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Industrial Revolution... mid-1700s to mid-1800s
Leads to mechanisation, new processes, production methods, assembly lines...
Needs new types of workers who can turn up on time, do repetitive tasks, follow orders...
Leads to...
Leads to mechanisation, new processes, production methods, assembly lines...
Needs new types of workers who can turn up on time, do repetitive tasks, follow orders...
Leads to...
Education reforms...
Many more scientists are needed to understand the world, as are engineers to create these new technologies, but also the workers need to be better educated...
So everyone needed to be able to read so they could work.
So then all went to "school"...
Many more scientists are needed to understand the world, as are engineers to create these new technologies, but also the workers need to be better educated...
So everyone needed to be able to read so they could work.
So then all went to "school"...
Which leads to questions like:
"How do you educate an entire nation?"
So they essentially put kids into rows and taught them together in classes.
Create the workers of the future!
They're literate, turn up on time, and the clever ones get to educate the next generation.
"How do you educate an entire nation?"
So they essentially put kids into rows and taught them together in classes.
Create the workers of the future!
They're literate, turn up on time, and the clever ones get to educate the next generation.
But the inequality is perpetuated.
If you are wealthy, you still get a better education. You get the best jobs (because you get a better education) and remain the bosses and the leaders simply because you were wealthy.
Now...
If you are wealthy, you still get a better education. You get the best jobs (because you get a better education) and remain the bosses and the leaders simply because you were wealthy.
Now...
Fast forward to the 21st century...
What are we doing now?
We've been doing video conferencing and working from home for a while now.
But what are we teaching our children?
What are we doing now?
We've been doing video conferencing and working from home for a while now.
But what are we teaching our children?
We're currently teaching our children to turn up, on time, to a screen, and do "work" by a certain time.
There's progression in that work, of course, so you are continually learning.
And they are learning the skills of using video conferencing (the technology of the office)...
There's progression in that work, of course, so you are continually learning.
And they are learning the skills of using video conferencing (the technology of the office)...
But... what is happening elsewhere?
If I learned anything at university (and I did) it is that the most important thing was to "learn how to learn".
The independence of learning was more important than following the pattern.
Especially in a "knowledge" economy.
If I learned anything at university (and I did) it is that the most important thing was to "learn how to learn".
The independence of learning was more important than following the pattern.
Especially in a "knowledge" economy.
And the private schools are increasingly following a similar model.
The idea of free play at least at a young age, and allowing children to develop interests, while guiding them to understand how to research and learn themselves.
So... zoom + worksheets + hand in by 3pm?
The idea of free play at least at a young age, and allowing children to develop interests, while guiding them to understand how to research and learn themselves.
So... zoom + worksheets + hand in by 3pm?
I wonder if we're making a big mistake.
I wonder if this isn't exactly the right moment to upend the education system and reorient it around teaching kids how to learn.
And yes we need some basics, like English and Maths, but maybe we need a bit more latitude.
I wonder if this isn't exactly the right moment to upend the education system and reorient it around teaching kids how to learn.
And yes we need some basics, like English and Maths, but maybe we need a bit more latitude.
Not everyone learns like everybody else.
Why do we force everybody to do so?
We won't change, but I'm just seeing a parallel between the significant changes to education from the Industrial Revolution, and the likely needed changes because of the Digital Revolution.
Why do we force everybody to do so?
We won't change, but I'm just seeing a parallel between the significant changes to education from the Industrial Revolution, and the likely needed changes because of the Digital Revolution.
