Before we explore the tools and practices of the Future Ready Classroom, we must first define it:
The Future Ready Classroom (FRC) prepares and equips students with the skills to navigate the unknowns of tomorrow. It is not a classroom that leans on outdated routines and pedagogy but rather one that embraces breakthroughs in neuroscience and psychology — examining how a child’s brain truly thinks and learns, and how this process interacts with their social environment.
This is a classroom that rejects the phrase, “This is how we have always done it,” and instead embraces bold new ideas and physical spaces that encourage enquiry and exploration. Creating an FRC requires a teacher who is courageous, innovative and deeply invested in the success and growth of their students as individuals. If you are reading this, you may be just that. Let’s dive in.
What we know of the world today will be considered ancient history by the time this generation of children enters the workforce. Technologies will evolve, some will become obsolete (BlackBerry comes to mind), and new ones will emerge. A future-ready child is not dependent on technology but can use it effectively and confidently. More importantly, they must be able to collaborate with, lead, influence, learn from and teach the only true constant in human history: people.
There is no definitive manual on how to relate to people, but there are skills that can be taught and learned – skills that enable students not merely to tolerate others but to collaborate with them in building, creating, and shaping the world of tomorrow. The term “soft skills” is often used, though inadequately, to describe these abilities. However, it is these very skills that will define the leaders and innovators of the future. While the list is not exhaustive, and many of these skills manifest differently across cultures and regions, the following are crucial for ensuring our children are future-ready.
Adaptable and Agile
We must raise and educate children to be adaptable and agile—capable of pivoting quickly in response to opportunities and challenges. This is not about encouraging them to abandon their core values but rather about teaching them to seize opportunities when they arise. They should not be stagnant or rigid in their thinking and actions but should instead learn to leverage the resources and people around them to further their mission.
A pastor friend of mine used to say that while our mission remains the same, the way we achieve it must be adaptable. There is a long list of companies and organisations that failed to adapt to changing markets and were either left behind or ceased to exist entirely – Blockbuster and Kodak being prime examples.
Conversely, some companies have successfully evolved to fill market gaps, ensuring continued success – consider Checkers’ transformation in the last five years.
We need to create classroom environments that encourage and foster adaptability. In fact, we should intentionally introduce small, manageable challenges that require students to apply their knowledge and resources to meet a goal. Teach your students to adapt.
Gritty
Where would humanity be today without grit — the resilience to persevere, the determination to push through obstacles? Grit is seldom pleasant to develop, but its rewards are invaluable.
Modern Western society is increasingly opposed to grit, resisting anything that requires prolonged effort. Instant gratification has become the norm; one-day shipping, streaming services that eliminate the need to visit a cinema, dating apps that require minimal commitment and diet pills promising quick results. While these conveniences make life easier, they have also made us weaker and less resilient in the face of hardship. We must reclaim the value of perseverance in the classroom.
How? Through struggle.
Allow your students to struggle. Encourage them to wrestle with problems and search for solutions. Efficiency would dictate that we provide children with answers before they even ask the questions. Effectiveness, however, demands that we allow them to explore and uncover knowledge on their own — just as an explorer uncovers hard-won treasures.
Do not rush to solve every interpersonal conflict that arises. When you do step in, avoid dismissing problems outright. Instead, guide students as they engage with one another and discover meaningful solutions.
A child who overcomes a challenge through perseverance stands victorious – like the great explorers of old – equipped with knowledge and skills that are not easily forgotten after the next test. Let them struggle.
Teachable
In a world where change is accelerating, the ability to remain humble and teachable is crucial.
One of the greatest obstacles to growth, learning, and long-term success is the belief that one already knows everything there is to know.
This mindset traps students in an echo chamber where they only reinforce what they already understand, never expanding their knowledge.
A teachable student is open to feedback and critique, able to discern what is useful and what is not. They are willing to learn from experts, peers and even novices at times. Such students are often humble and well-liked, as they do not feel the need to impress others but are instead eager to gain new perspectives. A teachable student has a growth mindset. They do not see their future as fixed but as something they are continually shaping and expanding.
Challenge students when they claim to understand everything. Praise them when they admit they do not know something and ask for an explanation. Model teachability yourself — acknowledge when a student teaches you something new or corrects a mistake you have made. We often assume that children, by virtue of being in school, are naturally ready to be taught. Yet, that is not always the case.
Creative
Human advancement has always relied on creativity. It should not be relegated to cultural subjects alone – it is the catalyst for bringing world-changing ideas to life. Creativity requires courage and the willingness to be wrong. In school systems that prioritise the correct answer over intellectual growth, creativity can easily be stifled.
I am a strong advocate of Bloom’s Taxonomy and its hierarchy of thinking. In this framework, creating is at the pinnacle – the highest form of thinking across all subjects.
Students must first be taught the correct information about any given topic and how to apply it effectively. However, once they have mastered this, we must create space for them to generate something new in relation to the subject matter.
Give them room to be bold and make mistakes. The future does not merely require the right answers – it needs people who can ask the questions no one else is asking and seek out the answers.
Cultivating Character for a Lifetime
There are many more skills that will be essential for the next generation, and a Future Ready Classroom should be a space where they are cultivated. However, none of this can happen unless students feel safe and that they belong. This requires the careful guidance and wisdom of the teacher and should not resemble a scene from Lord of the Flies.
Subjects such as Geography and Natural Science may fade from students’ memories over time, but the character traits they develop in your classroom will remain with them for life. Do not shy away from the hard work of shaping children’s character.
Do not leave them at the mercy of the world. Instead, guide them, challenge them and prepare them for the future.