Comments on: Transforming Education for the 21st Century – Part Two http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2009/08/18/transforming-education-for-the-21st-century-part-two/ A Future Look at Today Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:38:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Craig Hoffman http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2009/08/18/transforming-education-for-the-21st-century-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-65811 Craig Hoffman Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:57:02 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/?p=411#comment-65811 David: Always interesting to read your thoughts on education - I have many like concerns about the state of our current system. A friend of mine recently joined www.schoolnet.com and they are trying to tackle some of the problems by applying technology solutions. I thought you might find them interesting to learn about (if you hadn't already) for this series of entries. I hope you are well otherwise and look forward to your future columns. -C David:
Always interesting to read your thoughts on education – I have many like concerns about the state of our current system. A friend of mine recently joined http://www.schoolnet.com and they are trying to tackle some of the problems by applying technology solutions. I thought you might find them interesting to learn about (if you hadn’t already) for this series of entries.

I hope you are well otherwise and look forward to your future columns.

-C

]]> By: david http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2009/08/18/transforming-education-for-the-21st-century-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-65808 david Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:47:12 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/?p=411#comment-65808 Brian- Insightful comment. One of the things that came up in the conference - to be described next column - was the need to address the student's entire life and the world around them. The general feeling was that teaching toward 'standards' (set by whom and for what reason) was not enough for tomorrow's students. Thank YOU for your great comment. David Brian-
Insightful comment. One of the things that came up in the conference – to be described next column – was the need to address the student’s entire life and the world around them. The general feeling was that teaching toward ’standards’ (set by whom and for what reason) was not enough for tomorrow’s students.

Thank YOU for your great comment.

David

]]> By: Brian Donovan http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/2009/08/18/transforming-education-for-the-21st-century-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-65807 Brian Donovan Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:39:51 +0000 http://www.evolutionshift.com/blog/?p=411#comment-65807 Very interesting perspectives on schooling today, David. It made an impact on me as I teach teachers (and I know the old joke: those who do, do; those can't do, teach; and those who can't teach, teach teachers...). I think most of what you are detailing here can best be accounted for by looking two specific areas of academic research: critical pedagogy and eco-pedagogy. Both are struggling due to teachers' limited access to academic material in the constant pursuit of 'standards'. Last year, in a class with students learning to be secondary school teachers, I posed two questions at the begining of one session: * what is the most urgent issue facing humanity today? * what is the most pressing issue facing life on earth today? ...the next week, I presented their answers, we discussed them, and I asked: * how many of you are dealing with these issues in your classroom? ...not a single student. Maybe, on a concluding note, rather than having, 'some of the best mind in teh country in the area of school design' think about and work out schooling for the future, the notion of a 'generative curriculum' designed by pupils, parents, community activists, academics and others would be a more appropriate idea. It was tried for a couple of years in Brasil in the early 1990s under the guidance of Paulo Freire. Utopian? No, just looking for a solution OUTSIDE mainstream thought. Again, nice essay and keep up the challenging ideas. Brian Donovan Very interesting perspectives on schooling today, David. It made an impact on me as I teach teachers (and I know the old joke: those who do, do; those can’t do, teach; and those who can’t teach, teach teachers…).

I think most of what you are detailing here can best be accounted for by looking two specific areas of academic research: critical pedagogy and eco-pedagogy.

Both are struggling due to teachers’ limited access to academic material in the constant pursuit of ’standards’.

Last year, in a class with students learning to be secondary school teachers, I posed two questions at the begining of one session:

* what is the most urgent issue facing humanity today?
* what is the most pressing issue facing life on earth today?

…the next week, I presented their answers, we discussed them, and I asked:

* how many of you are dealing with these issues in your classroom?

…not a single student.

Maybe, on a concluding note, rather than having, ’some of the best mind in teh country in the area of school design’ think about and work out schooling for the future, the notion of a ‘generative curriculum’ designed by pupils, parents, community activists, academics and others would be a more appropriate idea.

It was tried for a couple of years in Brasil in the early 1990s under the guidance of Paulo Freire.

Utopian?

No, just looking for a solution OUTSIDE mainstream thought.

Again, nice essay and keep up the challenging ideas.

Brian Donovan

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