Preparing students for the real world

Approximately three quarters of Canadians go no further in their education than high school. The problem, as many educators have recognized, is that although the knowledge taught in high school is important and useful, students do not spend a lot of time learning how to apply it. When graduates get their first job, they often have no idea what to do. The successful ones either figure it out for themselves or have employers willing to train them. Others struggle with the most important problem-solving situation in their lives.

Although many people have recognized and talked about this problem, a few, such as Garry Kroy and Ted McCain, have really effective solutions. Mr. Kroy tells us how he has made school and community needs into real-life problems for his students. Mr. McCain, on the other hand, explains how he uses role-playing to make classroom problem-solving more like what happens in the workplace.

• Letting students help themselves and their school

  Garry Kroy
  Austin O'Brien High School
  Edmonton, Alberta

• From role-playing experiences to real-world jobs

  Ted McCain
  Maple Ridge Secondary School
  Maple Ridge, British Columbia