Students of the day, growing up in a world being created by artificial intelligence and automation, are very soon to face employment about which the future will almost certainly be found to be disposable for almost all time and days. Nevertheless, in a constantly evolving industrial setting, desirable soft skills of the employers are surpassed by the demand of creativity, adaptability and technical expertise. Yet, how is it feasible for schools to address the demand for equipping students with these futureproof competencies?
To investigate this critical question, we spoke to Brian Johnsrud, Director of Education Learning and Advocacy at Adobe. He gave an overview of what creative tools can be used for to help fill the skills education gap between education and the requirements of the future workforce.
Preparing for an Uncertain Future
Teachers have to be current as to what workforce is like and what the next generation and evolving work skills that will shape the future employment landscape are," Johnsrud adds. By referencing data from organizations like the World Economic Forum, school leaders can anticipate the skills students will need in the next five to ten years, even if current curricula don’t yet reflect these changes.
Employers today recognize that job requirements evolve quickly. Reskilling is no longer enough; there is now also a focus to identify lifelong learners - individuals who can learn self-sufficiently, adapt, and thrive in a dynamic and evolving job market. This flexibility is also facilitated by resilience, flexibility, and creative problem solving, all of which are increasingly important in every industry.
The World Economic Forum’s Jobs Report highlights the top skills projected to grow in importance by 2027. These include:
1. Creative Thinking
2. Analytical and Critical Thinking
3. Technological Literacy (including AI expertise)
4. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
5. Resilience, Flexibility, and Agility
Johnsrud, "The real question for employment seekers is not if they are right now equipped with the needed skills, but whether they can continue to develop and grow with the evolving set of skills.
Creative Tools: Building Both Hard and Soft Skills
Creative technology offers a unique opportunity to prepare students for this dynamic future. Through the exposure to tools of the industry standard and the inspiration of the training experience based on the practice, schools can offer the students the challenges for how to develop the technical abilities of persons and the professional cross-soft-capabilities (e.g., collaboration ability and creativity ability) of professionals.
Johnsrud, "Software for example, Adobe Express or the Adobe Creative Cloud is enabling students to produce high gloss, professional-looking work that is a copy of what is in the public domain. Also, this hands-on experience also allows the students to be in a position to out-of the way in which they approach the tools and workflow they will learn to use in their job.
Additionally, fostering collaboration is vital. Creative platforms that support teamwork enable students to co-create, share feedback, and exchange ideas, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern workplaces.
Overcoming Creative Confidence Barriers
A major problem for teachers is how to deal with the lack of confidence of students in their creative capacities. Students too often accept that they "can't be" creative or "give up" believing they "have to" start at a "blank canvas," Johnsrud notes.
Providing professional-grade templates can help students bypass this fear and focus on content creation. Tools like Adobe Express for Education lower the barriers to entry while offering advanced features for those ready to explore deeper capabilities.
What Makes a Tool Valuable in Education?
Johnsrud highlights that the true value of educational tools lies not just in their features but in the ecosystem of resources they provide. “For a tool to be effective, it must come with lesson plans, teacher support, and guided activities for students.”
Adobe Express for Education exemplifies this approach by offering free educational materials, step-by-step tutorials, and certification opportunities through Adobe Certified Professional exams. These certifications allow students to showcase their skills to colleges and employers, further enhancing their career prospects.
The Role of AI in Creative Education
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the educational landscape, especially in fostering creativity. “AI helps students brainstorm ideas, iterate quickly, and step back from routine tasks to focus on the bigger picture,” Johnsrud explains.
He compares the traditional educational model to swimming in a controlled pool, where predictability reigns. AI, on the other hand, teaches students to “surf in an ever-changing ocean,” equipping them to navigate uncertainty and thrive in a world of constant change.
Shifting the Focus of Education
As AI takes over routine tasks, the focus of education must pivot from task execution to understanding context. This shift emphasizes the importance of storytelling and real-world applications across all subjects.
Johnsrud notes that subjects like English and history have long excelled in teaching contextual understanding, but this skill is increasingly essential across disciplines. By mastering storytelling and recognizing how individual tasks fit into broader goals, students can develop creative solutions, adapt to change, and excel in complex situations.
Building Future-Ready Learners
21st skills are not only technical but can be in creative, collaborative, and adaptive skills. It is possible for schools, by integrating creative means and AI in the classroom, to instil confidence and comfort in students who will have to navigate an uncertain future.
According to Johnsrud, "Education is not just about preparing students for what's next, but also for the changes that are next, the processes of continual adaptation.
0 Comments