ideal learning

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Permalink Reply by Franis Engel on August 29, 2010 at 7:01am

Thanks! There's also a networking site just started connected to the above blog at www.amazee.com. There's a NING website for Edward de Bono's work at http://www.debonosociety.com that is a happening thing right now. Free thinking tools are being taught there by certified trainers as a hobby or pastime. Join the groups on "education" and you'll see many, many suggestions for what needs to be present in a new learning environments of the future.

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Permalink Reply by Nirvair Kaur Khalsa on March 5, 2011 at 10:28am

John, did you know that Maria Montessori's original work in education was with children with disabilities? As a scientist first (she had just completed medical school), and not having been influenced by educational theorists, she started by observing children, experimenting with various hypotheses, and allowing the children to show her what worked. As a result she became a renowned educator and the results turned her into a philosopher and social activist.

The world has had many education revolutionaries, many have been cited in this thread. Yet it seems policymakers keep blaming the ones who have been hired to implement the same old policies if the policies fail, or if there are policymakers who recognize new policies might be needed, they keep trying to re-invent the wheel. What would happen if the fans of Freire, Montessori, de Bono, von Oech, Rogers, etc., etc., spoke with one voice instead of many? What if the revolutionaries of the last century were not seen as new but tried and true? What if education departments taught these thinkers as the main course instead of a side dish?

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Dunnington on September 8, 2010 at 1:44pm

I think that education should start focusing on teaching philosophy. The Socratic Method is very valuable in this instance. I feel that people should ask more questions instead regurgitating what they have learned. Having been educated by the montessori method, there needs to be much autonomy to the student. Autonomy is crucial to build any kind of critical thinking skills. When the student is less-free, critical thinking is less-easy. Perhaps an ontological method would surface many areas of thinking, and establish a strong connection between the learner and the subject, but not necessarily the curriculum and rote exercises. This prepares the student to think outside the box once he gets into college. It also is ideal for training leaders who have adequate skills in rational ways of solving issues at hand. Consider the Thomas Jefferson Schooling method if you feel that there needs to be a resurgence of classical education methods.
Another thing to draw onto is the fact that students need to be taught to explore the world outside the school for answers. The school is its own world, and from this we can gather that the modern student is autistically situated in a learning environment. More importantly, there needs to be a way to build the value of learning within the student. This is interdependent between the student and teacher, I feel.
I would love to hear what others think of my ideas concerning this topic. Please add to or critique what i have so far, if I have left out something important. Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Grauer on September 8, 2010 at 3:36pm

I support this discussion and founded a school on closely related principles (The Grauer School) (even though I have no apologies about being a male and anglo ...). I studied with DeBono in the 70s and understand that using his methodoloiges of thinking and analysis are powerful for anyone seeking a more Socratic school or classroom. Thank you all! A truly socratic classroom can only be compassionate.

I need some assistance, as I am leading a student group to an Native American reservation to share time in the classrooms and at their pow wow. Does anyone have experience like this to share? Is it true that there is enough culture left in native/indigenous wisdom that is relevant for "the learning revolution that has started?"

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Permalink Reply by GwenEllyn Anderson on September 8, 2010 at 6:14pm

Are you also looking at the current brain research in how the brain learns, stores, retains, retrieves information?

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Clouet on September 9, 2010 at 4:06am

I guess I would be considered conservative in this conversation, because I believe there is a place for (better, and more responsive) schools in the 21st Century.

It would be strange if folks interested in the World Cafe model would discount the possibilities that schools in their multiple forms offer in the way of bringing people together to create knowledge and learn skills, among other things.

I lived in Brazil, I met Paulo Freire, I am in debt to his fine work... I am also grounded in the day to day struggles of young people and their families in the multilingual, public school settings where I have worked in the metro New York area for 25 years. Clearly, schools need to be organized in a way that nurtures (see Nel Noddings) and encourages children to tap into their innate creativity (see "Out of Our Minds") and to redefine their world in a manner that is based on social justice.

(Maria Montessori should not be left out of this discussion, right?)

I am interested in joining your research group. How can I do that?

Praxis certainly implies practitioner. I am hopeful that conversations about the future of education do include the voices of practitioners.

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Hala Makarem on September 9, 2010 at 8:58am

As connecting all common intentions together is essential, I feel that it is worth knowing that a group of 155 members are also interested in exploring this field at the Presencing Institute community site (the PI community focuses on co-creating awareness based social technologies for change makers and social innovators around the world.)

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Permalink Reply by jen hagen on October 31, 2010 at 5:14am

I live for a day when we revolutionize public policy and learning in a publicly-funded setting and create an all-inclusive, DISRUPTABLE setting that incorporates all learners and styles of learning. I believe first our communities must become more open, connected and unconventional. The first step, in my opinion, is to rid ourselves of the current top-heavy model of administration and the 'inactive' and expensive way that it creates waste of time, money and the resource of creative risk-taking.

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