In this video from RSA Animate, Sir Ken Robinson describes the need for fundamental changes in today's education and cites that the current system in place was essentially built for the past. Given my own experiences under this structure, Robinson is not far off. The schooling system now, whether college level or below, was created with economic intentions in tandem with cultural influence. The issue is that economies and cultures are in perpetual evolution and the contemporary public systems as we know them were built for yesterday's world. Specifically, as Robinson points out, this occurred during the culture of the intellectual enlightenment and the industrial revolution. This is the reason schools have a systematic nature and have an emphasis in what was perceived at the time as a measure of intelligence: classic subjects such as history, literature, math, and English or otherwise a proficiency in academics. Furthermore, a mainstay of student engagement through the years has been the idea that getting an education in these subjects is not only good for you but also guarantees you a decent job. This is no longer true today. In fact, even without the guarantee of a job, students are becoming disengaged more and more by the day. While the current system of education still serves well for some, the truth is that we now live in an increasingly complex and technologically advanced society, one in which this system no longer functions adequately for the majority of its members.
So why is this? As Robinson convincingly states, these new generations of students are being bombarded with information on more platforms than we've ever seen before and furthermore the rise of the digital age has put that information at a fingertip's reach anywhere and anytime for them. Yet, despite the change in student environments and experiences, we're still cramming most of them into dull classrooms that follow the old blueprints of education. When they fail or become disinterested, they're labeled as incompetent in some way or another. This mode of operation has the tendency to suppress the talents and abilities of those who simply don't fit the mold of what the expected product is of the system.
With this in mind, Robinson begins to hint at focusing on students as individuals rather than packaged batches that are put through the same process by age group. Instead of standardized tests and conformity, we should foster the unique learning qualities of each child. Lastly - and Robinson's explanation of divergent thinking drives home this point - we should never suppress the ideas, ways of thinking, and collaboration that sprout from our students as they may very well hold the key to their success as learners and future citizens.
So why is this? As Robinson convincingly states, these new generations of students are being bombarded with information on more platforms than we've ever seen before and furthermore the rise of the digital age has put that information at a fingertip's reach anywhere and anytime for them. Yet, despite the change in student environments and experiences, we're still cramming most of them into dull classrooms that follow the old blueprints of education. When they fail or become disinterested, they're labeled as incompetent in some way or another. This mode of operation has the tendency to suppress the talents and abilities of those who simply don't fit the mold of what the expected product is of the system.
With this in mind, Robinson begins to hint at focusing on students as individuals rather than packaged batches that are put through the same process by age group. Instead of standardized tests and conformity, we should foster the unique learning qualities of each child. Lastly - and Robinson's explanation of divergent thinking drives home this point - we should never suppress the ideas, ways of thinking, and collaboration that sprout from our students as they may very well hold the key to their success as learners and future citizens.