A Reflection On The ICTLT2010 Conference

#iCTLT2010 It's interesting how people who are at the same event can have such widely differing opinions on the same thing. David Warlick and I were both at the ICTLT2010 Conference, for example, but our experiences of the penultimate keynote were not the same by a long shot.

He writes:

One of the best parts of her [Jenny Lewis'] presentation was her questioning of why we still teach safe themes in our classes, like dinosaurs, Eskimos, etc.  She then suggested that our students, within the context of curriculum, explore more important issues.

The list these 'more important issues', taken from a book called High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them,  includes the following:

• Reinventing taxation for the 21st century
• Biotechnology rules
• Global financial architecture
• Illegal Drugs
• Trade, investment and competition rules
• Intellectual property rights
• E-commerce rules
• International labor & migration rules

Wait a minute! Does Jenny Lewis seriously think we should tell five year olds that instead of looking at dinosaurs this year, they'll be considering global financial architecture? And does the usually sensible David Warlick seriously go along with that?

I have to say that I thought the statement a little silly, and actually detracted from what Jenny Lewis said, which for the most part was pragmatic and encouraging.In fact, until I saw that David had commented on it, I was convinced that I must have misheard it.

Here are four reasons to not jettison dinosaurs and other favourite subjects:

• These subjects are fun. Isn't learning supposed to be fun? Global financial architecture doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs. What does it even mean?
• These children are, erm, children. Aren't kids supposed  to be kids?
• Let me get this straight. Our  generation totally messes up the environment, finance, world peace and 17 other problems, so we decide to steal the next generation's childhood so they can sort it all out for us? Let them grow up first! Then they can sort out our mess and create one all their own!
• If dinosaurs etc are taught properly, kids will learn to think and ask the right questions for themselves. I'd have thought that that is exactly what we want.

Besides, call me a big kid, but I happen to like dinosaurs.

Comments

[David Warlick]

OK! I promise not to take dinosaurs away from the wee 7 year olds.

But allow some loose association to make a point -- which I think was valid. We do tend to play it safe, as a going rule, with the content and contexts that we teach from, not that safe doesn't have its place -- and certainly fun has its place. "Aren't you having fun?"

I personally think that the bridles, blinders, and harnesses we've saddled our children with over "rigorous" standards and high stakes testing is tantamount to child labor -- not to say that standards and assessment are bad.

I wouldn't take away dinosaurs. But I think that there is instructional value in respecting our students and their learning enough to give them real problems to tackle from their unique perspectives, their energy, and their mastering of information skills and content. When there's pride in contributing to the solving of a real problem, then there's pride in the learning...

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

OK, David, I'll go along with that! In fact, real problems are usually much more fun for kids to get their teeth into than invented ones. Regarding tests etc, I've thought for a while now that the stress of it all amounts to child cruelty. Until recently, I think kids in the UK were tested every year from 5years old to 16 except for the year in which they were 12/13. Some got really stressed over it. I would certainly go along with everything you say, especially the final paragraph.
Thanks for commenting!

[David Warlick]

BTW, great to see you again in Singapore. When I returned to my room, I'd wished that I had agreed to go on that tour with you. Just - simply - too - exhausted.

Great luck to you!

-- dave --

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

David, I had meant to say the same thing to you! The tour I'd hoped to go on had already left. I walked arounbd for a bit, but the noise, lights and jet-lag all conspired to make me want to find a hole and bury myself. In the end I settled for the hotel lounge instead!