VIEWS & OPINION Education: time for a
re-think? Comment by FELICIA JACKSON, Chair of The Learn2Think Foundation
While it is difficult to know what the new normal will bring, there is a sense that the world is holding its breath as we look towards what a post-coronavirus society will look like. Will we find better ways to move forward, to tackle climate change, address societal inequalities or find forms of purpose in our actions? Our educational system was set up to
supply workers for the capitalist market system. Historically the focus has always been on reading, writing and arithmetic. These remain necessary foundations, but if we are looking to build a more resilient, sustainable and equal society we need to re-think education in terms of the skills that will help children build a better, brighter future. We need to entrust our teachers with creativity and critical thinking, allowing them to equip our children with tools to build mutual understanding and dialogue and to find new ways to solve old problems. The inequalities that are embedded in our systems and institutions lead
to a lack of agency in our citizens, which in turn demotivates. It’s no coincidence that the last few years have seen strong growth in open source developments in technology - giving for a greater purpose has always been a strong ethical undercurrent in human nature. Back in 1959
Nils Bohlin gave away his patent for the three point seat belt, believing the good it would do in saving lives would outstrip any personal gain. Nowhere is this sacrifice for the greater good more apparent than our efforts to defeat Covid19. Compassion, social connection and community are fundamental to
human growth and yet we set children to compete against each other with constant standardised testing. No one says that winning isn’t fun, but do we want to build a generation of competitors when collaboration is the only effective way to address global challenges? During the Covid crisis we have seen countries collaborate in science and research, in sharing skills and necessary machines. We have also seen countries competing for PPE, for reagents, for resources. There were even reports the US tried to buy the exclusive rights to a vaccine being developed in Germany. Is that a world view we want to pass on to our children? Children, like adults, need to have a sense of purpose, a goal that
makes sense to them. Obviously feedback plays an important role in the educational process, as it helps them develop mastery over skills and subjects. Is standardised testing the only way to achieve this? Whether it’s climate, plastics, pollution, food supply, if we can make
their learning real to them it brings meaning into education. We need to give children tools to enable complex thinking and an understanding that they have power and choices as voters, interveners and activists. That doesn’t mean making them feel responsible for the world around them but to support them in understanding their power to create their own futures. With current technology the answers to questions lie at our fingertips.
Expertise now lies in knowing what and who to ask. In networks we can elicit expertise and solve problems that are increasingly complex and it’s time we give students the game to play instead of simply handing them the manual. A great life involves being able to contribute your skills in the face of great change and re-thinking our educational system can and will help our children to live fulfilled lives.
Using gaming as an
educational tool Comment by GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, Senior Instructional Designer at Roblox
The vast majority of kids and teens nowadays spend a large chunk of their leisure time online, playing and socialising with friends. Gaming is one of their favourite digital pastimes with many educational benefits that can be overlooked by parents and teachers. With the right support and guidance, gaming can improve social and cognitive skills, concentration, and teamwork, helping prepare kids for future careers. And educators can use online play to promote digital citizenship and give students the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. For example, the young creator community of Roblox, a user-generated gaming platform, has created millions of games through Roblox Studio, its free and immersive creation engine. In addition to coding, these kids and teens acquire entrepreneurial skills in the process, and many are now pursuing careers in technology, creating blockbuster games or launching their own studios. To support educators with advice and resources for engaging kids during long-distance learning, Roblox has recently launched its Teaching
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www.education-today.co.uk
Remotely website with free webinars and Learn and Explore game sort for easy discovery of fun and educational games to incorporate into a remote classroom curriculum. Inspired by one of the webinars, primary school librarian Bianca Rivera organised a private play session for her students and shared that more than 50 kids “showed up” to play Adopt Me together. She said everyone enjoyed it so much that even after this crisis is over she plans to continue arranging similar meetups over long school breaks. Here are some tips for educators to get started with incorporating game development into their curriculum: Nail the basics: Before launching in, remind students of appropriate online behaviour and ensure they know how to report anything that makes them uncomfortable. Pick age-appropriate lessons from over 100 hours of free, ITSE-certified content that Roblox offers on everything from coding to digital civility and join twice-monthly webinars if you need help in the process. Prioritise the fun: Learning creation through play means you have a far better chance to keep kids engaged. Set up a virtual classroom using Team Create to inspire collaboration while your students have fun building games together, learn the fundamentals of coding and create something of their own. Using a platform with screen-sharing like Zoom is helpful to keep an eye on the progress, respond to any questions in real- time and encourage students to share constructive feedback. Keep it snappy: Finally, students don't have to walk away having created an entire game from start to finish. Exposing students in snack-size bites makes it much more likely that they’ll think it’s fun and want to continue learning on their own. Today's kids and teens are growing up surrounded by technology and time online doesn't necessarily equal time wasted. A recent survey of UK parents of kids who game conducted by Roblox found that 88% have seen a notable improvement in cognitive and technical skills, which in turn may even spark an interest that shapes a future career.
May 2020
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