You Can Read… but Can You Play?
Sir Ken Robinson, a leading thinker in the field of education, poses the following question: How do we educate our children for a world that we increasingly cannot plan for? Take a moment and really think about that question. How DO you deal with a world you can neither anticipate nor control? What worked in the past can no longer be counted on. The old rules may no longer apply. And key factors are no longer fixed, but variable and shift faster than expected.
Sir Ken makes an eloquent case that, in a world driven by technology and constant change, creativity is now as important as literacy. His dry British humor delivers his message in a hilariously funny way at times (if you’re a fan of dry, British wit, which I happen to be). Check out his short video: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Sir Ken’s ISN’T kidding when he says that schools kill creativity. And that as a society, we must rethink our definition of intelligence. This includes how that drives our primary and secondary education strategy – because education is meant to take us into a future that we cannot hope to grasp.
This creativity imperative isn’t just driving change at the grade and high school levels. The value of higher education in America (college/university-based learning) is also in serious question. Not only for our teenage sons and daughters in search of bachelor’s degree, but for adults with established careers who: a) need to stay current and cutting edge in their field; or b) need to reinvent themselves after losing a job.
In the old model, an education is a “product” with standardized content that we “purchased” at specific times in our life – and once paid for, degree in hand, you’re done. If Sir Ken is right, then it is time to change our paradigm. Education must become a service that teaches the skills of creativity, analytical thinking, and continuous learning throughout one’s working life-time.
Give yourself a quick break right now from your (probably non-creative) work day and watch his video. It will make you laugh and make you think totally differently about the value of your own creativity.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
