With the sum of humanity's knowledge one google search away, what has the teacher's role become?

It's the challenge facing schools like Northlands Parkway Collegiate (NPC) in preparing students for a rapidly evolving workplace.

For Principal Tammy MacDonald, the essential skills students need in 2017 are effective oral communication, critical thinking and the ability to analyze information.

In a recent survey, almost 65 percent of NPC students disliked giving speeches and presentations.

"We see kids that think, unfortunately, that whatever is on Wikipedia is gospel, is truth"

"I think they're aware communication is important, but I think communication has changed with the use of technology," she says.

Texting and autocorrect algorithms have ingrained an informal shorthand for many conversations.

"You still need to know how to present yourself to the public," MacDonald explains.

Fostering critical thinking continues to be top of mind for educators as well in a digital world where misinformation can go viral.

Just over 65 percent of students felt they had been challenged to think critically.

Just over 65 percent of students felt they had been challenged to think critically

"How do we go about, as a school, getting them to think critically? It's an important skill, we see that every day here," she says.

"We see kids that think, unfortunately, that whatever is on Wikipedia is gospel, is the truth. We have to teach kids how to sift through ten different websites to see what the truth really is."

However, she notes there are some encouraging stats as well; more than 98 percent of all NPC students plan on graduating and moving on to college.

"I would love for that to be 100 percent," MacDonald explains. "But I know that's a goal to work on forever."