"In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
His views are quite revolutionary indeed. He brought up some very interesting points, and I loved how entertaining his speech was! :) He really put across his ideas effectively, keeping the audience's attention through out. I don't really think I agree with EVERYthing that he said, but I must see he is a commendable orator.
Faiza,
What did you not agree with? - I'm curious.
I agree completely with what he said. I found it very interesting and it's right-school does need a change. The first school that was made was built way to far back for us to follow the same structure. School does kill creativity. From since we are kids,there's a long path built ahead of us and we're forced to walk on it with no lefts or rights. I'd like to see the day schools revolutionise and create an option for all the different talents to grow and students to expand their minds on what they love doing best
Well, I agreed with MOST of it. But in my own subjective opinion, I feel that competition compels you to excel in what you're doing. Yes, I know, it's a very orthodox way of thinking, but hey, I'm Indian. :P
Yes, people should do what they prefer doing, what they like doing etc etc but think about it, whats the harm in excelling in every aspect? Is it wrong to try to develop an all-rounder? Is is wrong to inculcate dynamic personalities? Fine, you may not be a mathematician but at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that you've had the opportunity of trying your hand at it. What we're trying to do is give up before even trying; at least, that's how I interpret it.
Moreover, it's statistically proven that just because you have done well in school, it in NO way means that you will be a successful professional and vice versa. You may be a high school dropout for all I care, and still be the owner of a construction company! (I speak out of experience of knowing someone like that)What I'm trying to say is that at the end of the day, it all boils down to one's own ambitions; one's own strengths and inhibitions. And to be honest, I don't think our society is at that point yet where it needs to take such drastic measures. It's not like we don't have enough people living on state benefits already, I think this 'revolution' would only add to this underclass, because people WILL try to take advantage. Sometimes, linearity is what works best. Especially when it comes to education systems; it's the only way to truly empower people. The whole sate of a country's economy depends on the education of it's people and to compromise on that is unacceptable. After all, diamonds are made under pressure.
Lord almighty, I sound like the Devil's advocate! But, that's just how I see things at the moment. :P
I couldn't possibly agree more with eveything that Sir Ken Robinson said in this talk. He's absolutely right, schools today follow a system which should have been labelled 'obsolete' a long time ago. Like Marwan, I too would like to see the day schools break the mould and revolutionise their system. Also, I think one of the underlying messages of this talk (directed particularly towards us students) is the importance of possessing a passion. I possess a blood-red passion - cars, and I wholeheartedly aspire to become an automotive engineer when I grow up. On the other hand, I come across so many fellow students at school who don't have anything even resembling a passion. In fact, nowadays having a passion is too often confused with having an interest. Faiza, you do put forward a valid argument but though I might be wrong I can only conclude that if you support linearity, you probably don't have a passion. Believe me Faiza, it's a stones throw away from love. Besides, though I've lived all my life in Dubai, I'm Indian too.:)
If your passion is blown out by the mere existence of linearity in concepts, then I'm sorry to say but it's your passion that wasn't burning strong enough. When you want to achieve something you will do it regardless of the odds! Surely if the reality was otherwise, then you and I wouldn't even be talking about this right now, because we both come from the same education system Sir Ken Robinson is criticising. Yet you and I both share this feeling of passion and know what it feels like. Moreover, is it necessary that one has to make a public display of their passion, just to let people know that they have a purpose in life?
It’s a good topic and the fact that audience is full of quite influential people and the people who get on that stage are of the smartest and most creative people on this earth means they could have a lot of influence. (Note how I separated intelligence and creativity there).
The education systems, worldwide are just... lacklustre. To think that 'education' is just a course, that you could go through this set syllabus, pass it and then have some organisation give you a piece of paper that says you will achieve in life is preposterous. And it seems if you don't have this piece of paper... You 'fail at life’, much like the fireman story.
Unfortunately... Too many resources have been put into this system, a lot of time effort and money, not to forget those who have already spent years in it. It will not change, even with the efforts of all the students worldwide and I doubt we will see much difference. Education will still remain a bland syllabus taught to millions of children in the hope that in the viscous fight for high grades, someone will achieve. It bothers me when some people get a little too obsessed over grades, as if they would fail miserably at everything if they didn’t pass a geography exam... But that’s exactly what education has come to, and I promise its not getting any better.
And as Faiza said if your passion is extinguished by the educational system, then I have to say its just not your passion. But its the fact that people could give up so easily and persue high grades so vigorously that it ruins there lives.
Hold on Faiza, I'm not sure if your third comment on this page was directed towards me but anyways, I NEVER said that my passion was/is blown out by the existence of linearity in concepts. I just strongly oppose linearity whereas you, um, not so much. If one really wants to achieve something will one do so regardless of the odds? Of course! Is it necessary for a person to make a public display of his/her passion just to let people know that he/she has a purpose in life? Well, the way I see it, he/she doesn't have much of a choice. A real passion is as big as the sky. It's impossible to hide, let alone contain.
No Sajid, it wasn't directed at you. As a matter of fact, nothing I've said on this page has been directed towards you, :)
And just food for thought: if passion drives you, then let reason hold the reigns.
Cheers, Faiza. :)
This guy will never cease to be interesting.
Post a Comment