Changing Education Paradigms

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I very much agree with this. As someone with ADHD, and had her body and mind dulled by the constant effects of medication since age 6, I know exactly what it feels like to be, in a sense, brain dead. Due to the mindset of manufacturing kids, I felt like I was being contained and dismissed because I didn't conform to, what the current education system decrees, the 'norm' of learning and intelligence. When I had the desire to flourish, I would be stamped on. While this isn't something major or constant on everyone's minds, I thought it would be significant if more individuals were made aware of it and how the education system really does need to change.

[Marth 338]

i agree with you ( i also have ADHD)

[baylaust 2,531]

Make this man the president / prime minister of all things education. Now.

 

Seriously though, I've thought this for a long time. Maybe not in quite a detailed manner, but I've always thought the way we were taught was too old fashioned and needs to change. It's like my English teacher last year told the class: "The education system needs to change. Everyone knows it but them, because they're too stupid to see it. That's why it needs to change."

Edited September 2, 2012 by baylaust

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

Well Genn you already know my story so I agree totally .People with ADHD need properly stimulated and the educational system needs to recognize there are different needs for different people . If i'm bored it's really hard for me to concentrate without daydreaming . That's why I skipped grades and graduated @ 16... Starting college early helped ( I already have a degree ) but I still struggle with restlessness, boredom , and hyperactiveness.

Edited September 2, 2012 by Flaming Lea

[hatok 6,413]

I rememebr this! Saw it ages ago!

Spread the word Genn!

We need to bring our century old teaching methods up to modern standards!

[keystrike 145]

I remember taking pills to help me concentrate too. There really is a lot to be fixed in education, and while this video doesn't outline the solutions, it quite thoroughly outlines the problems in need of solving and I think that's a great place to start.

[Amon 4,279]

I agree with the concept, but it is a little idealistic.

 

For starters, not everyone can become ultra- successful. There is a growing population and with the economy going to crap, there are fewer and fewer high paying jobs and more and more low paying jobs. Plus even if it was possible for everyone to have a job with high pay, we need people shoveling garbage and digging tunnels.

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I agree with the concept, but it is a little idealistic.

 

For starters, not everyone can become ultra- successful. There is a growing population and with the economy going to crap, there are fewer and fewer high paying jobs and more and more low paying jobs. Plus even if it was possible for everyone to have a job with high pay, we need people shoveling garbage and digging tunnels.

 

But keep in mind, this involves other countries too. My economy isn't in the same state as yours is, it's not doing too badly at the moment. Should the government finally get their shit together and choose to care, they could improve the education system by finally paying attention and choosing to invest in the idea, bit by bit. I'll admit, even for my country, it's a bit of a long shot but nothing is a lost cause.

[hatok 6,413]

I agree with the concept, but it is a little idealistic.

 

For starters, not everyone can become ultra- successful. There is a growing population and with the economy going to crap, there are fewer and fewer high paying jobs and more and more low paying jobs. Plus even if it was possible for everyone to have a job with high pay, we need people shoveling garbage and digging tunnels.

 

Well we could always change how we do stuff like that. For example, we could fill the minor jobs with high school students. The work gets done, and the teenagers get some work experience, and there'll be a constant supply

[P50L 610]

Well we could always change how we do stuff like that. For example, we could fill the minor jobs with high school students. The work gets done, and the teenagers get some work experience, and there'll be a constant supply

 

"Gee, I would love to hire teenagers, but I just can't afford to pay them!"

[hatok 6,413]

"Gee, I would love to hire teenagers, but I just can't afford to pay them!"

 

Then make it compulsory volunteer work

[Loki 1,184]

I completely agree with this guy as it pertains to American education. I feel like one of the great flaws of education is that it doesnt explore multiple intelligences. You pretty much need to be good with reading, writing, and listening to be able to learn well because that is the only way information is transmitted in a classroom. Not everyone is strong in those intelligences because we are all unique. On a more personal level, it sucks for me being dyslexic. I was held back a grade because I couldnt keep up with the schoolwork. Yet when textbooks started selling digital copies and I got a program that would read out loud to me while I read, I jumped ahead and skipped a grade. Now, I dont even listen in class anymore. I go home and look for videos on youtube or find other visual (or musical in some cases) ways to teach me because, frankly, my school doesnt know how to teach someone like me. The internet is a much better teacher if you know how to use it right.

[P50L 610]

Then make it compulsory volunteer work

 

But we're lazy

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Then make it compulsory volunteer work

 

But we're lazy

 

Or you find a different form or payment or reward that doesn't involve money or credits.

[hatok 6,413]

Or you find a different form or payment or reward that doesn't involve money or credits.

 

Lazy means nothing when you are legally obliged to work at a place alongside standard education

There could always be the threat of not graduating if you purposefully suck at your job

 

Something I've been thinking about for a long time: What if we were educated by video games? Or just media in general?

I'm sure that almost anyone on this site could recite the bulk of KH's lore on the stop... why not use this investment to teach people about aspects of our physical world?

I've learnt a LOT about social studies from games like Civilization, so I'm sure this can be done

It just needs to be i the hands of skilled developers

[LordOfTheCastle 92]

Lazy means nothing when you are legally obliged to work at a place alongside standard education

There could always be the threat of not graduating if you purposefully suck at your job

 

Something I've been thinking about for a long time: What if we were educated by video games? Or just media in general?

I'm sure that almost anyone on this site could recite the bulk of KH's lore on the stop... why not use this investment to teach people about aspects of our physical world?

I've learnt a LOT about social studies from games like Civilization, so I'm sure this can be done

It just needs to be i the hands of skilled developers

 

That can work in a lot of ways. I learned a lot of my history from video games, and my vocabulary is above that of my peers, but all i do is play a game, see a word i dont know, figure it out using context clues, and BAM, vocabulary.

 

The problem isnt that we're not being educated by video games as much as we could be. The problem is that we're hardly even being educated by the freaking education system itself.

 

I'm a high school graduate, and I can tell you I learned about as much if not more on my own time spent on the internet and playing video games than I did in school. The education I got was absolutely abysmal.

[hatok 6,413]

That can work in a lot of ways. I learned a lot of my history from video games, and my vocabulary is above that of my peers, but all i do is play a game, see a word i dont know, figure it out using context clues, and BAM, vocabulary.

 

The problem isnt that we're not being educated by video games as much as we could be. The problem is that we're hardly even being educated by the freaking education system itself.

 

I'm a high school graduate, and I can tell you I learned about as much if not more on my own time spent on the internet and playing video games than I did in school. The education I got was absolutely abysmal.

 

I say pretty much this exact quote to people all the time and nobody believes me

[LordOfTheCastle 92]

I say pretty much this exact quote to people all the time and nobody believes me

 

Yeah me neither. People have deluded themselves into truly believing that the education system does good, and that going to college is for smart people, and you make the amount of money that you earn and deserve nothing more. It's bullshit across the board. The system is so broken that not even the cries of over half the population that are telling their story of poverty, working long hours, depression, and ennui, simply working all of their waking hours just to be able to afford the right to exist get through to the higher-ups, theyre just padding their pockets because that's what the American Dream is: trampling on the poor and building a tower of slaves beneath you as you look down on the world on your throne of pure-bred American superiority. It's insane.

 

The main trait of the united states is pride; pride in your people and country. And honestly, if you're proud of the united states in its current state, you're a monster and a fool.

 

...I got REALLY carried away there. Sheesh. Gotta chill out a bit.

[hatok 6,413]

Yeah me neither. People have deluded themselves into truly believing that the education system does good, and that going to college is for smart people, and you make the amount of money that you earn and deserve nothing more. It's bullshit across the board. The system is so broken that not even the cries of over half the population that are telling their story of poverty, working long hours, depression, and ennui, simply working all of their waking hours just to be able to afford the right to exist get through to the higher-ups, theyre just padding their pockets because that's what the American Dream is: trampling on the poor and building a tower of slaves beneath you as you look down on the world on your throne of pure-bred American superiority. It's insane.

 

The main trait of the united states is pride; pride in your people and country. And honestly, if you're proud of the united states in its current state, you're a monster and a fool.

 

...I got REALLY carried away there. Sheesh. Gotta chill out a bit.

 

Well that's sort of it, isn't it? The American dream that anybody COULD make it is ironically what keeps people in their place. People are SURE that they were getting an equal opportunity but are essentially being forced to stay in one increasing low spot. Ironically, the simple PROMISE of freedom is enough to let most people grow complacent and simply abide by any rules given and not actually express said freedom

[LordOfTheCastle 92]

Well that's sort of it, isn't it? The American dream that anybody COULD make it is ironically what keeps people in their place. People are SURE that they were getting an equal opportunity but are essentially being forced to stay in one increasing low spot. Ironically, the simple PROMISE of freedom is enough to let most people grow complacent and simply abide by any rules given and not actually express said freedom

 

Exactly. The simple fact that they've been told "you have freedom," despite limitations and exceptions on ALL of your freedoms, all in favor of the government and not the people, leads people to feel like they're free and "special" when theyre not. It also makes people learn to be helpless. They just assume that, since the ideals are that "hard work = money" a L-I-E, they assume if they don't make as much money as somebody, they must not work as hard. That's simply not the case. In fact, in a lot of cases, it's the opposite. The rich hardly ever have to do any work at all. The only real strain on their brain is how they plan on sheltering their money from federal and payroll tax both. The poor, however, work ALL day EVERY day just to make ends meet. That's what we call screwing the pooch.

[Kirux 1,224]

To start, I am the type of person that school came amazingly naturally to me. I was the kid in school that got straight A's in practically everything, all while never studying for a test. I was in the gifted children's classes through out most of elementary and up until 8th grade, the last grade the program entailed. Without sounding like a braggart; I am a very brilliant person. In 2007 father died and I had to move to a new school. I went from having a senior class schedule of European History, Honors English, and Pre-Calculus to be shunted into Civics and Remedial Geometry because I technically didn't have any classes with that exact name on my transcript, and a normal English class.The quality of education I received in felt amazingly sub-par in comparison to that of the school I grew up with. In general I was completely unstimulated, along with depressed, and I ended up skipping a lot of school and sleeping through classes. My love of learning was also completely dashed, and I assumed college would fix that and present me with a challenge, yet I was dashed again. I dropped out, a fact I sometimes regret today. I digress though.

 

I feel as though I can't truly comment in the same way as everyone else, most of my school was in a school that, in my opinion, did wonderfully. It was also a really small school (7-12th grade in one building, approx. 550 kids).My last year of high school, however; was in suburban school outside of the Baltimore Metro area, not only was it a culture shock (My senior class had 660 graduating students) but I was astounded to learn that they had such lower standards than my old school. I feel that this large metro schools are a determent to the educational process of many children. With high capacity schools the focus is on quantity, and quality is put into the wayside in order to find the easiest way to school that many children at once,

 

These a few of the things I notice were different between my small school, and the large metro area school:

• The failing point where I grew up was 70; in the new school it was 60.

• My original high school had mandatory tutorial sessions if you fell people a 75 in a class, and you usually had to stay there until you were above an 85. This did not exist in the new school, in fact many teachers did not offer tutorial periods at all.

• I went through 5 years of school being used to having 8 40-44 minute long classes (Plus a 40 minute lunch); same classes and teachers each day, except P.E we had that every other day all year long, every year. This usually alternated another class, usually a health class. The Baltimore metro school area had 4 1.5 hr long classes one day, and a different 4 1.5 hours long classes the next, with most of those classes changing in the second semester. They also only required one year of P.E for each student, that you could elect to take at any time.

• The teachers in my original school I knew for most of my high school career. They understood how I did things, and I knew I could trust and rely on them. They took the time to actually help me when I had problems, and were always there when i needed them. In Baltimore I was just another face and my teachers barely remembered who I was half the time. I think only my AP Art History teacher remembered me, because the class itself wasn't that big. My English teacher remembered me, but only because I was the only student in my class that knew how to properly write a paper. I'm not joking; he thanked me in the middle of class for being the only one not to use text speak on one of my papers; and for using correct punctuation and capitalization. I was appalled and embarrassed simultaneously.

I know this is a longer post than the others, and probably not as on topic due to the fact I cannot watch the video while at work. I hope it still had some impact on the conversation and that my point was able to be properly communicated.

 

Kiru

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

To start, I am the type of person that school came amazingly naturally to me. I was the kid in school that got straight A's in practically everything, all while never studying for a test. I was in the gifted children's classes through out most of elementary and up until 8th grade, the last grade the program entailed. Without sounding like a braggart; I am a very brilliant person. In 2007 father died and I had to move to a new school. I went from having a senior class schedule of European History, Honors English, and Pre-Calculus to be shunted into Civics and Remedial Geometry because I technically didn't have any classes with that exact name on my transcript, and a normal English class.The quality of education I received in felt amazingly sub-par in comparison to that of the school I grew up with. In general I was completely unstimulated, along with depressed, and I ended up skipping a lot of school and sleeping through classes. My love of learning was also completely dashed, and I assumed college would fix that and present me with a challenge, yet I was dashed again. I dropped out, a fact I sometimes regret today. I digress though.

 

I feel as though I can't truly comment in the same way as everyone else, most of my school was in a school that, in my opinion, did wonderfully. It was also a really small school (7-12th grade in one building, approx. 550 kids).My last year of high school, however; was in suburban school outside of the Baltimore Metro area, not only was it a culture shock (My senior class had 660 graduating students) but I was astounded to learn that they had such lower standards than my old school. I feel that this large metro schools are a determent to the educational process of many children. With high capacity schools the focus is on quantity, and quality is put into the wayside in order to find the easiest way to school that many children at once,

 

These a few of the things I notice were different between my small school, and the large metro area school:

• The failing point where I grew up was 70; in the new school it was 60.

   

• My original high school had mandatory tutorial sessions if you fell people a 75 in a class, and you usually had to stay there until you were above an 85. This did not exist in the new school, in fact many teachers did not offer tutorial periods at all.

   

• I went through 5 years of school being used to having 8 40-44 minute long classes (Plus a 40 minute lunch); same classes and teachers each day, except P.E we had that every other day all year long, every year. This usually alternated another class, usually a health class. The Baltimore metro school area had 4 1.5 hr long classes one day, and a different 4 1.5 hours long classes the next, with most of those classes changing in the second semester. They also only required one year of P.E for each student, that you could elect to take at any time.

   

• The teachers in my original school I knew for most of my high school career. They understood how I did things, and I knew I could trust and rely on them. They took the time to actually help me when I had problems, and were always there when i needed them. In Baltimore I was just another face and my teachers barely remembered who I was half the time. I think only my AP Art History teacher remembered me, because the class itself wasn't that big. My English teacher remembered me, but only because I was the only student in my class that knew how to properly write a paper. I'm not joking; he thanked me in the middle of class for being the only one not to use text speak on one of my papers; and for using correct punctuation and capitalization. I was appalled and embarrassed simultaneously.

I know this is a longer post than the others, and probably not as on topic due to the fact I cannot watch the video while at work. I hope it still had some impact on the conversation and that my point was able to be properly communicated.

 

Kiru

 

It is slightly off-topic. You should waited until you came home to pay attention to this topic. Shame, Kiru.

 

You really should watch the video. It has a huge impact on the actual conversation going on the topic and I'm pretty sure your response would be quite a bit different if you had.