#YOLO 4.0
YOLO is an acronym for “You Only Live Once” and it is often associated with the negative connotation of doing things in a way to live your life to the fullest regardless of any concerns. (Don’t get me wrong, I have a different interpretation to it.) I share the same thought for what it stands acronymically but antonymically in its interpretation. In fact, I believe that there are FOUR phases of transformation that are required for our students to go through in order to have a happy and achieving the said YOLO in LTPSS. Let me spell out what #YOLO 4.0 means followed by how I would contribute to your #YOLO 4.0.
YOLO 1.0: Possessing the right value
In order to live the life to the fullest in a rational manner, one’s possession of right values are imperative to face the increasing academic expectations in studies, changing dynamics in friendship, coming across controversial life events and social issues that caught the attention of the public. Hence, it is important for our students to develop a positive understanding of themselves and learn how to make reasonable judgements and decisions about any negative influences that might impede the development of their fullest potential. Likewise, as an educator, I will ask myself and reflect whether we have provided a holistic learning experiences to my students through integrating the elements of cognition, affection and action for the promotion of the right values education
YOLO 2.0: Becoming a deep learner
As the workplace dynamics for the 21st century is evolving, our students should not overtly care about 5** in HKDSE but stock take if they have the necessary advanced skills that are instrumental in dealing with a world in which good jobs are becoming more cognitively demanding. By the same token, an educator I have to ask myself if the learning experiences we have provided our students are able to make them to be curious, continuous, and independent learners as well as thoughtful, productive and active citizens. In actionable terms our students
have to (For details, you may skim through the seven goals from EDB’s 2017 Curriculum Guide):
i) acquire and construct a broad and solid knowledge base so as to understand contemporary
issues that may impact on their daily lives at personal, community, national
and global levels;
ii) become proficient in biliterate (English & Chinese) and
trilingual (English, Cantonese & Putonghua) communication for better study
and life;
iii) develop and apply generic skills in an integrative manner, and to become an independent
and self-directed learner for future study and work;
iv) use information and information technology ethically, flexibly and effectively
YOLO 3.0: Captaining the Career & Life Planning Trajectory
With the right values and deep learning in one’s operating system, the next transformation process is the exploration of one’s life journey. Our students have to narrate their own life story and be excited with their life plot like Christopher Columbus. Hence, our students need to understand their own interests, aptitudes and abilities, and to develop and reflect upon personal goals with aspirations for further studies and future career so that they can better captain their life journey in their very own aspirational manner. Similarly, as an educator, I have to lend my ears and help my students to narrate their own story with clarity, conviction and connect the dots between the events in their plot.
YOLO 4.0: Giving back to the society
The greatest happiness is not seeing yourself happy but to see other people around yourself happy too. So this act of focusing others help our students to develop empathy, compassion and a giving spirit towards the society. One way to materialize this transformation is to do volunteering. This kind act will not only allow our students to experience empathy but also demonstrate their teamwork, communication, responsibility, time management, and goal setting skills in the due process. But more importantly, studies have confirmed that students who volunteer do better academically, and are more likely to graduate high school and have a shinier CV. As an educator, I have to create more opportunities for my students to give back.
So have you YOLO yet, I mean to be more correct which #YOLO phase are you in? I am more than happy to discuss with you.
