Flexible and Creative Learning – the key to educational success

Recently, the Genesis teaching staff attended the Australian Christian School’s conference, with keynote speaker Dr Catherine Ball. Dr Ball is a futurist, and spoke with passion about the skills that young people will need to operate successfully in the future educational landscape and the workforce. Her focus was largely on technology and the rapid change in that space. She emphasized how it is impossible to predict how technology will alter the way we interact with one another and the world. The face of the health system, the defence force, education, transportation and just about everything else will be impacted by our ability to use and develop technology at an ever-increasing pace.

Some might be inclined to say that we should be exalting STEM subjects and the like, given this information. Dr Ball; however, also made the comment that we need “good people to make good robots” and this is where the teaching of ethics, religion, the Humanities, the Arts and Languages plays an essential role. In fact, she identified literacy as the key to unlocking the future. At Genesis, we believe that teaching our young people to develop and use technology for the common good is essential. Our young people need ‘cognitive flexibility’ (a term used by Einstein) more than ever – the skill which enables us to switch between different concepts or adapt our behaviour to achieve our goals in an ever-changing landscape. The ability to think creatively and courageously are also skills that will help our young people thrive.

At the College, we are endeavouring to ensure that our students are provided with many opportunities to practice and master these skills. Be it designing donuts, selling products at the Genesis Festival or designing new protypes, the future is looking bright for our Genesis students.

Kind regards,

Nichola Welsh

Head of Teaching and Learning (P-12)