School: You are confusing the children.
Not only has our education system failed to evolve with the rapidly changing real world, but it has created its own "language" that is impeding the development of our students. Let's take a look at a couple examples:
FAILURE
Education System - In school, "FAIL" has become the dirtiest, most despicable, four-letter-F-word. It is associated with the letter grade "F", which rates you as low as you can be when compared to your peers. It is not worth any points, any credit, and it is to be avoided at all costs. School trains students to play it safe, follow the directions, check off the boxes on the rubric, and do not take chances. This is a recipe for disaster.
Real World - Failure is an important part of growth. If you've never failed, I would argue that you're not setting your goals high enough. The most effective way to learn is to:
PREPARE --> ATTEMPT --> FAIL --> REFLECT & LEARN --> ADJUST --> TRY AGAIN.
If you are afraid to fail, you will likely never accomplish anything great. We need to embrace failure as a learning tool instead of a punishment which must be avoided at all costs.
You wouldn't sit at the supper table and tell your children or spouse that they have received an 88%, or B+, from you, and then continue to eat.
FEEDBACK
Education System - Grades. A, B, C, D, and F. You may also throw in some +'s and -'s to "add some spice" to the feedback. Or, percentages. 92%, 76%, 58%. The system treats students like dogs in one of Pavlov's classical conditioning experiments:
A, good. Here is a treat. F, bad. You stay inside for recess.
Real World - Conversations. Suggestions for improvement. Expressing reasoning for what you believe. You wouldn't sit at the supper table and tell your children or spouse that they have received an 88%, or B+, from you, and then continue to eat. It involves talking to people; letting them know what you expect from them, how they are meeting those expectations, and what they can do to improve.
We need our education system to adapt to the 21st century.
We need our education system to prepare students for their futures.
Drop the jargon.
Drop the propaganda.
Students deserve this.
We don't have time to waste.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. We need this conversation.
Please check out some of my other LinkedIn posts:
The Most Important Thing I Learned at ISTE, was in a Taxi - why we teach.
62% is a Scary Statistic - about the negative effects of grades.
What is the Purpose of School? - the most important question in education.
Is Childhood Endangered? - Enough of the college & career ready talk!
Help Students Attain Wisdom - We need to shift our learning outcomes.
Landscape and Lawn Care Professional ?? | Global Wellness Coach ?? | Wellness, Business and Motivation Advocate ?? | RYT200 Yoga Teacher ????♂? | Blues Guitarist ??
6 年Can you please tell me how you did the line breaks in your article above? Like where it mentions checking out your other LinkedIn posts. You were able to add the other posts without it skipping a line and making another paragraph. I'm using a PC and Googled it, but nothing works. I tried Shift+|, I tried the "return" key, I even tried HTML.
Instructional Designer, Philosopher, and Academic Architect
7 年Now to get more people on board!
Associate Project Manager at Molson Coors Beverage Company
8 年I know this is late, but I just read this now and I couldn't agree more! Great article Mr. Oliver Schinkten
Education professional | Experienced TAE trainer and assessor | RPL specialist | Online facilitator | Independent validator
8 年This is so, so, so true and I've seen the impact this has had on so many young adults. They intensely disliked school; the conformity (lack of any individuality), told that the school is trying to make them independent (usually this comes with the word learners, although this is just another piece of jargon) and yet here are the rules and regulations you must abide by, being stuck in a system that doesn't appear to have evolved from the dark ages, and most of all being labelled failures. I've taught many of these young adults at post secondary level and when we start to establish trust, communicate openly (sometimes very very openly), build genuine rapport then they also begin to realise they aren't dumb (their words not mine). Most have intelligence, in its many forms, that just isn't dealt with in the school system and the greatest pleasure is when you see that talent unfold. Graduation ceremonies are the best time!! Thanks for the article.
Operations Expert/ Projects Management/ Business Development/ Management Consultant/ Executive Coach
8 年I agree with Thomas & Kirkham. Concept of grading in schools is a constructive feedback. A process to learn from failures. Some schools do follow it. Some Schools pollute the process as mentioned By Mr Oliver. Hence, the process is ideal. Implementation of the process is faulty.