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The Rebirth of Learning Starts With Mindset

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  • The Rebirth of Learning Starts With Mindset

    The Rebirth of Learning Starts With Mindset

    ted prize 2013: a wish to inspire the world

    The Huffington Post
    03/02/2013

    By Julia Li

    Click here
    (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sugata-mitra/2013-ted-prize_b_2767598.html)
    to read an original op-ed from the TED speaker who inspired this post
    and watch the TEDTalk below.

    Professor Sugata Mitra didn't invent student-driven learning. But he
    is championing field research and a compelling case that there has
    never been a time in history when the SOLE (self-organized learning
    environment) model is so vital to children's learning. Self-organized
    learning complements traditional education systems. In fact,
    self-guided learning is already gaining traction in pockets around the
    world, including in Armenia where teenagers are leading their own
    structured learning projects and field studies thanks to
    Internet-connected after-school programs, and a slightly younger
    generation of mentors playing the role of Professor Mitra's "granny
    network." The program in Armenia and other places around the world
    prioritizes curiosity and skills acquisition, not assessment.

    I deeply admire Dr. Sugata's work, his structured approach to SOLE,
    and his willingness to turn research into results with the support of
    TED. We have enough academic dissertations about the future of
    learning when action is what is most needed. Hopefully now
    child-driven, self-guided learning will gain serious attention from
    the general public and resources to begin the learning system
    revolution in earnest -- one that will prepare a new generation of
    minds to collaborate, problem-solve and succeed in the fast moving New
    Machine age.

    China's leader Chairman Mao once said "a single spark can combust
    into a mighty flame
    (æ=98=9Fæ=98=9Fä¹=8Bç=81«ï¼=8Cå=8F¯ä»¥ç=87=8Eå=8E= 9F)." Sugata's talk
    lit a flame at TED '13, perhaps creating a wild fire that leads to the
    reinvention of the world's education system. With the right attention
    from government policy makers, business leaders, and most importantly,
    parents, the dawn of student-driven learning may be upon us.

    You see, the flaw in our education system is not only limited to
    learning among children, but in fact, extends to across age groups,
    from young professionals to retirees. The fundamental questions we
    must ask ourselves are these: When is the student a better teacher,
    and the teacher a better student? What is important to learn and why?
    How do we learn and who should take responsibility for setting up
    these systems?

    For example, we assume adults should educate children, but perhaps
    it's time to give children some authority, and even official
    recognition to teach adults, particularly in areas of the Internet,
    science, arts and other subjects.

    And retirees could be brought into a new kind of education system to
    mentor children to teach themselves, modeling optimism, endurance, and
    patience. From a technology standpoint, I see a future where new
    learning formats leverage gaming and cloud-based competition to help
    children create their own experiential learning journeys, connected to
    their peers around the world.

    Professor Mitra's SOLE model is not the ultimate solution to our
    children's learning needs, but it sets a clear direction for us to
    rethink our education system and redefine the concept of education
    itself. n Chinese, education is æ=95=99è=82² which directly
    translated means "Teach and Foster"; however, learning is å-¦ä¹ which
    directly translated is "learn and repeat practicing." I appreciate
    the ancient wisdom here.

    Our school systems have been focused on teaching knowledge and
    skills, but not on fostering important behavioral qualities that allow
    learning such as attitude, mindset, receptivity to new ideas and
    persistence. Who should be responsible for this part of education?
    Ideally this should be the parent's responsibility. The question is:
    Who is giving parents that knowledge?

    The SOLE model might not be the best way to equip our children with
    mindset qualities that allow "repeat practicing" which requires
    patience and focus. This is particularly important today with kids'
    attention spans becoming shorter (due to a variety of factors in our
    modern, highly stimulated society).

    If we see a learned person as the result of our education system,
    children become the "customer" and teachers become the "providers" of
    this business we call education. Logically, the process is then
    structured to maximize the ability of the customer to acquire new
    skills, which naturally would then embrace self-organized learning
    concepts. We need tomorrow's education system to become an ecosystem
    where the role of student and teacher is continually redefined
    depending on the situation and learning need. This too is a mindset
    change. Are we ready?

    With the 2013 TED Prize going toward igniting a student-directed
    learning movement, I believe impact extends from existing school
    systems, especially in poor regions where access to high-quality
    learning is in short supply, to online learning environments where the
    cloud is the classroom. We should consider SOLE an addition to
    existing education, at least in the short term, as we reinvent the
    best learning experiences and observe results.

    For SOLE to work, an unprecedented level of collaboration is required
    from educational content publishers, technology companies, teachers,
    parents, governments, and business. We need to ready ourselves for the
    baton to be passed from Professor Mitra to leaders in learning
    everywhere who have the influence and experience to architect
    education for the New Machine age. The question is who will lead this
    revolution? Perhaps our children will!

    TED and The Huffington Post invite you to take the SOLE Challenge, a
    unique contest in which we're asking teachers and parents to create
    child-centered learning labs in their homes and schools. Write an 800
    to 1,000 word blog post on your experiences and send it to
    [email protected]. Three winning submissions will get to
    attend TED Youth 2013.

    Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they
    morph and adapt into their most potent form. TEDWeekends will
    highlight some of today's most intriguing ideas and allow them to
    develop in real time through your voice! Tweet #TEDWeekends to share
    your perspective or email tedweekends@hufï¬=81ngtonpost.com to learn
    about future weekend's ideas to contribute as a writer.

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