Sir Ken Robinson - RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms VOST FRENCH

Summary

The speaker critiques the current global education system, arguing that it's outdated and designed for a past era. Two primary challenges are addressed: preparing children for an unpredictable future economy and preserving cultural identity in a globalized world. The speaker emphasizes that today's system stifles creativity, relies too heavily on standardized testing, and alienates students. Instead, they advocate for a shift away from industrial, conformity-based models toward fostering divergent thinking, creativity, and collaborative learning, urging a fundamental change in the way education is approached.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Countries globally are reforming public education due to economic and cultural reasons, aiming to prepare children for an unpredictable 21st-century economy and to instill cultural identity amidst globalization.
• 📉 The current education system is struggling to adapt to the future, often resorting to traditional methods that have alienated many students who no longer see the value in education as it stands.
• 🎓 The promise of a guaranteed job with a college degree is fading, leading to a crisis of belief in the value of education among students.
• 📈 There's a call to raise educational standards, but the challenge lies in updating the outdated model of education that was designed during the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution.
• 🏭 The education system is criticized for its factory-like model, with age-based batching and standardized curricula, which contradicts the diverse and dynamic nature of learning.
• 🚫 The script argues against the overuse of medication to treat ADHD in children, suggesting it's a response to an outdated system rather than a genuine epidemic.
• 🎨 The arts are highlighted as particularly suffering under the current educational model, which stifles creativity and aesthetic experiences in favor of conformity and standardization.
• 🤔 The speaker advocates for a paradigm shift in education, emphasizing the need for a system that fosters original thinking and collaboration over memorization and compliance.
• 📊 A study on divergent thinking among children is cited, showing a decline in this critical skill as children progress through the traditional education system.
• 🧠 The script concludes that education must move away from an industrial model to one that values and nurtures the diverse intellectual and creative capacities of all students.

Q & A

What are the two main reasons countries are reforming public education?

The two main reasons are economic and cultural. Economically, the goal is to educate children for the 21st-century economy, which is challenging due to its unpredictability. Culturally, countries aim to instill a sense of cultural identity in children while also integrating them into the process of globalization.

How does the current education system fail to meet the needs of modern students?

The current system is outdated, designed for a different era, and does not align with the rapidly changing economy and society. It fails to engage students who do not see the relevance of traditional schooling in securing their future.

What is the historical context of the modern education system?

The modern education system was conceived during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, reflecting the intellectual culture and economic circumstances of that time. It was built on the idea of public education funded by taxes, compulsory for all, and free at the point of delivery.

Why does the speaker argue that the concept of 'academic' and 'non-academic' is a myth?

The speaker argues that the distinction between 'academic' and 'non-academic' is a myth because it is based on an outdated view of intelligence that values certain types of deductive reasoning and classical knowledge over other forms of intelligence and ability.

What is the speaker's view on the rise of ADHD diagnoses in children?

The speaker views the rise in ADHD diagnoses as a fictitious epidemic, suggesting that it is a result of children being medicated to cope with the boredom and conformity demanded by the current education system, rather than a genuine increase in the disorder.

How does the speaker relate the increase in ADHD diagnoses to standardized testing?

The speaker suggests that the increase in ADHD diagnoses is not coincidental with the growth of standardized testing, implying that the pressure to conform and perform on these tests may be contributing to the perceived need for medication.

What is the definition of divergent thinking as mentioned in the script?

Divergent thinking is defined as the ability to see many possible answers to a question, to interpret a question in multiple ways, and to think laterally rather than just linearly or convergently.

What was the result of the study on divergent thinking among children?

The study found that a significant percentage of children scored at a 'genius' level for divergent thinking when tested at a young age, but this percentage decreased as they grew older, suggesting a decline in this capacity due to the constraints of the education system.

Why does the speaker believe that the current education system is detrimental to creativity?

The speaker believes that the current education system is detrimental to creativity because it emphasizes standardization, conformity, and a single 'correct' answer, which stifles the development of divergent thinking and original ideas.

What changes does the speaker suggest are necessary for education reform?

The speaker suggests that education reform should focus on changing the paradigm to value different forms of intelligence, recognize the importance of group learning and collaboration, and cultivate a culture that supports the natural learning environment of students.