What would happen if someone created a digital platform that schools could use to connect with businesses, experts and industry? Imagine what it would be like if children could talk directly via a video link or webinar to a famous author, musician, astronaut, or polar explorer? How might this inspire them to pursue a similar career when they left school? I’m guessing the same might apply to those wanting to be train driver, a nurse or doctor, a chef or an engineer.

Think what might happen if the children in your class could speak to experts direct, ask them the questions they always wanted to ask, and find out exactly what it would be like working in that kind of environment. Through a platform like that, schools could organise a different themed online event every month, or a series of assemblies, or even a virtual career fair, in which professionals and experts could ‘come into the school’ on a big screen and speak to the children about their passion or their career. 

Teachers could select a profession from an easy-to-use visually rich menu on the front page of the platform and find people who were willing to share a lesson plan, resources and activities related to their talk. The discussion could continue for a long time afterwards, perhaps developing into a group project, or some entrepreneurial activities for real-world, authentic learning. 

And the best part – it would be totally free for the school. Those who funded such activities would be the businesses and companies, because their reward would be to have access to an entire classroom of interested children who might one day want to be a part of their organisation. As a teacher, would you be interested? Would your school want to be a part of it?

Well, the platform has already been created! It’s called LiketoBe and it’s recruiting schools and teachers to test it out not just in the UK but also around the globe. Here’s our Facebook page with all the latest news. I’m personally heading up the research and development of the platform, and I want to hear from schools who are willing to try it out, and tell me what I need to do to improve it. You might try out a virtual careers fair, or connect with similar schools on the other side of the world. 

So – would you like to be involved? The success of LiketoBe will depend upon participation from the education community, so please help us inspire a generation of children by taking part. My school liaison team will send you details on how to participate. Simply contact me on this email address if you would like to be a part of this exciting new project, or stop by our stand P7 at Bett 2018.

For more information, visit LiketoBe’s website.