Overall, I thought that the video was a little extreme, but that depends on your focus, the grade level of addressed and the level of content expertise. As one speaker says we need to “teach kids to solve interesting problems not to memorize answers to problems we’ve already solved” (Ericsson, 2012). In order to accomplish the former we must have already built the particular foundation that the students can build upon. One general focus I came away with was that educators need to step back and facilitate rather than teach, which is intended to build on top of foundational learning.
That students are totally free to develop their own learning when they “feel like” learning is too far out. They already live too much by hormonal emotions and the penchant to desire total socialization, which could challenge their desire to learn many necessary things. I think some of the tools spoken about are already in place in a balanced form with traditional learning or they could be. Knewton is course building software which builds on what the student knows and their personal learning style seems to be a positive learning tool but not for a complete curriculum. Connect to learn can have positive results in connecting 3rd world students with better learning experiences, however it also has the capability of pulling them into or preparing them to become new world citizens, which smacks of the new world order. Coursera, which takes courses from a variety of universities places them on the internet for world-wide access. Since the majority of higher educational institutions are populated with morally challenged instructors I would be more impressed by this if the courses were coming from more positive educational environments. Finally, I think it was a gentleman who said, “no one I know takes standardized tests for a living”, was being extreme and disingenuous - unless he/she has a really narrow focus of experiences. In actuality, many careers require standardized testing as a rite of passage: Medical licensing board exams, legal bar exams, realtor exams, career testing in various technologies (ex: many temp agencies require that their clients take standardized exams in various office related technologies), state licensing exams for child care providers, teacher praxis exams, etc., etc., etc. There are too many more to count. Taking standardized tests simply teaches students disciplined learning. I know that discipline is a concept which is taboo in many circles today but there needs to be a balance between free creativity and disciplined learning. Lastly, the speakers who declared that “teachers don’t need to give any answers, the answers are everywhere” AND that “education prepares you to cope with certainty, though there is no certainty” are both functioning from faulty moral reasoning. First, as I said before, teachers absolutely need to give answers to students in the foundational levels of learning. Second, when students are left to their own they are often open to anything that people say unless they have a foundational training in morality. Without this they can be very susceptible to being deceived by people of ‘reputation’ in the world. Sadly, the teaching of morality is often sacrificed to make way for ‘politically correct’ concepts promoted over media and in our education institutions. God expects us, as Christians, to stand up for principles which declare His truth (Zechariah 8:16, Malachi 2:6, Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21) and that our life represents His truth (Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:24) balance with His love. God’s love never negates truth, which is a component of His own character (John 14:6). Reference Ericsson (Producer). (2012, October 19). The Future of learning, networked society [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=121&v=quYDkuD4dMU
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