In the Most Likely to Succeed documentary, the class structure and altered content really stood out to me as a future educator. The one class where the students were to carry the class through communication really resonated with me, because I believe communication is the most important human skill. Although I enjoy English, Iāve never felt confident in my verbal dialogue, as I often struggle to find the right words and feel like I donāt sound āsmartā enough. I remember starting university, assuming that just by taking classes and getting older, I would naturally grow my vocabulary and my ability to put my ideas into words fluently. However, that hasnāt felt true so far.Ā
I related to the film when they mentioned how most children are unlikely to care about a math solution if they donāt understand how they could use it in future situations, as most of the knowledge from my first year courses has already been completely forgotten. But with the structure of the children having to lead classroom discussions, it forces them to understand the material more deeply, find ways to relate to it, or become more comfortable admitting when theyāre confused.
I believe that education, especially in primary years, should be more focused on developing personal character traits like communication and confidence rather than academic knowledge. By creating a strong foundation of these skills at a young age, children will be able to understand what learning strategies work for them to better absorb the information they are taught. Ideally, there should at least be a balance of these different aspects of knowledge. With communication, confidence, and a sense of self-awareness, we can raise generations that can build healthy relationships that will support both their social and personal lives and future careers.