Is America’s Current Education System Sustainable?

Have you seen ‘Changing Education Paradigms’ by Sir Ken Robinson done on YouTube by RSAnimate?

http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U

This is a fascinating piece that discusses the problems of using an 18th century education model in a 21st century world.  It’s one of tne of the most concise and insightful discussions about education that I’ve come across and I think the concepts are in line with some of the questions you pose here.

That’s a wonderful video Jacqueline. It’s so true that as the world around us evolved, the notions of education failed to follow the trends and transitions of our lives. And additionally, if we have a passion for something, we should harness and build upon it with our learning. Not dilute it with countless other unnecessary subjects.

Our education must become more personalized to our abilities, and ditch the generic curriculums and mindsets.

I bet my input on this will be unpopular, but hey that’s how living works!

I strongly feel focusing on making sure everyone “makes” it and just barely scrapes by education-wise continues to manifest exactly that…a population that barely scrapes by.  Certainly one size does NOT fit all.  

Celebrate and encourage the love, passion, fulfillment and satisfaction of how individuals learn.  It’s unique for all.  Just look at something like the Kolbe Index http://www.Kolbe.com that celebrates that.  

If a learner is learning in a way that they “hear” it, it will cultivate a love of learning.  Why wouldn’t they be more apt to shine brighter as an example to other learners watching.  They serve as a model to certain kinds of learners.  It resonates pulling those learners towards learning THAT way.  

I’ve witnessed more fulfilled people working closer to their conative ability versus cognitive ability.  Hey just because a learner has a strong electrical engineering intelligence, an IQ or aptitude test does NOT tell us how they LEARN BEST.   When THAT is combined with an aptitude, watch out!

Not unpopular to me… This is our greatest challenge as a society. To find a way to personalize learning in a way that everyone can relate & learn with their style. And I feel this is the holy grail of education design.

Thanks for the comment Thomas!

With our present education system,  when one finds they need additional training to increase profits in their business they must take time to attend evening courses at some distant school for three months or longer. Your instructor will most likely be someone who has zero experience in business and will be teaching methods that expired during the last century. There is training I need, but it has to be on my schedule when I have free time and at my office not at some classroom where most of the students could care less what they learn. Most internet webinars are too basic and give you one chance to master a subject. It seems there is always a phone call that interrupts your training. In this economy who has four years to acquire an education?

Exactly, that’s my biggest beef about higher education for entrepreneurs. Almost every college course is filled with useless busy work taught by professors so far outside the loop of reality, the class becomes more of a hinderance than a benefit.

Thanks for the comment Chuck!

As an online tutor for young kids who struggle with reading, due to dyslexia, learning disabilities, or even poor teaching, I agree vehemently with all you say. By changing my teaching techniques with my kids, away from the one-size-fits-all to helping each achieve from “where they are,” I’m having some incredible successes. (I was a rather different teacher even when I was healthy enough to teach at public school.) ;) 

Find the passion in a young person and they can accomplish astonishing things—even my kids, who are often regarded as failures at school. Tap into what matters to them, and it can be used to teach anything, any subject, any idea!

I do phenomenally online on the things I care about. Things that I don’t, i do half-heartedly, and probably would be better not doing at all. 

I think it’s human nature. Find something we love and we’ll work at it with all our heart and soul. That gives us expert status, and that’s what can make the world go round. We don’t all have to be business bloggers and social media gurus or corporate bigwigs—we need to be what we think about, dream about, and ponder. 

Some of those super-successful business bloggers, it turns out, have kids who need extra reading help. So do the power moms who are huge bloggers on a multitude of issues. 

Reading problems are rife in our society, and it’s not always the kids in poverty, contrary to popular opinion. So we all end up with work to do, and it’s work we love. Many families with parents in all walks of life need the kind of help I provide.

And conversely, I need help on many fronts from other people online. 

I know you were talking about older students and higher ed, but this fits perfectly in my neck of the woods too. Teachers need freedom and autonomy to use their own best selves to craft a wonderful education for the kids in their care. 

And the U.S. government is not in the mood for us to do this. In fact, we’re penalized or even fired for not following the “recipe.” BAH! Humbug!

Massive #fail, Congress, President, Arne Duncan, the dismal head of education, and everyone else into bureaucracy above children learning.

We have to listen to teachers ( many of whom really know their stuff, and let them explain what’s WRONG with our education system!

I just realized I’m ranting. My apologies, but you are talking about THE major issue of my life! How embarrassing! Ah well, so what! Delete if you wish, kids. No prob. :D

Ahhh. I feel better! Great post, Bradley. 

You raise some great points. And it’s our goal to not just sit on the sidelines while kids & adults are struggling in school, but rather continually work on finding better ways for people of any age to learn better.

Thanks for the comment!