Hemera Technologies/Thinkstock
DCL
In the fascinating and funny TED Talk, "Bring On The Learning Revolution", Sir Ted Robinson declares that we have two crisis's on our hands — the climate crisis and a crisis on human resources. He believes we make poor use of our kid's talents. Robinson divides people into two groups: those who don't enjoy what they are doing and just "get on with it", and those who love what they do because it defines who they are. Robinson claims, those who love what they do because their natural creative talents have been respected.
"We are educating people out of their creativity," ~ Sir Ted Robinson
What's wrong with education?
In a nutshell, our education system doesn't get the best out of its learners. Robinson argues that this is because we've been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers.
"Students with restless minds and bodies are far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity."
As an educator, I found this TED Talk to be a profoundly important subject because the typical school system as we know it, can disenfranchise people from their natural talents. Robinson laments that we teach towards standardization with the obsessive end goal of getting into college. Do we get the best out of our children if we say, "college begins with Kindergarten?" He says no:
"A three year old is not half of a six year old."
Starting the competition to succeed in school when children begin their education only fuels the flame of the, "fast food" model of single-ability achievement based education. Robinson says, this "depletes our talents." He believes we should be asking our children this question:
"What enthralls you?"
Do we need school reform or a revolution?
Robinson finds school reform of no use because it improves upon a broken model
"We don't need evolution-we need a revolution."
What can be done?
A radical shift from standardized schooling to personalized learning is what Robinson calls for.
Watch this inspiring TED Talk. What are your thoughts?
