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Publish at August 31 2006 Updated May 28 2025
The things you really need to know to succeed in life, according to Stephen Downes
A way to re-establish priorities
Clark Quinn, Stephen Downes and other researchers have explored and synthesized what it takes to learn in order to succeed... Sometimes provocative ideas on what it is necessary to learn to function in today's world and, more broadly, to give meaning to one's existence.
Preoccupied with the "what" and "how" of learning, let's not forget the "why".
What you need to learn to succeed is a set of skills that you can start acquiring today, whatever your level of education or age. A good place to start.
Stephen Downes' list includes
- How to foresee consequences
- How to read intelligently
- How to distinguish truth from fiction
- How to share with others
- How to be creative
- How to communicate clearly
- How to learn
- How to stay healthy
- How to value yourself
- How to give meaning to your life
"Giving meaning to one's life results from a combination of several elements. In a certain sense, it means devoting oneself to an objective or goal. But it also means appreciating and devoting oneself to the here and now. Finally, it's realizing that your place in the world, your meaning, is something you have to create for yourself."
If we're not teaching these things in the classroom yet, why aren't we?
Things You Really Need to Learn
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