All the reflective, meta-cognitive practices you mention are absolutely invaluable to our learning practices. The ability to create, collaborate, communicate, publish, question; all of huge value.

The supreme problem of the times is that we have a public education system that uses only words to value such things, while using standardized testing to audit the efficacy of the system itself, which in no way factors in the range of skills for which we’re both advocating.

Nobody has ever perhaps successfully accepted credentials at face value. At the very least, there is verification through interviews or cross questioning about depth of knowledge etc. Scale is an important factor too that interferes in the quality of selections.

The implication of social media may just be more tools to demonstrate progress visibly (ePortfolio?) to discerning employers. The fact that even these may not be enough is obvious, also because social media can obscure your real level of competency (not verifiable all the time or in all cases) and/or put at a disadvantage people who can use these tools but for some reason, do not.

What is needed and people will pay for is evaluation that they can trust. Can a networked system generate that reliably? Don’t know – so it may be “hooey” in that respect.

Viplav

I think you can teach students today so that they are prepared for future workplaces and still have them perform well on standardized tests. Here in BC the government tests are so easy, and there is so much info about them that most students do well on them without even trying. I give my students a copy of the standardized test on the second and third class of the year to show them how easy they are…then we get on with fun and challenging learning without having to worry about sill tests. Since the prescribed content is covered by the students during the school year all is well.

¿are studying, memorizing important skills in the workplace? undoubtedly you could make an argument for them, but there are probably a whole slew of skills that are far more important…

so what could it look like [from my own perspective as design student]

This is me sketching out some details of a concept I worked on during last semester´s project.

This is me using google docs, in conjunction with google search and google notebook as part of my investigation process…

This is me creating a 3-D model of the concept…

This is me solving a math problem, on video, or in a flash presentation,

There are a lot of situations in which that might be usefull,

I guess the point i´m trying to make, albeit unsuccesfully is that documenting the way we do our homework, or class projects is essential, and something that we are only recently recognizing as an important part of the learning process…

Athletes do it, they review video of their mistakes in order to improve their performance, i imagine that this same technique can be applied in a large number of educational situations, in the science lab just to name one… but yes, it might not be applicable in all situations…

What’s that look like? Perhaps:

Here’s a video of me studying my trig notes… I almost have a formula memorized right there…

Here’s me two weeks later, I don’t recall the formula, since I already took my test, but I’m cramming for my government exam…

Internships?? Personal Learning Network?? That was never on the tests..

Here’s another video of me me paying my AP testing fees online, though.

and, i’m sorry to say, the testing mania won’t vanish either…doing well on tests simply gets you to the interview – it won’t assure or even help with getting ‘the job’…

…all that ‘portfolio’ stuff where the candidate (literally) shows their work will be the differentiator..

unless, of course, they’re related to someone important

This.

The job candidate is now spending even more time hoop-jumping while it is easier for the employer to be deluged by an exponentially greater pile of applications. Access to high-tech “production” tools also advantages wealthier and Whiter applicants.

My experience suggests that the Web has made human relations LESS humane! Employers feel no responsibility whatsoever to even generate an auto-email confirming receipt of an application and too rarely communicates with applicants during the hiring process. Employers don’t have a chance to meet a fantastic wild-card when they don’t meet anyone.

At the same time, people get jobs the old-fashioned way through friends, their family or inside connections.

Let’s spend our time teaching kids to play the flute instead of more speculative career preparation!