Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences?
This would be a major problem due to the fact that people do not know what kind of learning techniques they are best suited to until they have experienced all of them. For example, some people learn from reading, or from observation or from what they hear. I believe that different subjects are best taught in different ways, using different teaching methods, such as english is best taught by reading. Therefore i do not think education should be tailored to fit personal preferences, as i don't believe everyone knows what is best suited to them.
However, some schools may not be able to offer tools, such as the internet, or top sports facilities, that help benefit a students education, therefore some are getting a better opportunity than others. This shows that culture play a big part in education, as Bruner states, "culture shapes minds", so peoples future education is set up for them as soon as they are put into a certain community. As a result it shows that education is part of someones culture, not the other way around, so it cannot be a problem, as it will never change, because someones culture cannot change.
Bruner, J.S. (1997) The Culture of Education, London: Harvard University Press.
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Monday, 23 March 2009
Week 9/10 - Q3
Should education 'stretch a person do you think? (What do you mean by 'stretch'?)
My interpretation of stretching a person, when it comes to education, is getting the most out of someone that it possible, using motivation, knowledge and social interaction so that a person can achieve the best to their ability, or even further. I do believe education should stretch a person, because they should be able to get everything in life they can, and be privilidged to do whatever they want to do in life.
Nevertheless i do not think students should be pushed or have education piled upon them constantly, otherwise it could have a damaging affect on them, as it would put them off learning forever.
Education should stretch a person by using all possible forms of teaching techniques, so people know how they learn best. Also motivation from parents and teachers and peers helps to create a nice atmosphere in which learning becomes possible. As well as this teaching tools, and variation is key to help learning, like computers and the internet, and going out side and observing the real world.
My interpretation of stretching a person, when it comes to education, is getting the most out of someone that it possible, using motivation, knowledge and social interaction so that a person can achieve the best to their ability, or even further. I do believe education should stretch a person, because they should be able to get everything in life they can, and be privilidged to do whatever they want to do in life.
Nevertheless i do not think students should be pushed or have education piled upon them constantly, otherwise it could have a damaging affect on them, as it would put them off learning forever.
Education should stretch a person by using all possible forms of teaching techniques, so people know how they learn best. Also motivation from parents and teachers and peers helps to create a nice atmosphere in which learning becomes possible. As well as this teaching tools, and variation is key to help learning, like computers and the internet, and going out side and observing the real world.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Week 8 - Disagreements with journal aricles
Journal 1 - My main disagreement with journal one, is the fact that it is quite a short article, without much evidence of their own gathered by Bayne and Ross. It seems as though they have relied on previous articles to gain the information to prove their point and come to a conclusion, which is not neccesarily a wrong thing to do, however it is my only issue i had with it. It is also two years old, and i believe teaching methods and techniques have developed since then, therefore, maybe they would look at the issue from a different angle if they were to do it today. As well as this i am unsure if i agree that everyone needs to be at the same level, when it comes to dealing with computers, the interent and technology as a whole, because most adults do not even need to use it, although they will be at a disadvantage to most in the future.
Journal 2 - To an extent, i do understand what Livingstone is saying; that people should cope with the new media progression, as it is rapid and it will soon be impossible to catch up with it. However i believe that most people don't have a choice but to develop with new technology, as it occurs and knowledge increases quite naturally, because it is such a major influence in everyones day to day lives. As well as this i think that the changing media scene does effect the economy and politics etc. because of the new techniques and new ideas that enhance peoples lives and choices.
Journal 3 - This article has gone to a lot of trouble to actually gain its own qualitative data to prove the hypothesis, that girls attitudes and language is different and more risky when talking online compared with talking face to face with someone. Although the article is three years old, i do believe that the article makes a very good point, and is still relevant with todays society, as girls are still getting into difficult situations when talking on chat rooms, as they don't know who the other person is. Overall i think it is a very good article, and i do not really have any disagreements, as it is detailed, proven and succint.
Journal 4 - I do think that Prensky makes a good point in this article, however i do not believe that game based learning will ever take over classroom learning. This is because, although e - learning does have its advantages, it is not possible to be sociable enough, active or as productive, because of the limitations working on a computer has.
Journal 5 - Again, Prensky does highlight an issue that could come about in the future. Nevertheless i disagree with the fact that it is something that needs to be addressed, as i do not think it will be much of a problem, that younger generations will be able to gain more information through new media technology.
Journal 2 - To an extent, i do understand what Livingstone is saying; that people should cope with the new media progression, as it is rapid and it will soon be impossible to catch up with it. However i believe that most people don't have a choice but to develop with new technology, as it occurs and knowledge increases quite naturally, because it is such a major influence in everyones day to day lives. As well as this i think that the changing media scene does effect the economy and politics etc. because of the new techniques and new ideas that enhance peoples lives and choices.
Journal 3 - This article has gone to a lot of trouble to actually gain its own qualitative data to prove the hypothesis, that girls attitudes and language is different and more risky when talking online compared with talking face to face with someone. Although the article is three years old, i do believe that the article makes a very good point, and is still relevant with todays society, as girls are still getting into difficult situations when talking on chat rooms, as they don't know who the other person is. Overall i think it is a very good article, and i do not really have any disagreements, as it is detailed, proven and succint.
Journal 4 - I do think that Prensky makes a good point in this article, however i do not believe that game based learning will ever take over classroom learning. This is because, although e - learning does have its advantages, it is not possible to be sociable enough, active or as productive, because of the limitations working on a computer has.
Journal 5 - Again, Prensky does highlight an issue that could come about in the future. Nevertheless i disagree with the fact that it is something that needs to be addressed, as i do not think it will be much of a problem, that younger generations will be able to gain more information through new media technology.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Week 8 - Journal 4 abstract
Similar to journal one, by Bayne and Ross, Prensky analyses the issue of learning in the classroom and how the teaching techniques are changing, developing game based learning. Prensky came up with this idea through the new e - learning system, discussing whether or not using gaming can be as effective or more effective than regular classroom lessons. Games can be more interesting and more fun, and this can encourage learning skills to develop. Therefore Prensky has explained how the new media scene can have a positive influence on the progression of education.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Week 7 - Distance learning in China
The information for this post has been collected from an online article by Zhao Yuhui and i will be analysing and discussing some of the main ideas developed throughout the article, 'China: Its Distance Higher-Education System'.
I find it intriguing that China developed distance learning, using televisions, in the early 1960's and then introduced television universities (TVU's). To me, this seems very early, and i believe the Chinese educational system took a risk in creating these learning facilities. Nevertheless it seems as though the learning technique works as the article provides evidence of the amount of students that have gained degrees from them, " During the period from 1960 to 1966, more than 8,000 students graduated from the Beijing Television University and over 50,000 students finished single-course studies through its teaching programmes." Therefore it has been successful and obviously worked in the early years of its introduction.
"The enrolment of these radio and television universities over the last eight years has totalled 1,291,833, and 590,941 students have graduated. The number of registered students in 1986 was 604,437 constituting one-third of the country's higher-education institute students." This shows that only less than half of the students who enrolled in these TVU's graduated, which is a very low percentage, proving that many students obviously find it difficult to connect with a screen or monitor, i think i would definately struggle to keep engaged and focused. It is also the fact that these TVU's are taking up one third of the countries educational system, which is too much, considering not everyone can connect with the process. However there is the point that Yuhui makes, stating that these universities needed fewer funds, and so more money could be used for staff training and other resources.
The TVU's educational system consists of five levels "corresponding to the organization of China's system of national and regional governments". It just shows the seriousness and amount of work that has gone into creating and sustaining this method of learning. The five levels succinctly define the terms and methods of learning that must be done and the guides for teaching them. I believe this outlines the positive future the Chinese educational board believe this method of teaching has.
The fact that technology is always developing and the new media scene is now occuring, it is apparent that this teaching method must be expanding and increasing its opportunities. This is proven through the increase in graduates and the amount of courses available, "Enrolled all-subject students have totalled over 1 million, and all-subject graduates have amounted to more than 500,000.","By 1990, about sixty new types of multi-media course will be developed." It is astounding the speed of the growth of TVU's and the standards are always improving as well.
Therefore, it is evident that the method of TVU's dived in at the deep end far too early, and many students suffered because of this, however this growth of resources and technology available, i think it is a great idea and has been very successful, and will only get better.
http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html
I find it intriguing that China developed distance learning, using televisions, in the early 1960's and then introduced television universities (TVU's). To me, this seems very early, and i believe the Chinese educational system took a risk in creating these learning facilities. Nevertheless it seems as though the learning technique works as the article provides evidence of the amount of students that have gained degrees from them, " During the period from 1960 to 1966, more than 8,000 students graduated from the Beijing Television University and over 50,000 students finished single-course studies through its teaching programmes." Therefore it has been successful and obviously worked in the early years of its introduction.
"The enrolment of these radio and television universities over the last eight years has totalled 1,291,833, and 590,941 students have graduated. The number of registered students in 1986 was 604,437 constituting one-third of the country's higher-education institute students." This shows that only less than half of the students who enrolled in these TVU's graduated, which is a very low percentage, proving that many students obviously find it difficult to connect with a screen or monitor, i think i would definately struggle to keep engaged and focused. It is also the fact that these TVU's are taking up one third of the countries educational system, which is too much, considering not everyone can connect with the process. However there is the point that Yuhui makes, stating that these universities needed fewer funds, and so more money could be used for staff training and other resources.
The TVU's educational system consists of five levels "corresponding to the organization of China's system of national and regional governments". It just shows the seriousness and amount of work that has gone into creating and sustaining this method of learning. The five levels succinctly define the terms and methods of learning that must be done and the guides for teaching them. I believe this outlines the positive future the Chinese educational board believe this method of teaching has.
The fact that technology is always developing and the new media scene is now occuring, it is apparent that this teaching method must be expanding and increasing its opportunities. This is proven through the increase in graduates and the amount of courses available, "Enrolled all-subject students have totalled over 1 million, and all-subject graduates have amounted to more than 500,000.","By 1990, about sixty new types of multi-media course will be developed." It is astounding the speed of the growth of TVU's and the standards are always improving as well.
Therefore, it is evident that the method of TVU's dived in at the deep end far too early, and many students suffered because of this, however this growth of resources and technology available, i think it is a great idea and has been very successful, and will only get better.
http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
