Let’s Change the way we View Education

Photo CC – By: Hugh Guill

When I think of the word education, I picture many students sitting in front of a teacher dozing off as they lecture. This is the image many people associate with education because we imagine school as the tradition 7 hour day with teachers constantly lecturing. An idea that has been the same for many many years. It seems as the newer generations begin their educational journey, they no longer are content with being at their desk all day. We are beginning to realize this and education is beginning to change.

There are still many people who believe education is fine the way it is, but there are more and more people who are beginning to see the value in creativity. Through watching Logan LaPlante’s TED Talk a students success is not defined by how they are taught. Some students do great in a traditional classroom while students like Logan excel in a place they can be active and creative. As a teacher, this shows me I need to appeal to every student. My classroom and instruction should be designed a way where reserved students can excel, but creative students also have a safe place. This means that for every assignment I will try to provide options. An option that is rhetoric and an option that is creative. Students have the ability to choose the option that ensures or motivates their success.

Bud Hunt’s blog post discusses the importance of viewing things from different perspectives. He discusses how important it is to acknowledge and explore our creative sides. The best way we can demonstrate what we learned is by making something to represent our learning. This reminds me of when I was in 10th grade. We were reading  The Scarlett Letter and were asked to create a letter with images that we related to the novel. I was able to make something that helped demonstrate my learning and had fun in the process. Hunt also touches on the idea of  “hacking” meaning students should make changed to improve their learning in a way they find enjoyable. That to me ties in the idea of “playing” because students should have the liberty to explore different options and methods of doing things. A student should approach their education in a way that interests them within regulation.

Given that LaPlante’s TED Talk is over 4 years old shows me that this is an ongoing issue. Students like Logan have been trying to find ways to better ensure their success without being confined to a classroom. They are exploring new ways of education where they are actively learning. Hunt’s blog post shows me that there are educators on board who are willing to explore active education and recognize the power of creativity.