How much do we know and how much should we know ?
As adults, considering ourselves more cognizant and erudite, we take many important decisions for children.We are also undeniably living in 'Information Age' and have transformed/transforming into a 'Knowledge society".
Now,
How much do we know ? How much should we know ?
Of course, because of ever increasing information and vast dimensions knowledge may embody, we cant strive to be anywhere near omniscience.So many of us shift from pursuit of knowledge to pursuit of wisdom. However, there could be a simple test to find out if we are adequately knowledgeable, informed or aware of our world?
If we can answer all the questions by a 5 year old.
A child of 5-6 years has not seen much of the world. His questions can't be simpler. So, if we find our self ducking the questions asked by a 5 year old or answering something like," It's complicated, you won't understand it", it's time to stop and ponder if we really are as knowledgeable, informed and aware as we believe ourselves to be.
" A person soon learns how little he knows when a child begins to ask questions."
-Richard L. Evans
Credit:A Good School blog
Learning Specialist - Independent
9 年From my perspective as a tutor, working with both "bright" and challenged students now (after 50 years in education at all levels in many countries), The move toward "concept-driven" curricula has done a great disservice to the majority of children. The "gifted" do just fine, but the other 75% "graduate" from high school with very weak skills in essential areas. Arithmetic, in particular, has suffered enormously. Students come for Math help, and I consistently discover they can't recognize ratios because they haven't mastered multiplication; they even reach for a calculator to add 7+5. This is NOT an exaggeration. Math results here in Ontario continue to decline, but the bureaucrats making decisions refuse to recognize that much of learning is based on memorizing content. Granted, the more meaning you build into learning the basics, the better. But to skim over "lower-level" thinking skills like arithmetic operations in order to promote "higher-level" thinking skills - even in the very early grades - has been absolute folly. You simply can't solve problems without the BASIC tools. Elementary schools should remain ELEMENTARY. (Any good teacher can build in "enrichment" for those highly capable.) I've said this before and it's becoming a mantra: our age of technology is creating students who know less and less about more and more...
Education SME and Change Manager
9 年Daniel Pink suggested we have moved from a Knowledge Society to a Concept Society. With knowledge changing so rapidly I think I agree with him.