We are facing a global crisis in learning. Despite the growing cybernetization of our societies and the recent upwards trend of numbers of science breakthroughs we see each year, we are still falling behind in education. The recent data shows that a quarter million children still don’t have access to education. Even worse, a third of a million children attend schools, but still fail to learn from the classes they undertake.
Unfortunately
this trend is increasing. If the present state of things continues the
Education Commission prognoses, that by 2030 half of the word’s children and
youth will be out of school of failing to learn. Thankfully it’s not too late.
If we do change our approach to education, we can still turn things around.
1. What do you think about the Vietnam's approach? Do you think it helps to motivate students?
2. What do you think about the Amazonas' approach? Would you find that kind of learning more or less motivating to participate in?
3. What impact do you think the increased spending on education had on the democratic reforms in Tunisia?
Comments
Yeah, as the results shows us the Vietnam's approach works and it helps to better motivate students making their achievments public.
In terms of Brazilian jungle this seems to be the best solution because it's impossible to make teachers to move there but via skype etc they can teach children.
To my mind, the rate of educated people increased which means the society became more aware of the significance of democratic institutions and human rights.
Secondly, teachers that are made accountable for the results of their students are enforced to do their tasks with care and dedication in order to enable their students to achieve better results.
2. The solution introduced by state officials in Amazona is undoubtedly smart and very efficient. In such almost uninhabited areas, there are no chances for children to have access to hiqh-quality education system or even to any education system at all. Brazilian authorities did a great job by taking advantage of modern technology and delegating tasks to proper people. Streaming lectures conducted by qualified content teachers from capital city and providing assistance of general tutoring teachers locally is simple, fast and quite cheap way to provide children in areas like Amazonas riverside essential secondary education.
I would consider this kind of education as a good alternative to traditional forms of teaching, especially in the cases similar to the Amazonas river areas where it is actually the only form of education which can be provided. I can’t really say if it would be more motivating when it comes to countries with well-developed education system, some people may become more indolent when given a possibility of studying remotely.
3. 3. Increased spending on education in Tunisia was certainly one of the reasons for Tunisian Revolution and democratic reforms. People who were better and better educated, were able to understand more and more processes and rules which are present in the Western world. Through the improved learning process, they also possessed important skills of searching for useful information and speaking foreign languages. This enabled them to imagine how their country could be changed and their lives improved. All these factors pushed them to demonstrations and led to the overthrow of president Ben Ali.
Well, hard to say, whether it is good or bad solution, because it looks like it is only one possible solution. If it works somehow, if somebody is interested in developping and upgrading such approach it should show positive results in future anyway.
The higher is level of intelligent people is, the harder it is for any kind of totalitarian regime to survive. More people start to looking for something more than just manual labor job, they need more and more possibilities for self-realization and who will be the one they are going to ask him for such possibilities? It will be gouvernement. And if something isn't working as it should, people is going to change it, because they know how to do it, they can and they have a courage for it.
The problem is much bigger than this speaker enunciates
Concerning Amazonas, it sounds like a huge improvement.
But what the problems were before?
When it comes to Amazonas's approach I wouldn't like it. It was created because there was a need for that and the main cause was the lack of teachers. It's better than nothing at all but again it wasn't created out of progress so the quality of this education compared to what I have experienced is for sure way much worse.
As she started her presentation with calling Tunisia's president decision a bold move, I think this is what it is. It was a strategic decision and I am curious how it was enforced and supported.
Instead school is supposed to teach you logical thinking and problem solving. It's supposed to give you proper tools for dealing with problems you might encounter in your future life.
Of course not everyone is able to do that. For one that requires the students to participate. (I remember I was always terrified of German classes in middle school. In retrospect I see it was much more due to me not learning it, than due to my teacher being mean)
The problem with that, is it requires you to blur the line between a teacher and a fun companion, which can sometimes lead to students not showing you respect as a teacher. This is obviously the fault of the student, but it scares new teachers into being more strict with new groups of students.