03-02-2005, 04:05 PM | #1 (permalink) | |
Psycho
Location: whereever my portable hard drive takes me
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Experiences and Education
I wrote this paper for my first-year "Philosophy - Big Ideas" course here at university. I can understand if you encounter this post and frantically hit the back button as fast as you can, to avoid what lies ahead. However, if you really have nothing better to do, I hope to stimulate some type of discussion into the method of education that I present. Keep in mind, a lot of the work is influenced by John Dewey.
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03-03-2005, 07:01 AM | #2 (permalink) |
Upright
Location: France - Switzerland - Germany
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Hi,
I did it !!! i read it to the end and was able not to be lost on the way . English is not my mother tongue so I was not sure to understand it all completly. My main comment would be that the global idea of developping more individuality and self thinking at school is for sure a good idea and I can't imagine any reasons why it could be contradicted (may be an other post will find some reasons... let's see ). I heard this ideas a few times already on the radio and on the TV when it's about improving school and learning methods, I m sure that new methods were tested in few places but it always take time to have the first feed back since this concerns a complete cursus... The only issue with this idea is where to set the limit... since learning at school concerns a group of student it's not possible that on every point the teacher eyplains they contest, express their ideas or want to discuss in details. Otherwise they will graduate a 40. But no doubt that there is place for improvement regarding the way students can learn how to build their own way of thinking and learn how to have their own opinions and ideas. Depending on the teachers it is not always too bad , and there is already some opportunity for a student to express himself and defends his ideas. But this is what I keep from my own experience in a private collège in France !
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Addicted to programming... But I cure myself !!! Last edited by ajji; 03-03-2005 at 07:04 AM.. |
03-03-2005, 07:51 AM | #3 (permalink) |
Mad Philosopher
Location: Washington, DC
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Two things that occurs to me given a quick read-through. First of all, you say that you want a more 'active' education, but you never give any details as to exactly what it means. Exactly how is your system of education going to present ideas so that students learn to view them critically?
Secondly, it seems to miss the point of education. Learning critical thinking is only a part of what an education should teach us. It's also important to learn that 2 + 2 = 4, that the USA got its independence through a war with Great Britain, and stuff like that. Critical thinking may be a useful skill, but it's only useful if you also have the knowledge to back it up. Thirdly, I think you overestimate most people. Most people don't want to think critically at any age, but this is especially true at lower grades. Do you really expect a six-year-old to be able to argue with her teacher? To the contrary, I think that we're best off when earlier grades focus on purely fact-based knowledge (not worrying too much if some of it is an oversimplification), and then later grades starting in high school start to teach children to be view this store of knowledge critically.
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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht." "The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm." -- Friedrich Nietzsche |
03-03-2005, 11:59 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Upright
Location: France - Switzerland - Germany
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uhm asaris, you seems a bit pesimistics....
But you might be right about the fact that few people prefer being passive and never think and their own I prefer being optimistic and thinking that if they go the opportunity to be more selfthinking a not not only sheeps which follow the herd they might take it. About the basis like 2+2=4 and so on, there is no room for arguing, having a critical mind doesn't concerns the knowldege in this case but may be more the way to learn (introducing more life example and making the subject more attractive). I didn't took the idea the same way as you did, but more in a direction of helping youngs and student to e more involved in what they learn and help them to have their own opinions. A six year old is not directly concerns when it's time to learn basis of math or grammar rules but regading the way of learning there is different methods that can help being autonome and self thinking even at low age : not only learning by heart but also understanding... when you understand things you can then be interrested into them, if you are concerns with what you learn you want to learn more even on your own and not only for your future job (a six year old doesn't think about that yet ) the exemple of new methos in use in France are mainly in small school (for 6 to 10 year old) there is less student by classroom (10 or 15 maximum) they work the complete week even the saturday morning but the afternoon they got more cultural actvity (also more sport). where they can see the practical things and discuss it. This is I believe a good step with youg children to help them in being interrested and concerned in what they learn and so being critical. This kind of test schools are only done in a few towns in France and it s probably not possible to adapt it everywhere because of the cost it will require! In anycase I think it s better being optimistic and believing that people will prefer being more critical and think on their own. And at least offering them this opportunity can't hurt.
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