WEEKLY WHITEBOARD 📝
8billionideas
Our mission is to give every student on the planet the skills and belief to change the world.
New year, New beginnings, but the same old approach?
In the last few Weekly Whiteboards, we've shared tips on life skills education, financial literacy checklists, holiday activities, free resources, and lots more. This week, let's reflect on how we can make this year a pivotal year in education and start on a high by discussing a mega game-changer — entrepreneurship education!
Happy New Year to all of you, our incredible #8billionideas community! 🌟
You know, 2024 can be THE year.
The year when every student on the planet has access to holistic education that truly prepares them for the future.
The year when every student on the planet has the skills and belief to change the world. ⚡
It may sound daunting now, but let's break it down –– if we start today, by the end of 2024, your students will have at least built a solid foundation for themselves to help them navigate the complexities of the world.
And then two, three, or maybe five years down the line –– they'll have the courage, passion, and determination to thrive.
That means they'll someday change the world for good. 🌎
So, as educators, what's the first essential step we can take?
It's integrating education around entrepreneurship, life skills, global careers, and self-development into the traditional curriculum and making it a daily practice.
Simple to read but complex to execute, isn't it?
So today, let's focus on one topic - entrepreneurship.
Welcome to your weekly dose of all things education, student careers, 21st-century education, and a tiny bit of deserving fun.
Today, we'll cover:
POV: Just a couple of months to go before the school year ends, and some of your students still haven't secured their work experiences... 😓
That sounds like a nightmare because:
🏫 No work experience means your students miss the opportunity to bridge the gap between the curriculum area and the world of work.
❌ This also means missing out on hitting all Gatsby benchmarks for your school.
Luckily, there's 'The Internship' that can solve work experience for ALL your students this month and help you hit multiple Gatsby Benchmarks! 💡
THURSDAY SPOTLIGHT: FOSTERING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
As educators, we understand that the seeds of an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset are often sown outside the classroom. But it doesn't have to be all serious business.
Here are three fun and straightforward weekly practices you can use to motivate students to undertake to build their entrepreneurial mindset at home.
⚡ Idea journals: Encourage students to maintain an 'Idea Journal'. Each week, have them jot down a new idea, a solution to a common problem, or an improvement to something they use daily.
The idea behind this brainstorming ritual is to encourage them to think outside of the problem and be solution-oriented. At 8billionideas, we love calling this 'Think in Ink'.
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⚡ Entrepreneur diaries: Once a week, encourage students to read up on an entrepreneur of their choice and note critical learnings from their journey, failures, and successes. Alternatively, you could introduce an 'Entrepreneur of the Week'.
To take it a notch higher, you could organise a monthly 'Entrepreneur Disguise Day' and encourage students to dress up as famous inventors or entrepreneurs for the day and speak about them. This research-driven practice will help your students draw on experiences from people who have 'been there and done that' and make better use of their time at home.
⚡ Weekly biz beat: Encourage students to follow a business news story each week. They could pick an article from a newspaper, a business website, or a news app. After reading, they should write a short reflection or summary, including their thoughts on the implications of the news in the business world.
To further elevate the impact, you can hold discussion hours where students can share and discuss the news stories they've followed. The idea behind this is to motivate them to develop a habit of staying up-to-date with the latest business news and enhance their understanding of current events.
Voila! You have just laid the groundwork for your students to thrive as future innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers.
UPDATES THAT MATTER: THURSDAY TOP THREE 💡
The latest news:
1️⃣ School attendance: The UK government is expanding its attendance hubs program to boost school attendance, with 32 hubs set to assist over one million children and nearly 2,000 schools in tackling persistent absences. An additional £15 million investment will provide personalised support to over 10,000 persistently absent pupils and their families in 10 new areas.
Why it matters: It represents a significant government effort to combat chronic absenteeism in UK schools, potentially enhancing educational outcomes for over a million students. (Via GOV.UK)
2️⃣ Teacher upskilling: UAE schools are prioritising teacher upskilling programs, focusing on curriculum development, leadership, and behaviour management, to improve their educational ratings significantly. Headteachers stress the importance of continuous learning and innovation among educators, noting that these training initiatives are essential for introducing new classroom strategies and fostering a growth culture in schools.
Why it matters: It underscores the importance of CPD for teachers to elevate educational quality and student outcomes. (Via Khaleej Times)
3️⃣ Lack of teachers: Starting 22 January, England's schools and further education providers will undergo inspections by Ofsted, with all lead inspectors receiving mental health awareness training beforehand. Ofsted will fully address the coroner's recommendations on 19 January, outlining a respectful and empathetic inspection approach and focusing on long-term improvements, including supporting headteachers in expressing serious concerns.
Why it matters: It signals a more empathetic and informed inspection approach by Ofsted, aligning with mental health awareness and addressing key long-term educational improvements. (Via GOV.UK)
If you haven't already, check out our most loved resources that will help you spark your students' curiosity and empower them to prepare for the world of work right at the beginning of the year!
The Future Jobs Kit, comprising the 52 most exciting jobs of the next decade, is the ultimate free resource for futuristic career guidance and exploration.
My First Job Kit, comprising 56 job cards and six activities, is an interactive free resource providing an excellent opportunity for students to try different hats, experiment, and uncover their true calling.
The Ripple Effect, a book loved by educators worldwide, is written by our CEO, David Harkin and will help you develop the right mindset to make your mark. Get yours now!
There are loads of other resources (including lots of free ones) that you can access to equip your students with 21st-century education and skills.
Stay tuned and continue reading this newsletter to gain early access!
😍 Lastly, need a new year inspo? Check out these new year resolutions for your classrooms.