DESC Newsletter 20

DESC Newletter - Issue 20 - Humans are Underated

How good would it be to increase your brain power by 100 per cent every two years? Impossible, you think. But not for computers. According to Moore’s Law, IT systems enhance their computer power by 100 per cent every two years. Over time this is a huge increase. Consider the example of a transistor, a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals or power. The first transistor radio produced by Sony had five stations and you would struggle to fit it into your pocket. Nowadays, Intel’s processors contain billions of transistors and they can fit into the palm of your hand.

I am sure it comes as no surprise that computers are getting smarter. But exactly how much smarter? Smarter than us? No, you might think. But what happens when computers start detecting human emotions or when Artificial Intelligence takes over? If you’ve watched any science fiction movies or TV shows from the past couple of decades, then you’ve probably seen some dark visions of the future. In many of those visions, the downfall of humanity is brought about by the advancement of Artificial Intelligence or AI.

Rather than write about the demise of the human race, I want to focus on our more unique human aspects, our social skills and character.  At DESC, I am pleased to state that we do not leave interpersonal skills to chance but seize as many different opportunities to develop these. Whether it is the ‘Like a DESC Student please’ initiative or our repeated references to having good manners or being kind, we are continually trying to build the soft skills of our students to develop them into great people. If you have visited the College, you may have noticed our Character Strengths wheels which are based on the Classification of Character Strengths by the VIA Institute on Character as shown in the picture.

Character Strengths are positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel and behave. When you know your best character traits, you can improve your life and thrive. Research has shown that using your character strengths can help improve your relationships, enhance your health and wellbeing and also it can also help to buffer against and overcome problems. A big part of education has always been about helping students retain knowledge- the old saying states that “Knowledge is power”. However, advancements in technology means knowledge is increasingly stored in computers and there is arguably less of a need to keep it in your head. Therefore, we have to shift our focus from acquiring knowledge to other uniquely human capabilities – like social skills and character. This year, pastoral staff have been undertaking more 1:1 ‘character conversations’ with members of their tutor group, helping the students become more aware of their personal strengths and weaknesses. By taking the VIA survey in GROW lessons, students have discovered their unique profile of strengths. Every individual possesses all 24 character strengths in different degrees, giving each person a different outline for self-improvement. 

In addition to using our character to our advantage, we will always require other interpersonal skills such as empathy. Have you ever had a poor experience on the telephone when calling a big company? In part this is because the call center operator typically has to follow set scripts rather than having genuine empathy for your problem. We find this annoying because empathy is a basic ingredient for every relationship. In fact, being empathetic – understanding what another person is feeling – is becoming more significant in all aspects of society. Whether you show it as a teacher or a doctor, work in a call center or are giving financial advice, empathy is the first stage of every meaningful relationship. The good news is, it is a skill that can be learned, and it is highly unlikely it will ever be replaced by a computer. As people, we are hardwired to only accept empathy in its most dominant form from human beings; it doesn’t matter how persuasively a computer responds to our issues, we simply won’t be convinced. I believe this is where we have an edge over computers.

In summary, human skills or character, as the title of this article suggests, do not even compare to or cannot be replaced by those of a computer. Because humans are indeed underrated. Technological progress is inevitable, but as teachers and parents, the best thing we can do for young people is to help them develop skills where they will have the advantage.  

Have an enjoyable Spring Break.

Martin Nash
Assistant Headteacher

Sixth Form Business & Economics Trip to New York

Simone de Beauvoir once wrote, “there is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.” This was most definitely the case during the half-term break when twenty-three Business, Enterprise and Economics students embarked on a six-day tour of New York City. Students were galvanised by a busy itinerary that explored the city’s main attractions, offering an opportunity to take their learning outside of the classroom.

With Manhattan being the centre of invention, creativity and all-round American progress, students spent time exploring the bustling streets of Times Square and Fifth Avenue, exposing them to one of the world’s centres for tourism, show business and commerce. Bright, electric billboards, flashing signs and a range of street entertainment provided a non-stop feast for the eyes and created an unforgettable ambiance for our students.  

An informative tour of Madison Square Garden allowed students to learn about the history of this iconic arena. Students were ‘taken back’ to world-class sporting and entertainment events through virtual reality headsets and had the opportunity to sit in the stands whilst being informed about the huge cultural impact that the arena has had on New York City.

Day one was consolidated with an all-round American experience at an ice hockey game in New Jersey. Students truly immersed themselves by displaying foam fingers and merchandise in support of the New Jersey Devils. Such enthusiasm was appreciated as our students got their moment to shine live on the huge, centre-hung scoreboard during the game.

The following day students retraced the footsteps of Barack Obama, J D Salinger and Warren Buffett during a trip to the prestigious Ivy League Columbia University campus in Harlem. Here, students were able to reflect on their next steps towards higher education in the not-so-distant future and learn about one of New York’s oldest and most profound educational institutions.

Although strangers to the freezing temperatures of New York’s callous winters, our students powered through a one-and-a-half-mile walk of the High Line with relentless optimism and good humour. Students were encouraged to take in the various attractions across this former freight line, including public art and green landscapes. Despite the cold, the students were treated to a spell-binding tale from Mr Gardiner about the Hudson, East Indies Trading Company and the export of beaver felts! The walk culminated with a visit to Chelsea Market, a trendy food hall, where students were able to indulge in a range of cuisines to reward themselves.

It was back to Business with a walk along Wall Street where students were talked through the history of The Federal Reserve Bank. Our Business and Economics enthusiasts were able to contextualise some of their subject content and gather some interesting insights about the building that guards a vault of 6,200 tonnes of gold, eighty feet below the streets of Manhattan.   

Another jam-packed day followed with a visit to Liberty Island, the 9/11 Memorial Museum and night-time ice skating in Central Park. Views of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry developed a great sense of anticipation before we were able to get up close and personal with Lady Liberty herself and, (unashamedly) engage in some quality selfie-taking-time.  

Students approached the visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum with sensitivity and maturity. An opportunity to contemplate both the causes and the impact of perhaps the most important event in modern history, students were given time to walk through the various stages of the museum, before spending time at the memorial where they reflected on the individual lives that were lost during the September 11^th attacks.  

With New York being the hub for arts and culture, a visit to the Museum of Moving Image and a trip to see a Broadway theatre show was imminent. Students were taken on an interactive tour of the museum, learning about the beginnings of the TV and Film industries, and the impacts of technological convergence on the current media landscape. The Shubert Theatre welcomed us that evening with a fantastic performance of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird where the Literature lovers amongst the group were visibly moved by the historical narrative portrayed flawlessly on stage.

The American Museum of Natural History and a scenic walk through Central Park gave our students a different perspective of the concrete jungle. A celebration of human culture and the natural world, the museum took students on a journey through various points in history and provided an education on contemporary world issues such as climate change. Students then explored Central Park, giving them time to appreciate the picturesque routes of the city’s most famous oasis.

Jay Z and Alicia Keys’ love song to New York truly came to life when students were taken to see the infamous New York skyline by both day and night at Top of The Rock observation deck and Empire State Building, respectively. These breath-taking views were a reminder of the endless opportunities and diversity that permeates through the city and provided moments of reflection to appreciate the fantastic experiences throughout the trip.  

The Business and Economics team would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students for their excellent behaviour, positive attitude and inquisitive nature during the trip and we look forward to discussing all of these wonderful experiences over the coming weeks. Please do check out the DESC Trips Twitter page (@DescTrips) for some of the highlights!

Sheffield United Football Club Visit DESC

We recently welcomed high flying Premier League team Sheffield United to the College for their warm weather training camp. They spent four days at the college using our world-class sports facilities whilst tuning up their performance ready for the second half of the season and push for a Champions League spot.

The visit was a fantastic experience for all involved, especially for our students and staff who had the opportunity to watch and engage with a Premiership football team up close and personal. The meet and greet experience involved an excellent question and answer section involving a number of DESSC students and the SUFC manager Chris Wilder, who was also supported by a number of first-team players from the captain Billy Sharp, former England player Phil Jagielka and fantasy football favourite John Lundstram.

Hosting the Sheffield United squad was a pleasure, and the values in which the players and staff showed over the visit is a credit to the club and one of inspiration for our student-athletes to follow. Seeing professional football players act humble, well-mannered and have a constant desire to work hard is a positive reflection for our students to observe.

We wish the club the best of luck for the rest of the season and we hope to see them back again at DESC.

Careers News (05.03.20)

Careers in the News….Food for Thought

Extraordinary experiences in the world of work wanted by all universities. What makes you unique? This is the question that a lot of students may be asking themselves. Well, it could be work experience. Work experience allows teenagers to obtain skills which prepare them for the outside world and allows connections to be made. Such relationships may be helpful in the future. Upon reading articles, many state that “competition for work placements is tough.” However, it provides skills which are invaluable such as self-reliance, maturity, problem-solving, teamwork and so much more. Mary Beard, professor of classics at the University of Cambridge, stated that “Work experience is one of the things that can give me some idea of how a student can reflect analytically on a new experience.” It is for this reason that the Career’s Office promotes as many opportunities for students to experiment and potentially find the career for them.

Upcoming Projects:

With engaging students and parents in our services at DESCareers, the interns are working hard on enhancing the marketing on all fronts from In-House DESC advertisements to on-line social platforms like Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.  Be sure to follow us and engage in our upcoming social competitions. 

Flashback to February DESCareers Opportunities:

As always, these last few weeks at the career’s hub has focused on the students. Employability tasks were held to ensure that our future graduates are aware of the skills needed to gain work experience and the benefits they bring. It has been buzzing in the Careers Hub with Spotlight Speakers from all different types of occupations such as Deano Skyes offering us a Spotlight on joining the army and the career options down that path. Furthermore, we had Dr Bogdan Chiva Guirca for all the aspiring medical students and the difficult but rewarding process it takes to become a doctor. Donagh Sheils also ensured that both parents and students were informed how to shift students’ focus and prepare them for the future. The Careers office has also been partnering up with InvestIn which is a company providing the opportunity for teenagers to have work experience in the field of their choice during the summer of 2020 around the world. We welcomed many new faces with their hands-on approach, ensuring that students are prepped for these opportunities to the best of their ability. The list continues and we look forward to seeing more students come to the Spotlight Speakers and inform the office of any careers they would like to see more of.

Careers Sessions:

If your son or daughter would like to schedule a session with Ms Vitoratos to discuss career interests, how subjects can become skill builders or to simply have that initial first conversation about their career aspirations, please ask them to pop by the Careers Hub to schedule their appointment or they may even use the new on-line link to schedule their session from the comfort of their own laptop. Sessions are on an appointment-only basis during regular school lesson timings and drop-in sessions are available at non-Spotlight session break-times and after-school on Mondays.

DESCareers Parents as Spotlighter Series:

We are always excited to invite our parents to share their career journey with our students.  Spotlight Speakers that are parents are always our most popular speakers so we look forward to inviting more speakers that are already part of our wonderful DESC Community.  

Choir Fest 2020

At the end of an incredibly busy, successful and inspiring Performing Arts week ChoirFest 2020 was upon us.  With most of the Chamber Choir involved in rehearsals for West Side Story, the singers of the DESC community really came together and we formed two choirs to take to the competition.  This year, the organisers of ChoirFest created a new category for Middle School aged students, as well as the usual Primary and Senior categories.

Mr MacIntosh’s DESClub Juniors (Years 7 and 8) and Ms Wetherell’s newly-formed DESC Singers took to the stage at WSO on Wednesday afternoon, performing an eclectic mix of music, including “Rather Be” by Jess Glynn, “California Dreaming” by the Mamas and the Papas and “Evening Prayer” by Kodaly.  Both groups were an absolute credit to the school, performing with incredible musicality and energy.  The DESC singers narrowly missed out on a place in the final, but our DESClub Juniors were chosen to progress to the ChoirFest final at Dubai Opera on 14^th March.  A massive congratulations to all involved – they were, as always, fabulous!