
Trends
and shifts in education are driven by the changes that happen in the
world. A series of plenary sessions and panel debates took place at
the University of Waterloo in the fall of 2013. Leading thinkers in
education from all over the world participated. TVO's
The Agenda looked at what was learned from this summit in its series: TVO on the
Road: Learning 2013. It was noted that education has shifted from
passing on oral traditions to "factory setting” classrooms with
students engaged in rote learning to individualized learning plans
for students based on student-centred curriculum -- all driven by
changes in technology. It was further noted that children born in
2012 will enter a school system where facts will have little value,
being replaced by inquisitiveness, creativity and collaboration, and
that learning, which was once steeped in books, will be shaped by the
screen. These comments do not surprise me. We live in a world
increasingly dominated by the Internet, smartphones and tablets.
These are the things that are engaging the students. As they say, "it
is what it is.” Benchmarks for learning, methods of learning and
tools for learning shift through time. That's understandable, and we
need to be aware, keep in touch, and adjust accordingly. Two things
that do concern me are: a trend towards throwing out facts and the
focus on student-centred curriculum. I am troubled that facts are
increasingly getting a bad rap. Facts are necessary in order to help
shape and support opinions. Concerning student-centred curriculum: I
get the point, but we harvest the terms student-oriented curriculum
and Christ-centred curriculum.
TP