This morning I sit in a library that I used to frequent 41 years ago. The books may have changed, the shelves may be rearranged, but the the place looks much the same. Inside this room is a circle of educators examining how the 1970 model still works today. I feel like I’m at a living museum. Education is a living museum. These are very good people perpetuating an anachronism. How can we change the paradigm to reflect the post-information/post-industrial age in which we live? How do we prepare today’s learners for careers that don’t even exist today? What are the skill sets that we should be emphasizing? Does teaching global studies in an age of Wikipedia and Twitter still make sense? I don’t mean to pick on global studies either. You substitute another subject and ask yourself the same question.
Paradigm change
In reading one of the blogs that I regularly read I came across this video which is well made, timely and poignant. I work in an educational establishment. I have a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology. I’m always watching other teachers teach and I love to watch students learn. I love to teach myself, though I rarely get the chance anymore due to my workday responsibilities. The quote at the beginning of this short clip comes from one of my favorite thinkers who was way ahead of his time.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o]