Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World

by Jean Eddy

Overview

Sadly, many of our kids today are just not adequately prepared to make informed, confident decisions about what they want to do after high school. A thought-provoking examination of today’s education system and workforce preparedness, Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World explores the career readiness pathways our youth take and how a different educational approach could prepare them for the detours life presents. It offers insights into the types of skills young people need to be successful in today’s workforce and prepare them for careers that we might not even have imagined in 2023.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475872453
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	09/11/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	268 KB

About the Author

Jean Eddy is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance® (ASA), where she develops and drives the overall strategic direction of the organization. Her direction is to help kids – as early as middle school to – know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices about their education and career goals. Deeply committed to student success, Jean came to ASA with more than 25 years of experience creating and leading education organizations.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. The Uncertainty Continuum
Chapter 2. From A+ to A Path
Chapter 3. Start Early&Stay Many Steps Ahead
Chapter 4. Defrosting the Frozen Classroom
Chapter 5. The Skills That Will Change Save the World
Chapter 6. The Shift to Work-Based
Chapter 7. The Quest for Ikigai
Chapter 8. Flipping the “Risk” Narrative on Education and Work
Chapter 9. Harnessing Informal
Chapter 10. A Powerful Vision

Editorial Reviews

True transformation begins when young people learn how to go to work on their lives rather than just in them. Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World supports aspiring entrepreneurs and introduces a profound path to making that possible.” —Michael Gerber, author of "The E-Myth Revisited", NYT bestselling author

“We have entered a brave new world of lifelong learning and skills driven by the rapid emergence of generative AI. As Jean Eddy describes, “crisis proofing” our children, so that they can all have equal access to the new world of the future, requires a radical rethinking of what it is to deliver education and skills to the upcoming generations. Jean foresees the seamless integration of relevant career learning into the education “system” in middle school so that upcoming generations can begin now to plan for their futures. It is essential that we provide multiple pathways for young people to realize their potential and access career and life mobility – options include college but also the multitude of other less costly non-degree options that exist today for young adults to develop prepare for a prosperous career. Bravo to Jean for calling out the urgency of this moment when innovations like generative AI are rapidly creating both greater risks and greater opportunities. Crisis proofing our youth is the answer and we know how to do it as Jean so aptly points out.”” —Deborah Quazzo, managing partner at GSV Ventures and co-founder at ASU and GSV Summit

“In Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World, Jean Eddy offers the wisdom we need to spark the courage to move beyond our fixed mindset about schooling and embrace pathways that allow all individuals to gain exposure to the many possibilities for their future, build their passions, and find their purpose by design, not by chance. This isn't just vital for the futures of our children—but for the fabric of our society.” —Michael Horn, author of "From Reopen to Reinvent"

“It’s inspiring to read Crisis-Proofing Today’s Leaners by Jean Eddy, a sincere and thoughtful work of a lifetime. Eddy is very much a teacher, and she makes a compelling case why our educational systems must do more to help students find a sense of purpose in their lives and embrace a reason for living. Real change, she argues persuasively, starts with respecting informal learning and prioritizing skills development, understanding each young person is unique. This book is timely and necessary.” —Walter Anderson, former Editor-in-Cheif of Parade Magazine, and author of "The Confidence Course"

“Crisis-Proofing Todays Learners hones the reader’s view on the real problems to solve for when it comes to preparing learners for a future that is dynamic, uncertain, and full of risk. Interweaving personal stories, professional experience, and data, Jean Eddy makes a compelling case for how more and better pathways are urgently needed that reinforce durable skills and promote adaptability in one’s life and career. Not only will this prepare learners for a lifetime of personal and professional success, but as Jean argues, our country’s very future and economic competitiveness may depend on it.” —Jason A. Tyszko, vice president of the Center for Education and Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

From the Publisher

It’s inspiring to read Crisis-Proofing Today’s Leaners by Jean Eddy, a sincere and thoughtful work of a lifetime. Eddy is very much a teacher, and she makes a compelling case why our educational systems must do more to help students find a sense of purpose in their lives and embrace a reason for living. Real change, she argues persuasively, starts with respecting informal learning and prioritizing skills development, understanding each young person is unique. This book is timely and necessary.

Walter Anderson

Crisis-Proofing Todays Learners hones the reader’s view on the real problems to solve for when it comes to preparing learners for a future that is dynamic, uncertain, and full of risk. Interweaving personal stories, professional experience, and data, Jean Eddy makes a compelling case for how more and better pathways are urgently needed that reinforce durable skills and promote adaptability in one’s life and career. Not only will this prepare learners for a lifetime of personal and professional success, but as Jean argues, our country’s very future and economic competitiveness may depend on it.

Jason A. Tyszko

True transformation begins when young people learn how to go to work on their lives rather than just in them. Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World supports aspiring entrepreneurs and introduces a profound path to making that possible.

Michael Gerber

In Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World, Jean Eddy offers the wisdom we need to spark the courage to move beyond our fixed mindset about schooling and embrace pathways that allow all individuals to gain exposure to the many possibilities for their future, build their passions, and find their purpose by design, not by chance. This isn't just vital for the futures of our children—but for the fabric of our society.

Michael Horn

We have entered a brave new world of lifelong learning and skills driven by the rapid emergence of generative AI. As Jean Eddy describes, “crisis proofing” our children, so that they can all have equal access to the new world of the future, requires a radical rethinking of what it is to deliver education and skills to the upcoming generations. Jean foresees the seamless integration of relevant career learning into the education “system” in middle school so that upcoming generations can begin now to plan for their futures. It is essential that we provide multiple pathways for young people to realize their potential and access career and life mobility – options include college but also the multitude of other less costly non-degree options that exist today for young adults to develop prepare for a prosperous career. Bravo to Jean for calling out the urgency of this moment when innovations like generative AI are rapidly creating both greater risks and greater opportunities. Crisis proofing our youth is the answer and we know how to do it as Jean so aptly points out.”

Deborah Quazzo