Packages and parcels get delivered, learning does not. Consider the two Time magazine covers in the previous post. The one from 1965 shows a funnel through which all manner of things are being poured into the school. Much like the notion of the education that sees the child as the empty vessel into which must … Read more
The one thing about which all educators are in agreement is that yesterday’s education no longer suffices for today. The rate of technological change and the development of new information is so great that educators scarcely know what to make of it all, let alone how to get it taught; next week’s scientific discovery can … Read more
Who is the leader? Is it the driver in the car held up by the flock? The shepherd with his stick? The border collies with their sharp teeth? Somewhere, just out of sight, are the lead sheep – heading for higher ground and pastures new. I took this on vacation in the Yorkshire Dales. I … Read more
I learnt to use paint, calculator, see various places through the Internet, solve puzzles, play games, listen interesting sounds and songs. (T.R. Ravi, age 12, Kalludevanahalli kiosk, Karnataka, India) Back at the dawn of time (well, 1993) Seymour Papert* named the computer the “children’s machine”. India’s “hole in the wall” experiment goes a long way … Read more
A child was working diligently on a drawing in art class. The teacher asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.” … Read more
Creative Societies need Creative People. If the thinkers and business people like Daniel Pink and Tom Peters have it right then the key attributes for success in the future are the ability to learn and relearn, and the ability to be inventive. Pink even goes so far as to say: “The last few decades have … Read more
Would you rather have supper in a castle, breakfast in a balloon, or tea on the river? John Burningham We do best, and engage most readily in, that which we experience as freely chosen. Margaret Donalson At PDS we build in options for students wherever we can. Making constructive choices and managing timewell are important … Read more