The system that is currently in place has had it’s structure dictated by standardized tests, and this is why the system has serious short-comings. This system is oriented towards preparing students for a test, rather than concentrating on the big picture of teaching skills such as synthesis of information, and channeling creativity into productive areas. Performance on a test becomes inconsequential once one is immersed into the real world and an entirely different skill-set is needed. Education must be rethought, so that it is is applied on a personal level, because once this happens the natural desire of any child to learn will take over and the teacher will only need to guide their desire to learn, rather than try and force-feed the students information. Studies conducted by Sugata Mitra show quite clearly that students have a very natural drive to learn. If a system were implemented, where students natural desires to learn could be elicited, success of education would grow exponentially each year. Mitra stresses incredible education occurred in his tests when, “I set the children up with material and... then I left.”₇ In addition to this insight, Sir Ken Robinson has likewise critiqued the education system, he believes that “creativity is as important in education as literacy,” and that in, “our education systems, mistakes are the worst things you can make.”₈ By conditioning students to think that mistakes are unacceptable, Sir Robinson believes that we “destroy this capacity [for creativity and innovation].”₈
Fixed:
The system that is currently in place has had it’s structure dictated by standardized tests, and this is why it has such serious short-comings. This system is oriented towards preparing students for a test, rather than concentrating on the bigger picture of teaching skills such as synthesis of information, and channeling creativity into productive areas. Performance on a test becomes inconsequential once immersed in the real world, where an entirely different skill-set is needed. Education must be rethought so that it is is applied on a personal level, rather than on a standardized level. Once this happens the natural desire of any child to learn will take over, and the teacher will only need to guide their natural desire to learn, rather than try and force-feed the students information. Mark Twain once said, "I never let my schooling interfere with my education." Once standardized testing receives less emphasis schooling won't be a hinderance to a child's education.
Studies conducted by Sugata Mitra show quite clearly that students have a very natural drive to learn. If a system were implemented, where student's natural desires to learn could be elicited, success of education would grow exponentially each year. Mitra stresses incredible education occurred in his tests when, “I set the children up with material and... then I left.”7 Clearly education must be changed to take advantage of a student's natural urges. In addition to this insight, Sir Ken Robinson has likewise critiqued the education system, he believes that “creativity is as important in education as literacy,” and that in, “our education systems, mistakes are the worst things you can make.”8 By conditioning students to think that mistakes are unacceptable, Sir Robinson believes that we “destroy this capacity [for creativity and innovation].”9 These insights are vital points to focus on, and to hold in mind.
Good work, Colin. Just a few changes:
ReplyDeleteThe system that is currently in place is based on the results of standardized tests, and this is why it has suffered such serious shortcomings. This system is oriented towards preparing students for a test, rather than concentrating on the bigger picture of teaching skills such as synthesis of information, and channeling creativity into productive areas. Performance on a test becomes inconsequential once immersed in the real world, where an entirely different skill-set is needed. Education must be rethought so that it is applied on a personal level, rather than on a standardized level. Once this happens, the natural desire of any child to learn will take over, and the teacher will only need to guide that natural desire, rather than try and force-feed the students information. Mark Twain once said, "I never let my schooling interfere with my education." Once standardized testing receives less emphasis in the classroom, schooling may be less of a hinderance to a child's education.
Studies conducted by Sugata Mitra show quite clearly that students have a very natural drive to learn. If a system were implemented, where student's natural desires to learn could be elicited, success of education would grow exponentially each year. Mitra stresses incredible education occurred in his tests when “[he] set the children up with material and... then [he] left.”7 Clearly, education must be changed to take advantage of a student's natural urges. Sir Ken Robinson has similarly critiqued the education system. He believes that “creativity is as important in education as literacy,” and that in “our education systems, mistakes are the worst things you can make.”8 By conditioning students to think that mistakes are unacceptable, Sir Robinson believes that we “destroy this capacity [for creativity and innovation].”9 These insights are vital points to consider when discussing a system such as merit based pay.