Peek At Our Data Analysis

PEEK AT OUR (OLIVIA’S) DATA ANALYSIS

(Prepared by student and co-founder Olivia Grace Watkins during 11th grade.)

SUBJECTS GRADUATES WISHED THEY HAD LEARNED


Graduates responded to an open-ended question asking them to list knowledge they did not learn in school but wish they had learned.

Subjects Grads Wish they Knew

Results: 337 people answered this open-ended question. Some gave multiple responses, while a few answered “N/A” or “none.” The highest-mentioned subject was foreign languages, with most of the responses specifying Spanish. Knowledge of computers and finance were scored closely below these.

Implications: The results suggest that students who become bilingual may have an advantage in the work world. Many graduates said that they were introduced to Spanish in school but wished they had become fluent. This suggests that students should not stop at the minimum foreign language requirement but should continue learning until they are proficient in the language.

Knowledge of computers, especially computer skills (typing, using Excel, etc.) were commonly listed skills that people wished they had learned. Technology has changed greatly since many of the graduates were in school, as have school standards, so these results do not necessarily point to a current weakness in the school system. Even so, schools should make sure that programming classes are offered in all high schools and that computer skills are integrated into required classes.

Finance was also commonly cited as a subject graduates wished they had been taught. Some high schools have finance courses, but finance courses should become more widespread and be emphasized more strongly.

(To peek at the Knowledge Pledgers CLICK HERE.)

(To peek at how often subjects are used CLICK HERE.)