…as the fourth revolution of work builds, teachers are well placed to lead learning.
All employers, by virtue of offering work opportunities and the potential to build careers, deal in the futures of their employees. For teachers and others working in the education sector, it takes great skill, time and energy to help students navigate their learning and life. It is by its very nature a generous act, to continually focus on others to build their capacity, efficacy and future.
For teachers, the term breaks are ideal to recharge and relax, to practice a little self-preservation and to prioritise personal needs.
If you are a teacher or another professional who constantly ‘gives to others’, putting a plan in place for your own future can be overlooked; a break can be more than relaxing – it can be a time to think about where your career is going, to set goals, speak to others and to think about what else you may need to learn to progress within schools or beyond.
In various articles on the Future of Work, ‘learning’ per se is at the centre of the skills and aptitude required to navigate the fourth revolution, and to enjoy a thriving career. This places teachers at the centre of the revolution. Teachers have highly transferable skills in planning, curating, managing and assessing learning. The industry of learning has always spread well beyond the school gates, but the industry globally is growing at an unprecedented rate. More than just formal institutions for learning, ‘the industry of learning’ increasingly includes significant roles such as learning designers in work settings.
Swinburne’s Centre for the New Workforce recently published a National Survey Report, Peak Human Potential: Preparing Australia’s workforce for the digital future. The report highlighted 38% of workers prefer to learn in the work setting. Heather McGowan, future of work strategist, suggests that we now work to learn.
As the fourth revolution of work builds, teachers are well placed to lead learning, from early learning centres to corporate boardrooms.
Before you lead others in their learning or work, you need to be strategic, and clear about your own learning and career plan. Our world @work represents so much of our time and energy, and yet career progression is often left to happenstance.
So, while you’re relaxing or setting off on an adventure, remember to put aside a little time to think about your own future of work.
Matthew Dodd has extensive experience in the educational landscape, having enjoyed over 25 years working across a number of sectors. He is recognised for his work in developing organisational culture, change management and strategy. Matt’s work in recruitment and consulting is personalised, valuing the unique nature of each individual and the educational communities he supports. He is committed to sourcing and supporting talented, innovative leaders and their Boards in K-12 and tertiary environments.
