How much of what we teach is still relevant?
This question was posed to us by Mr Loh during this year’s Founder’s Day celebrations.
As secondary school students, the wider world seems far away from us. As we scribble down notes on Redox Reactions and Trigonometry, winds of change loom ever closer. In a new era of modern technology and generative AI, we venture into a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain and turbulent. As students, we seldom realise it, but in just five year’s time, we will be entering a society that might look starkly different from today.
So, how can we prepare ourselves for this eventuality?
- We must be open to change.
RI is a part of a global community of schools, preparing her students to exchange ideas and initiatives from all corners of the globe. Image credit: Stockcake
RI is not an island unto itself. Rather, it is a part of a global community of schools, preparing its students to share their ideas to peers from all across the globe while bringing home new initiatives from distant shores.
With such a high level of global interdependence, RI, and indeed, the whole of Singapore is vulnerable to the whirlwinds of change. An example of this is the meteoric rise of AI. Since November 2022, ChatGPT has become a household name. While the potential of ChatGPT is still being unpacked, one thing is for certain: Humanity has reached the dawn of a new technological revolution.
Thus, we must be prepared to enter an AI-centric workforce. Our school has already embraced the use of AI in school work. In a Biology performance task, the Year 3 students were tasked to use a free AI art software to generate an image for a poster. It was through this experience that many of us got our first taste of AI art and its possibilities (the authors recommend nightcafe.studio). Our teachers have also been stepping up the use of AI in the classroom, adopting software such as the chatbot schoolai to enhance learning. For example, Mr Tan Xiang Yeow has tried using schoolai to complement his lessons. Through interactions with the AI, his students would be able to let their inquisition run wild, questioning the AI not just to fill in a worksheet, but also to learn more beyond the curriculum. It is through exposure to AI during our formative years that we familiarise ourselves with this new technology. Thus, we will be able to ease into the AI-centric workforce of tomorrow, but only if we are open to change and constantly improve our existing processes to prepare ourselves for the future.
- We must recognise and hone intangible qualities.
For years, Singaporeans have defined success by the 4Cs. However, are these still the right parameters to measure one’s worth? Image credit: Canva
How do you define success? For years, Singaporeans have defined success by the 4Cs: owning a Car, Condominium, Credit Card, and a plentiful supply of Cash. However, are these still the right parameters to measure one’s worth?
Our mindsets need to change. When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, our answer shouldn’t simply be “Rich. Period.” Rather, we should join a career where values and giving back are prioritised, giving us meaning to our lives.
An example of a meaningful profession is the job of a data scientist. Data scientists work with geologists from different parts of the world to harness the power of AI and combat global warming. Each scientist also brings to the table his/her unique gifts, be it strengths in the Sciences, Arts or Humanities. Although some may argue that they have been born with these gifts, they cannot be mastered in a matter of days or even weeks; they must be nurtured from a young age, with the encouragement of friends and family.
Thus, our professions need not be endless cycles of building fiscal wealth. Instead, our jobs can involve our own hobbies and passions! We can join like-minded peers from all across the world to use our talents and contribute to solving global issues. Doesn’t giving back to society have more meaning than accumulating wealth?
- We have to be resilient.
Each of us needs to hold ourselves to high standards – it is these which guide us in every action we do. However, we have all been in that moment when we feel like throwing in the towel. Everything around us seems to be falling apart. Perhaps you are screaming on the inside, “I can’t do this anymore!” Maybe, you even think of lowering the high standards that you have been holding yourself to.
This is when learning comes alive. Through hardship, we learn to be stronger and more resilient. As we struggle and sometimes fall, we must pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. This does not just apply to our studies – even in our extracurricular activities, our ability to withstand the growing pressure is necessary. In our CCAs, whether we are in the Performing Arts, Sports, Clubs and Societies or Uniformed Groups, we constantly find ourselves partaking in many competitions. However, we will inevitably stumble, make mistakes, and trip over ourselves. The key to bouncing back from failure is neither to lose hope and feel upset over our loss, nor to expect a smooth-sailing experience. We cannot, in the same breath, expect character development and a completely rosy experience. The true value of failure is the lessons that we learn, and more importantly, the personalities we develop. Should we give up and cry for help? Or should we grit our teeth, tap into our plucky perseverance, and chalk these mistakes up to experience?
This characteristic of resilience will continue to serve us well into our adult lives. We may not win every match or earn a gold award in competitions, but the results are inconsequential.The true purpose of each competition is to check our standards, and push ourselves to do our very best. After all, whether we win or lose, we can celebrate after completing a challenge – but doesn’t that feeling taste so much sweeter when we know we’ve tried our best?
A Better Age
The world is always changing, that is certain. But as we embrace new ideas and modern technology, we must remember to remain firm to our core values. As change continues to sweep the society we know today, let us be open to it, redefine our success and be resilient. Only by clinging firmly to our core values can we avoid being uprooted by the whirlwinds of change.
