Educational Paradigms?-CIES TLC class blog post

Sir Ken Robinson’s Changing Educational Paradigms video gives insight into the current state of education and gives the historical perspective on how education, as we know it, was developed.  One of the issues that he points to is the fact that our system of education was built around the ideals and needs of the industrial revolution and enlightenment.  He sees our schools as factories pushing out a product that is developed not based on what will best shape the product, but with more concern with the ways of separating the product into similar categories such as sex or age.  

Robinson also deals with some more specifics such as the perceived differences between academic thinkers and non academic thinkers, the rise of ADHD, and how academic learning stifles divergent thinking and creativity.

With the interesting discussion he puts forth, he gives no specific answers for how to correct the wrongs he discusses.  He may be assuming that the answers are implied or maybe he just means to discuss the issues and not give a solution.  

It can be argued that the overhaul of the education system that he implies is not practical or cost effective, at least on a macro level.  The dividing of students by ability and interest can be done on a small level in the classroom, but until standardized testing is taken out of the equation allowing for ability groups, this will even be difficult on a micro scale.  

The most reasonable start that can be made, based on Robinson’s talk, is moving from the view that there is only one answer and one way to see the question to a model of collaboration.  These collaborative groups are ones in which students can work with others to find multiple routes to multiple answers to questions that they view in several different ways.  Students need to be encouraged to use their resources, and to come up with numerous ways to reach the same, or different conclusions.

There is no doubt that there needs to be reforms in education.  These reforms need to come at all levels, from the federal government, to the local schoolhouse, to the home, and everywhere in between.  It is possible that simply identifying where the issues are is the place to start.  It must be recognized that there will not be one cookiecutter solution for the whole country.  We live in a diverse country with multiple ideas, cultures, and economic situations and each area will have to address their own issues and come up with solutions that work for them.