Weekly Reflection Week 2 – Reimagining Education

Getty Images from Unsplash+ published 2023

Do we need to reimagine education?

I believe that this question is at the top of everyone’s mind in the world of education. Multiple courses in this program, such as multiliteracies, cross-curricular inquiry strategies, promoting pro-social behaviour, etc, have all approached this question. I do believe that we must reimagine education, and I think this image is a good metaphor. Currently, our system is the person on the ladder. We have climbed high over human history, but we have stopped at this cloud while the world has continued to become more complex. A new education system will help us catch up to the increasingly complex modern day.

What obstacles do educators face when they try to change pedagogy?

As we saw in the Most Likely To Succeed video, many parents, as well as viewers, were skeptical of the school’s credibility. Opinions of community members and parents are one large obstacle that educators face when reimaging pedagogy. They are scared to see their children not receiving the same education that they did. I think the video argued this point well by saying that we must teach our students for the future, not the past. Another large obstacle is globalization. If one community changes its teaching drastically, then other communities or schools may not recognize its legitimacy.

What concerns you or excites you about this approach?

The high-tech high approach is fascinating. At first, I was very skeptical, but as the video continued, I saw the incredible learning that was taking place. The pros: The exhibition night is a superior form of assessment that boosts student motivation. It also holds teachers accountable to ensure student learning is occurring. The cross-curricular content, as well as the flexible schedule and group work, more closely mimic the real world than the current school system. The cons: Students may miss out on general knowledge they would have received in public school. They may face difficulty when transitioning into the old-fashioned university model. Some students may be too young to handle the independent learning style.