ISSUE 47 • OCTOBER 4, 2020
One of the many lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that we must respond to a changing world with resilience and creativity. This is why one of our XQ learner goals is cultivating students who are learners for life—students who are self-driven, self-directed, and curious. This month we’re focusing on lifelong learning as our theme. Don’t miss our “Xtra from XQ” at the bottom of the issue for our exclusive interview with lifelong learner and visionary designer Virgil Abloh.
1. DEVELOP The Mindset of a Lifelong Learner
Why it matters: As technology advances, new jobs will be created in all different sectors. To meet the employment demands of the future, we must rise to the challenge of continually learning the knowledge and skills to stay engaged.
Here’s how each of us can become a lifelong learner:
2. Model How to Model Lifelong Learning
To help students on their journey of continuous improvement, leaders and educators must be readers, creators, and youth advocates.
Why it matters: Lifelong learning has become an expectation for staying both engaged and employed. To help our students succeed into the future, we must not only teach them lifelong learning skills, but practice them ourselves.
Here are some areas to focus on:
3. Strengthen How to Build Resilience to Fight for Systemic Change
When educators build their own resilience, they can continue teaching and create an environment for other educators to thrive in the profession.
Why it matters: Resilience is about building power and strength through adversity and challenges. This allows educators to focus on improving school culture, creating meaningful instruction, and working together.
The 12 ways teachers can build resilience are:
Extra credit: 12 Ways Teachers Can Build Resilience So They Can Make Systemic Change →
4. Strategize How to Use COVID-19 as a Teachable Moment
Educators across the country are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a lesson not just in science but in public health, health policy, and real world problems.
Why it matters: The pandemic gives us an opportunity to make real world connections to what we teach and learn in the classroom. Educators and students are watching the unique challenges of COVID-19 arise in real time. We have the chance to turn these challenges into valuable lessons.
High school science teachers Nikki Wallace and David Mascarelli shared how they’re using COVID-19 to teach their students. These lessons include:
Plus, they shared what they have learned and can improve on as educators:
Extra credit: Educator Strategies: Using COVID-19 as a Teachable Moment →
5. Transform Creating a Stronger Education System Post-COVID-19
Amid COVID-19, the public has recognized how crucial schools are in society, creating an opportunity to leverage this newfound support and strengthen education.
Why it matters: The pandemic made it clear how important schools are in the economic, social, and political prosperity of countries around the world. Researchers presented the following emerging trends in global education for reflection:
Researchers also propose the following actions to help education emerge stronger than before COVID-19:
Extra credit: Beyond reopening schools: How education can emerge stronger than before COVID-19 →
XQ X-tra XQ Sits Down With Virgil Abloh
Founder of Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, sat down with XQ to talk about creating for the future.
Virgil shared our goal of creating students who are learners for life by emphasizing the value of curiosity and reminding us that success is not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about everything you learn along the way.
“If I hadn’t spent so much time being curious about art and learning things not on my curriculum, I wouldn’t sit before you today.”
Check out the full interview to hear more of Virgil’s insights and advice! →
