What do we want from Education?

The leaving Cert results (Final results for 2nd level education) came out in Ireland yesterday and it got me thinking. What sort of “educated” people does the world need right now coming out of our educational institutions?

For the most part, our education system pushes children to memorize stuff, to be educated enough to do “well on the test”. Most of the stuff they are taught is forgotten quickly because they never actually learned it, it was just memorized.

Education should be about understanding and problem solving. Memorizing is short term, with no foundation. The submissive mind set of “will it be on the test” sets us up for the next thing that we are supposed to learn.

I would love to see more self-directed project-based learning instead of compliance and memory tests. Learning by doing is the second best way to learn. Self-direction opens up a person’s mind to their ability to contribute and to make a difference. It builds confidence and drives curiosity and creativity, the skills that are needed in the information age.

From an early age, many kids are capable of self-directed, project-based learning if we would only let them. We should encourage kids to be curious because curiosity is an engine for learning. What I see currently is that most kids just want to get “the learning” over and done with as quick as possible.

It understand that schools are underfunded and that breaking form our current model of “passing the test” to self-directed learning and encouraging curiosity is easier said than done. But what will serve us better in the future? I don’t think it is memorizing facts!

Congratulations to all who completed their leaving cert.