Knowledgable Skills

Knowledge is power. It's something we have been told all along. Not only is knowledge powerful, but it's also incredibly sexy. We are intrigued by those that have acquired a lot of knowledge, been extraordinary places, and share incredible experiences. But what about those who don't have those opportunities? Are they unable to have that sexy, knowledgable appeal?

In education, we have always focused on knowledge. How to find the best ways to ensure students KNOW the material. What they KNOW for the test. While there is a lot of value in students obtaining as much knowledge as possible, I would say that there is a shift in this way of thinking. 

Our students have changed. Many people are uncomfortable with this, some even turning their heads to the changes. This is only doing a disservice to our students. The fact is, people can obtain knowledge within minutes. It's this crazy little thing called Google. Yep. It doesn't take long to figure out when the Declaration of Independence was written. I can figure out within seconds who ran for president in 1860. That knowledge is right at my fingertips. So, do we do away with teaching these facts in the classroom? Not necessarily. We shift our way of teaching. Now the focus must be on teaching the skills to obtain this knowledge. HOW do I find things out? WHERE do I go to find that information? Some may think this sounds lazy, but it's the world we live in. It has changed, and we must too.