a higher comprehension of the information they absorb.

“The future requires students to function in multiple jobs in a global economy filled with diverse workers and as yet unimagined work and lifestyles,” Daggett said. “This requires a foundation in literacy that is different from that of the last century.”

Lastly, Daggett said education must recognize that today’s students are native to the world of technology. When addressing an audience of educators, Daggett said he’ll usually ask if they allow students to use Blackberrys and PDAs when they’re taking standardized tests. Most don’t.

“I ask them, ‘why not?’” Daggett said.

Needless to say, Daggett offers a perspective that’s well grounded, yet, anything but conventional. Consider attending the upcoming summit in Oshkosh to hear more.

Alla tua Salute! Deadline
One last call for nominations to our 3rd annual Alla tua Salute! Awards recognizing healthy employers in the Fox Valley. Again this May, our panel of local health care and employee benefits experts will evaluate the best practices in employer wellness to help improve the health of their employees.

For more information about the B2B Alla tua Salute! Award for corporate wellness, see the promotional ad on page 34 of this edition or visit us online at www.newnorthb2b.com to download the nomination form. Act fast – the deadline for nominations is April 8.