Student’s Ability to Network Successfully in a Classroom a Strong Predictor of Future Success

Sept. 3, 2009 - PRLog -- Flowork International, L.L.C.: Student’s Ability to Network Successfully in Today’s Classroom a Strong Predictor of Future Success: Study

TORONTO, ONTARIO – “What is happening with kids today…using a BlackBerry and looking at Facebook!” Although the crusty criticisms of the aged toward subsequent generations may not be new, the demands imposed on today’s students to succeed are without a doubt constantly increasing.  How will today’s children be able to survive as adults in a world of ever-burgeoning populations and increasing competition?  Indeed, how will tomorrow’s adults hope to distinguish themselves in an environment that increasingly replies: “I’m sorry. Who are you…??” According to at least one study, it seems that an individual’s ability to learn to successfully network in the classroom is at least a partial predictor of academic success.  This holds many implications for tomorrow’s graduates, as adults. Learning how to expand and develop not only “what you know”, but also the circles of “who you know”, has become a significant factor, in measuring the (potential) future success of today’s student youth.

What’s more, the phenomenon of social networking on the Internet may, in fact, be a reasonable, even obvious, response to a society that is becoming increasingly complex. Business professionals these days certainly know it, often expanding and leveraging their own social networks across borders, via social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The networking skills required to do this are, implicitly, no less important for today’s student youth. This is especially true given that the best post graduation opportunities are so highly sought after by an increasingly larger pool of competition.  While elder generations shake their collective heads at the impersonal nature of social networking website like Facebook and Twitter, today’s students may see it (or be required to see it) differently. With one’s community becoming more global in nature, sourcing opportunities as adults in the future will require a different response from future graduates, especially if they try to only compete with “what they know” in a larger world that does not know “who they are”.  Hence, it follows that those who are successful at both academics and networking at a younger age will be better positioned to manage (and thus market) themselves in the real world, after graduation.

According to the study’s co-author, Dr. J.P. Hatala (President of Flowork International, a social network research and development firm), things have changed in recent years, such that “academic ability alone does not guarantee (a student’s) success…tapping into one’s social resources must be done as well”. In fact, he adds that the bigger the class size the more important the (social) network connections become, making this study’s insight quite pertinent to today’s ballooning population of qualified graduates. In a globalized world of increasing competition, students are under more pressure to start developing social networking skills early.  

The parents of today’s student youth are also feeling the pressure these days too, with busy weekend schedules that many a soccer mom could attest to.  Much more so than our generational predecessors, our children’s schedules are replete with activities ranging from team sports to high school drama practices. Parents placing their kids in such so-called self-improvement activities are certainly well meaning, as they seek to make their children at least more well rounded. However, shuffling kids off to team sporting activities may also reflect an underlying concern of parents to enable their children to better contend in their social networks.

Mapping the success of tomorrow’s graduates is no easy task, but statistically at least, there is a correlation between those students who are better at forging meaningful relationships in their school environment and those who do well academically.  In a world of expanding population and social geography, the implication is that tomorrow’s graduates will need to manage ever-expanding social circles of both breadth and depth, in order to succeed. It may be no surprise then that those that are doing it already will have a head start.

To find out more information about Flowork, its training programs, or research, feel free to email Dr. Hatala directly at jphatala@flowork.com.

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Flowork International, L.L.C., is a social network research and professional development organization, based out of Toronto. It offers comprehensive training programs to: organizations of all sizes and demographics; employment counselors; agencies; recruiters; governments; and job seekers alike.